Due to a mild diarrhea, we could not go to Lomé as foreseen. During endless time spent on the toilet seat, the mosquitoes feasted on my behind.
Consider the recommendations of the Routard concerning malaria prevention: not only should you sleep under a mosquito net, but also wrap yourself up in clothes impregnated with insecticides, not to forget thick socks and shoes. You may slavishly follow all these advices, it is all in vain the moment you go to the toilet.
Going to the toilet affronts you with another adversity: Although people find it utterly stupid, houses are obstinately constructed with the bathroom and the kitchen across the back yard. So in cases of an urgent need during one of the frequent downpours, you find yourself facing the following scenario:

Note that the water stands ankle-high in the yard.
I spent whole yesterday watching TV: You remember, ORTB, “votre partenaire pour les grands énervements”, the President’s own channel. The President seems to be everywhere these days – Benin celebrated Independence Day on 1st of August – which makes you wonder, by and by, if he is really only one person. As discussed during my favorite early morning emission, "Bonjour Citoyen", one of the few bright spots in ORTB, he seems to be already in election campaign mood for 2011.
One remarkable event of the last few days was our visit to the Kota waterfalls, one of the sights not to be missed in the Atacora province. Here are some pictures.
First we tried to find them on our own. People indicated that we should take this road:

Can you spot the road?

This was the road we took the following day, when we came back guided by two zims (motortaxi conductors).

The landscape is great.

Then we arrived at the Kota waterfalls.
To see them in their real splendor, though, we still have to cross the torrent. Which we managed, thanks to the help of our guides, without too much damage to the knees and clothes.
Then we took a picturesque path down to the waterfalls. The vegetation is unique.
Here is the waterfall in all its splendor. Unfortunately it is too cold to plunge in.

And here it is again, undisturbed by people popping in.

The guys in white and yellow are our zims, the third one came independently to see the waterfall.

On our way back we already have developed some routine for the crossing.

Me being back in good health, we are going to a visit to Tanguietá tomorrow, little village some 30 km north of Natitingou tomorrow.