Missives from the Congo 019

So I've been in Goma for a little less than a week though I've already spent two nights out of town in Bukavu which is at the other end of lake Kivu. Like the other major cities I've been to (Kinshasa, Kisangani, Kindu and now Bukavu) Goma has it's own personality. The first thing you notice is the weather. Goma is 1,500 m above sea level in the mountains of the central African plateau. It is cool here. The average daily high in 25 degrees and the low is about 15 degrees. So perfect weather in my books. There is no air conditioning at the house and you need a blanket on the bed. The altitude also means many fewer mosquitoes though we still sleep under the bug nets.

The other significant difference is the roads. The roads in Goma are atrocious. The is largely because of Nyiragongo, the volcano just 20 kilometers out of town. The entire town is built on more or less recent lava flows. The flows are hard, irregular and jagged. It is very difficult to create a smooth road surface on the lava flows. They cover the base with generous amounts of crushed stone and stone dust but some of it invariably washes away with the rains, leaving potholes with jagged lava rock sticking out. It's tough on the suspension and worse on the tires.

The availability of food and restaurants is much greater in Goma than in Kisangani four years ago. It rivals Kinshasa but at a lesser cost. More on this in a later missive.



Finally, Goma has a more eclectic mix of vehicles on the road. There are many more cars than in Kisangani but not the crush of vehicles you see in Kinshasa. There are also many motor bikes and, unique to the Goma area, chickadoos. These are like oversized wooden bikes mainly used to carry stuff around. Driving is ever a challenge in the Congo. Goma is no different in that respect.

All and all Goma is living up to its' reputation as the best place to be in the Congo.