Cotonou

Cotonou is reminiscent of Eastern European cities in the 80s. It is a gray city of concrete apartment blocks that stands silent in its soot. Most visitors do not rave of Cotonou's beauty although the city's monuments to Lenin and other communist leaders are spectacularly populist in design. Cotonou is along the major trading route between Lagos and Ivory Coast, as such it is flooded with people in transit. The sex trade is staggering, inviting young women from all over West Africa to seek fortune.

Tourists will often spend only a day in Cotonou, as a pit stop between the more picturesque sights of Benin. But if you are a masochist, you may want to spend a week here. You can visit the Chinese/Beninese sports stadium, a testament to the two countries friendship. You can tour the craft market. You can take a motorcycle ride of the whole town for less than $10. You can marvel at the efficiency and forethought of the central government (a rarity in West Africa).

I will give one thing to Cotonou: the food is fabulous. Pate rouge is the most delicious of the region's mashed root vegetable concoctions and you can find some amazing restaurants near the port.