As planned, Ivette and I set out for the bridge this morning. She agreed to leave after my breakfast though really wanted to leave at 6 am. She was right, the fish had all been sold by the time we got there. In the end we bought some frozen brought in from Kinshasa. The bridge was built by the Chinese and is quite a feat. It eliminates the need for a slow barge over the Kwilu. It didn't exist during our time there.

I took a few photos on the bridge and was imediately 'arrested' by a couple of military police. They hauled us both to their shack and I sat there for 30 minutes while Ivette and the 5 police shouted at each other. In the end, instead of the 50 dollars they had demanded as a fine, Ivette got them down to $3.50. She seemed quite pleased with herself and so was I. We passed by the store that our neighbour Joseph owns and he immediately added his phone number to call if the military harrassed me again. He obviously knows someone that knows someone.

We put on several miles and I was tired and soaking wet on our return. We each jumped on a moto taxi for the last mile or so home.

Ivette is introducing me as a Mpangi (a relative). I commented to one sales lady that we had been born to the same mama from the same papa. The lady appeared hesitant only for a second and accepted that mutations do happen. I need to try to explain who Ivette is in another post.