Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 61
43 stopped near me. The driver asked me, in his language, where did I want to go? I mentioned the name Praia – that was the only name I remembered. I consulted my diary and asked about the fare. He said, ‘Cinco Escudo’. I had the Senegalese currency CFA which is used in all the countries neighbouring Senegal. I assumed that it would be acceptable in Cape Verde as well. The Taxi driver saw CFA in my hand and went away without saying anything. Afterwards ten to twelve taxis stopped near me and after similar conversation sped away. Thus almost all the airport taxis left and so did the airport staff because very few planes landed there. I stood there under the sun holding my two bags helplessly looking right and left. It is beyond me to describe that state of helplessness and homelessness. A taxi then came to the airport from the city and stopped near me. Two passengers appeared from nowhere, they spoke to the taxi driver and entered the taxi. I asked about their well-being in English and they answered in English. That encouraged me a bit and I narrated my ordeal to them. They took pity on my destitution and one of them gave me five Escudos. I thanked him and told him that the Escudos solved only one of my problems. What else was there, he asked. I told him that I was a new comer to the town and asked him to guide me to a place where I could spend the night. The young men were very kind to me. They accommodated me in the same taxi and set off to Praia and dropped me at the gates of an average hotel. I thanked Allah the Almighty; at least I had a roof over me. I went to the hotel reception and enquired about the room. The rent was more than I could afford. But there was no way out. I took the key, put the luggage in the room, changed my clothes