WEST AFRICA (2004/ 2005): TOGO

Togo is still a dictatorship, but getting through at the border was easy as long as you paid the bribe. The Muslim culture plays a greater role here than in Ghana. I stayed with a friend's family where I was royally welcomed. When I went out with my host it was much easier to take photographs, with him watchng my back. I was happy to bring back a couple of prayer mats to the States for him, despite my worry about US customs in the post-911 era.