Starting the day by strolling to the bakery on the corner, then visiting a humble yet charming supermarket, and enjoying a meal at a restaurants, It’s as if we’ve rediscovered the comforts again. We’re truly having a restful time in Abidjan, thanks to our host Joel, who has made us feel completely at home.

Reliable internet, a warm shower—we spent half an hour, Sandra and I, reminiscing about the last time we enjoyed the luxury of a warm shower, which was likely in Morocco. And now, 24-hour electricity adds to the comfort and convenience.”

All of this is helping with my recovery from malaria. It usually takes about three weeks to fully recover. The mistake I made was cycling just three days after getting malaria in Liberia.

Abidjan has a distinctly west-oriented vibe. It reminds me of Europ, though it’s noticeably more expensive. A significant number of Lebanese individuals dominate the trade sector, run many restaurants, and control major industries

There’s a theory that the president has a fascination with bridges—he simply loves them. Abidjan already boasts more than five massive bridges, with many new ones under construction. Standing on one of these bridges, the first glimpse I get of Abidjan is the affluent side: the expats, the elite, and the wealthy community on the right.

and to the left, the poorer local neighborhoods…

The annoying calls of ‘Come and visit my shop!’ came back strongly when we visited the CAVA – Centre Artisanal de la Ville, a market filled with locally made art and furniture.
The constant calls and chatting were so annoying. Someone would always approach us, starting with, ‘Hi, how are you? What’s your name? Where are you from? Come visit my shop.’ And then, others nearby, who had already overheard the conversation, would take their turn, coming to us and asking the exact same questions, even though they already knew the answers.

The weather in Abidjan is fairly consistent throughout the year, with daytime temperatures around 33°C and nighttime temperatures about 27°C. The main difference lies in the seasons: summers are hot and humid with little to no rain, while winters are hot, humid, and rainy. There is no distinct spring or autumn, and people generally refer to the seasons as either the dry season or the rainy season.

The weather here definitely makes it difficult to store groceries, fruits, and vegetables for more than a day. We often have to consume them within 34 hours at most. Many times, we’ve bought items that were already spoiled, or worse, contained strange creature eggs. For example, we once bought chocolate from an official Auchan supermarket that had spider webs and eggs inside. It’s incredibly frustrating, especially considering the steep price of 5 Euros—made worse by the fact that we’d been missing chocolate since we last had it in Morocco.

Our neighborhood was full of bats that leave during the day for the city center and return at night. We enjoyed visiting and watching them in the evenings. They are huge when they fly and make funny sounds. Sandra often brought us there to try and record their sounds.

After researching them, I learned that they are threatened and have a positive impact on the natural cycle, especially in forests

Living with Joel somewhat isolated us from the local community. When you’re surrounded by expats, you notice they rarely shop at local markets. Their focus is usually on buying what they need quickly and efficiently, without spending extra time exploring.

For me, however, one of the highlights was shopping at the local market. The people there are incredibly warm and welcoming. Aicha was our go-to for vegetables, and Sabina always supplied us with fresh fruit.

Among expats, there’s a myth that these chickens are called “bicycle chickens” because they are so thin and have very little meat. It’s a unique and memorable expression!
but after asking and researching the phrase “bicycle chicken” is often used in West Africa, particularly in countries like Burkina Faso. It refers to locally raised chickens that are transported to markets on bicycles. These chickens are typically leaner and tougher compared to commercially farmed ones, as they are free-range and more active. The term highlights the traditional and resourceful way of delivering them to markets. It’s a unique and memorable expression!

Attiéké is a beloved national dish of Côte d’Ivoire, made from fermented cassava. It has a texture similar to couscous and is often served as a base for meals. People usually enjoy it with grilled fish, fried chicken, or spicy sauces, along with fresh onions, tomatoes, and avocado. It’s a staple food that represents the rich culinary traditions of the country and brings people together over hearty, flavorful meals.

There’s a Decathlon in Abidjan where we met Jérôme from France, who helped with some bike maintenance. We also tried to find a rear cassette hub, which has been impossible to locate since Morocco. this part for the bike always success to triggers my anxiety.

I ended up buying a discounted hydration backpack from Decathlon. After recovering from malaria, I’ve come to value hydration so much more and try to drink at least 3 liters of water on rest days.

I’m feeling stronger and ready to continue. We visited the Ghana embassy, and our visas will be ready in just a few days. The process was smooth and easy, and the staff were the friendliest we’ve met at any embassy during our entire journey.