I waited through one more day of more false promises from my friends at immigration. The next morning I decided to abandon the truck idea and managed to find an ‘express taxi’ to the Port, thereby sneaking out again. Luckily the port is miles from the truck stop so no chance of bumping into the immigration again.
At ‘The Beach’ I decided to phone Bruno (The guide who helped me into Kinshasa in the first place). We went for a stroll along the river front in search of a boat to Ilebo, most of the talking was done in Lingala so I didn’t have a clue what was going on. Bruno told me there were no boats leaving for at least two weeks. While he nipped off to attend to business I chatted with some locals, they said there were plenty of boats heading that way, and one of them made a point of this to Bruno when he returned. Bruno claimed ignorance and said he would go and ask immigration if I could have clearance for the interior (here we go again!) and maybe I could travel today.
It was difficult to know where Bruno’s allegiances luy, in one sense he was genuinely friendly, but in the other sense mystical charges kept appearing whenever he was around. Sure enough I could have permission for the interior and it would only cost me a measly $150 dollars! It proved impossible to know who to trust and so I generally trusted noone. Getting pretty bored of all this I decided enough was enough and started looking for a plane flight. Although an expensive alternative Kinshasa is an expensive city and everyday ate into my wallet, being a Saturday afternoon all the offices were closed so it will have to wait until Monday (no prizes for telling me my dates are muddled).
Bruno suggested I find a hotel in the Matonge district, which is the lively heart of the city, and home to the big music scene which dominates most of Africa. At first im not sure, but agree to go along. Sitting in the boring hotel for nearly four days has made me want to get out a little bit. We get lucky and find a minibus heading that way, I sit down with the bags while Bruno searches for a hotel (and commission?). He finds an okay hotel which is cheaper than what I have been paying.
We drop the bag off and then stroll around this lively and colourful part of the city. Despite Brunos immaculate hair cut he decides it needs a trim and so we headed to a friend of his in a patch of wasteland just outside the main football stadium. He got a trim sitting under a tree, while I chatted with some friendly locals and played a bit of Table Football. Its a pretty atmospheric place with the odd cheer coming up from the match in the stadium, and some pretty big storm clouds gathering close by. Normally the alarm bells would be ringing but it was surprisingly peaceful and everyone very friendly.
Just as we got up to leave the football match finished and the heavens opened with torrential rain and thunder. The crowd were all jolly and there was no fighting, most people were running to get out of the rain, with a few dancing around singing. Bruno and myself ran into a small drink spot to shelter, the rain was so bad we were even getting soaked indoors, the barman had to get a big Umbrella above our table to keep us dry. The rain hammered down for two hours while we pretty much slept in the bar. As it eased off we walked through the flooded streets, there were even kids swimming in some of the bigger puddles. A few sewers had collapsed making driving difficult and we came across one car half submerged in a huge hole. I brought a dinner of Goat Kebabs and Manioc before heading of to bed.
The next day I was free to wander around Matonge and it felt quite safe and fairly friendly. I chatted with a lots of locals and generally mooched around, acutally enjoying myself for the first time in a few days. Bruno turned up in the evening and we wandered to his parents house for dinner which was followed by a couple of drinks. All in all a nice couple of days in the city, but tomorrow it would be off to the airport.
