A few weeks ago I blogged about the chaos around the airport as people prepared and departed for the Hajj. I speculated as to whether there would be an equal amount of chaos when the travellers returned and this week I found out. The answer is 'yes'...
I obviously need to find out more about what the Hajj involves as I thought it lasted for 5 days, whereas it is about a month since most of the pilgrims left N'Djamena. I wonder what they have been doing all this time?
This week the metal barriers that were left behind a month ago have been put up again and the area all around has been full of randomly parked vehicles. There have been a lot of the orange Peugeot 504 taxis, that are as common in N'Djamena as matatus are in Nairobi or Kampala, as well as a number of new looking 4x4s. I guess the different modes of transport represent the relative wealth of those being picked up.
Inevitably there is the accompanying entourage of people awaiting the return of their family member and so every morning and afternoon I've had to negotiate my way through this crowd of cars and people. Each returning pilgrim seems to bring a large sack-like bundle with them, in stark contrast to their departure when I don't recall seeing any luggage. Those who take the taxi transport option load their luggage into the boot of the car. There are often several travellers sharing the same taxi so it isn't possible to close the boot. The suspension sags under the weight but the pilgrims are on the final leg of their journey home.
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| N'Djamena taxi |
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