With my Guinean Entry Visa finally in the pocket, I went back to their embassy yesterday to apply for a “Laissez-Passer Pour Véhicule”, that you need to be able to enter the country with an Ivorian vehicle. Although a formality that could also be done at the border, but what I can do here in Abidjan, I get done, as it saves time and hassle at the border in a few days time. The consul’s assistant asked me into his office ahead and to the dismay of some of the ones waiting but explained that I had been there before. He evaluated and approved all the photocopies of documents which I have to submit about my car and myself. After the payment of 10,000 cfa (~15€) and him making some notes, he gave me a receipt for an appointment to pick up the document on the 30th of September. Quickly I reminded him, that that was Saturday and the embassy was closed. He had obviously forgotten that we had a public holiday on Wednesday. Ok, I should come back tomorrow at noon then.

Well, today with this receipt in my hand, I was lead to the consul’s assistant again, past the few waiting in front of his office. I found him in his office behind the ancient electric type writer filling in one of many legal forms they do on a daily basis for Guineans in Côte d’Ivoire. He greeted me very friendly and asked me to wait a few minutes in one of the comfy chairs in his nicely chilled office. It felt like it was minus 18ºC especially coming from around 30ºC outside.
Once he had finished his form, he asked me for a favour. I was curious what could that be. He requested, please from every village you travel through, take a wife with you. He smirked. My reply, that from the car papers he could see that I only have normal vehicle and not a bus besides that I have a lovely wife at home and one is enough, made everyone in the office laugh out loud. He responded amused, that you can never have enough wives! We left it at that as he stamped and signed my Laissez-Passer before wishing me a safe journey and happy returns!