Day two in Lagos started as always with breakfast, and then another trip to the Cameroon embassy to drop the Passport off. Going by my past record its probably better with them than me. I decide to take a bit of a stroll around Victoria Island, I stumble across a big American style shopping mall. I wasnt ashamed by the big smile that came across my face as I walked into this place. It was like paradise, air conditioning, book shops, multi screen cinemas, clothes shops, armed guards at the door. Rich people only please, being white they let me in anyway. I kill quite a lot of time in here but sooner or later I have to go back into the chaos.
It takes me three different bikes to get to the transit station on the mainland, the bikes cant cross the neighbour hoods of other gangs, so you have to take a different one each time. At the transit station I buy a bus ticket for the night bus tomorrow, going to Kano. the bus leaves at the same time my passport is due to be ready, I take the risk and hope the passport is either ready early or the bus leaves late.
By now Lagos Island is feeling pretty normal, the people are generally friendly and it has amenities that I havent seen before in Africa, it became genuinely quite enjoyable.
The next day I got to the Embassy about three hours earlier than expected beacause the hotel booted me out of my room at midday. The friendly chap finished my visa while I waited, and off I went to the bus station. When travelling with my bag I always try to be more vigilant as I guess im an easier target, but I got there without a hitch. The bus did leave late, by about two hours, leaving me with a six hour wait at the station. I start and finsh the book that I had ready for the journey.
On the bus they give you a delightful safety speech. No use of mobile phones, this is in case you try and organise an ambush en route. Dont accept food or drink from anyone else incase it is drugged, and if you sleep do it with one eye open. I felt sorry for the guy next to me as I tucked into a whole packet of fig rolls, you know I was going to offer him one, but wasnt allowed.
In conclusion though, Lagos was an awesome place, im glad I went, I was also pretty glad when I left.
