Located on the Gulf of Guinea.  Until the early 19th century it was a European slave trade outpost where Togo and surrounding areas earned the name “The Slave Coast”.

One of the least developed countries in Africa. Germany controlled Togo until the end of World War One at which time rule was transferred to France – they gained their independence in 1960.

Their official languages is French however many “local” languages are spoken. The kids learn both French and English in school.  

Like the Ivory Coast and Ghana babies are named according to the day of the week in which they are born. Their dads are also allowed to choose an independent name. The weekday name must be on their birth certificate.

It exports coffee, cocoa, copra and oil palm kernels.

We didn’t do much here.  Our walk around the town wasn’t exciting.  Old, dilapidated, ugly concrete buildings lined the streets.  The bit of a giggle was the Hotel Palm Beach that must have been something special in its day – now abandoned.

When we first started our walk a young man captured Bill and tried to sell him a used (Bill had no idea) pair of shorts.  Surprising Bill took the bait (on purpose) and purchased the shorts for 5 euros.  I think the gentleman was generally surprised.  The interaction was priceless.  He didn’t have change so he asked Bill to wait while he danced down the street to break the 10 euro bill. 

Out in the distance an old, decrepit pier caught our eye.  My favorite thing to photograph.  Something with a past, declining, fraught with mystery.

The beach, long and silent was virtually deserted.  The accumulation of trash a clue that we were the only fools out in the heat of the day.

*found this on TripAdvisor about the pier: