Visiting Barzachs village and a trip on the river

 One of the exciting things about being in the Congo, is the opportunity to get to know some of the day crew better and to go and visit their village.  Mick travelled with a group to Barzachs village near the

Barzach (right) and her family

Angolan border in early January.  They had wonderful day seeing her house in Pointe Noire, then meeting her family.  They then travelled by bus to her parents house that was in a village south towards Cabinda. On the way, they stopped at a roadside stall to buy lunch to go - catfish in banana leaves - before eating at a lake near the village.  They checked out the Angolan border - didn't cross it of course - before returning home.  Another stop at a roadside stall on the way back to get avocados and other fruit.

Lunch stop

Catfish in banana leaf

The Angolan border 

Local church

Whilst I was searching for "les crokis" in the Grande-Marche, Mick and the boys were having a day out on the Kouillou river.  A group of 18 Mercy shippers crammed into a Toyota Hiace, as well as the driver and conductor, to travel to the river.  The river is about 50km north of Pointe Noire.  There they embarked into 2 log canoes with outboard motors for a two hour trip up the river.  Didn't see any chimps but the scenery was awesome and all the boys enjoyed the company of the lovely French speaking nurses who joined them.  Harry is becoming quite the flirt!

Jacks canoe

Dad and Mark selfie!