December 2016 – January 2017

Intro

Journey Map

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Featured Image

Grande Mosquée, Porto-Novo, Benin

One of my most challenging sketches for many reasons: the stifling heat and humidity that had me almost dripping sweat onto my sketchbook; the complexity of the building itself with its intricate details; and finally, the curious kids who swarmed me the entire time! At one point, I had maybe 15 kids surrounding me and had to ask (in French!) for a little space so I could finish, promising that I would show them all afterwards. About 3 or 4 minutes later, they all returned!

Instagram

Parakou, Benin 📍 - ugh i love african markets! so much color, life... and super fresh veggies!! -- the grand #marché azeke in #parakou 😉 🇧🇯 ...

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Yaoundé, Cameroon 📍 - #cameroon`s capital is full of striking architectural statements like these 1970s-era government ministry buildings in the #city`s administrative quarter 🇨🇲 ...

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Douala, Cameroon 📍 - the old german colonial post office building in #douala.  the #city was known as "kamerunstadt" and capital of german #kamerun until 1902.  under the french rule, it was the capital of #cameroun from 1940 until 1946.  the capital was moved to yaoundé in 1960 when #cameroon became an independent nation. 🇨🇲 ...

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Édea, Cameroon 📍 - this city of over 100,000 people between douala and yaoundé boasts #cameroon`s famous japoma #bridge (or just "german bridge") over the sanaga river.  interestingly, it was built, assembled, and tested in germany, before being taken apart and shipped by boat in pieces to cameroon in 1911.  despite being a famous historical sight in cameroon, apparently photography of bridges is not allowed, and i was chased down by a military officer who forced me to delete the photos on my camera. (after pleading with him in french that i`m just a tourist and an architect, a `gift` allowed me to keep this photo taken with my phone! 👍) 🇨🇲 ...

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Yaoundé, Cameroon 📍 - a #beautiful hazy #sunset over the dusty rooftops of the briqueterie (ekoudou) neighborhood of #yaoundé, juxtaposed against the #city`s ultra-modern sports palace shining in the background 🇨🇲 ...

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Ganvié, Benin 📍 - came across this little guy rowing his colorful #pirogue outside his stilt house in the village of #ganvié, one of #benin`s most wonderful sights 🇧🇯 ...

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Koutammakou, Togo 📍 - another view of my favorite #tamberma `castle` house in the #unesco-listed #koutammakou region of northern #togo 🇹🇬 ...

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Abomey-Calavi, Benin 📍 - view from the #boat dock at abomey-calavi waiting for my #pirogue to take me across lake nokoué to the amazing stilt village of #ganvié! 🇧🇯 ...

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Aného, Togo 📍 - a #church in the historic colonial center of #aneho. originally called "little popo" and once housing a bustling portuguese slave market, the town became german togoland`s first capital city in the 1880s 🇹🇬 ...

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Ganvié, Benin 📍 - amazing #ganvié, called the `venice of #africa`, is full of #beautiful scenes of everyday life everywhere you look! 😊 🇧🇯 ...

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Sketches

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