TeamGaither

Winter at the Beach

A big group of us went to our friend's beach hut in December - we go frequently throughout the year but due to the winter Harmattan and extreme weather changes, the growth on the Lagoon was off the charts - we could barely dock the boat!

Area Boys - 1

C (right) and his mate moved here when they were 5 years old. At 8, they ride bikes and scooters like normal kids only we have to use a gated community for safety and we have to dodge entire sections of broken concrete. 

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C and his mate moved here when they were 5 years old. At 8, they ride bikes and scooters like normal kids only we have to use a gated community for safety and we have to dodge entire sections of broken concrete. 

Calf Scramble!

Our beach outings usually follow the same routine - Brekky...Champagne..Swim.. BBQ. Then this happened. Hilarious.

Cost.. Co

I saw this car selling "kitchen roll" (paper towels) outside my compound one day. Each package is N5300 or $32 USD. It sounds insane but anytime you can buy something in bulk here is worth it. Also, we save on petrol!

Tuesday Yoga

This is the yoga class my friend teaches at our compound. It's awesome because it's in the clubhouse every tuesday at 8am so I have no excuse not to go. Our life can be very sendentary so fitness classes are extremely popular.

Heel-arious!

These are extremely common and "legitimate" shoes that many Nigerian women wear. Considering you can't find a decent piece of sidewalk, it shocks me that any woman can exist in these shoes. But it is a status symbol and shoes are a lifestyle in Lagos.

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This is the road to the airport after a very small rain. You can imagine what happens in the rainy season!

"The Supermarket"

This is one of the few supermarkets near our compound. It doesn't look like much from the outside but it has the basics. Also it's just funny because it is called "The Supermarket!". Really?

Rules will NOT be Tolerated!

A friend of mine has a book abt funny signs around Africa - it is hilarious and I must find it! I am often struck by how things are advertised here. This sign is at the entrance of a nice gated community where we run. All I see when I pass it is the last line.. "Rules will not Be Tolerated!" Classic.

Waterfront view?

This is the Lagoon in front of some very high-end apartments in Ikoyi. Once you are in the flat, you have terrific views of the water and the skyline but the view (and the smell) from the parking lot is such a shame.

De Plane! De Plane!

A good friend sent me this pic. I'm not sure which disturbs me more - that one would actually think it is safe to get a tattoo in Lagos or the complete absence of artistic creativity in the advertisement itself. I mean if you're going to get a Tat, get a Tat you know? Something fierce and meaningful - like my personal favorite, the Shamrock, which every one of my cousins (save me) has somewhere on their body - for life.

Taxi Queue

This is Lagos' answer to a Taxi Queue - a bunch of guys on "okadas" or motorbikes that you can use like a taxi. You arrange the price beforehand and then hold on for dear life!

An epidemic

Trash is basically an insurmountable problem in Lagos. Most of it has to do with an overpopulated city that lacks proper trash removal resources. I've also heard that many people here believe trash has bad luck so to pick up another person's trash is taboo.

Store Front

This is one of the many shops we pass on our way home each day. It is part of a larger market of stalls. They all have electricity inside but they are about the size of a small bathroom so goods are stocked up outside and anywhere that has space.

Street Vendors

One of thousands of street vendors along the roads - clothes, football jerseys, bottled water, electrical appliances, top up cards, the list is never ending.

Sidewalks

An example of the sidewalks I have referred to, or lack of. This is the front of a little shop, there is trash in front and an old generator left by the door.

Street Vendors 2

This vendor does not even have a stall or an umbrella. He has just found an old box for which to display his wares.

Car Seat - Culture

I have been trying to find out what the laws are here for car seats and/or transporting children but even if there are laws, they are not enforced. This woman is carrying her baby in a very traditional way- with a special scarf on her back. It really worries me when I see Mothers on the "okadas" or taxi-bikes, especially with Lagos traffic being so aggressive!

Apple-ly store

This is the Apple repair shop I took my laptop to at the suggestion of a salesperson at the mall. It was hard to find but that is not unusual! The apple poster in the windows put me at ease - sort of!

Apple-ly Store 2

This is the inside of the Mac Repair shop. It was much more professional looking than I expected and it turns out it is a shared office space. One receptionist with shared phone lines, rent etc. There was a magazine company there as well - a very good way  to save money in Lagos I suspect!

The Basics

I have seen people talk about the lack of toilets in Lagos with intense disgust. But like the trash issue, it is a real problem. In addition to people living on the streets you have an entire sub-culture of people that work the streets all day. You can't just stop by a starbucks and sneak into the bathroom. Unfortunately you see people taking care of personal business in broad daylight- often from bridges. This sign says it all and is probably one of hundreds I see every day.

Business as Usual

Yet another street vendor - this one selling passport pictures. I really want to know what kind of camera he uses and how they print it on the street!

Coke Is It!

This image really made me smile. My Dad represented Coca Cola as a salesman when I was a kid and we always had vintage coke things around the house (a lost fortune in a yard sale Im sure!). I like seeing the salesman run through the hot city streets with his cold cokes - still in glass bottles!

Road Warriors

Bikes and Okadas rule the roads in Lagos. If, no WHEN there is traffic, they can usually get past it by squeezing between the cars and driving on the median strips.

Siesta

Because of the heat and the traffic, most people who work in the shops or around the streets start their day very early, take a long lunch break, then work through the evening. It is not uncommon to see people asleep on the side of the road or under a tree. Ofcourse many people are just sleeping and it has nothing to do with their work day or schedule, it is just part of Lagos.

Head Case

People here can carry anything on their heads. Many people have a special hat that helps them balance and protect their head. It is typically food for sale- sandwiches and water but most of the men seem to carry supplies or repair kits for generators and electrical items.

Baby - Factory?

This was a disturbing image and I still haven't been able to confirm if it is actually in use, but this Maternity Center looked like an abandoned prison. Thankfully someone told me most local women have their babies at home. I can only assume that is safer, and cleaner!

Typical Afternoon

This is a lot of what I see on the way home, people hanging out on the side of the road not doing very much. Not everyone is homeless, but there is a lot more livelihood on the streets; people to meet and ways to make money 

Sales - man.

I rarely see children selling wares in the street as they are legally supposed to be in school but this was in the afternoon so it's possible it was legit. This was also the first time I have seen toys or carnival like items for sale- it is usually food, top-up cards, or newspapers.

Lunch Time

There is a lot of activity around lunch time in the streets. Many vendors make a lot of money during the break period- shining shoes, cutting hair, selling sandwiches and rice for lunch. Many also take their lunch on the street socializing with the other vendors.

Vista

There are countless pretty spots in Lagos - they just take a bit of time to find and since I spend a great deal of  time in my car, it is hard to stop and smell the roses. This is the bridge from Ikoyi Island to Victoria Island.

Modern Times

Here is an example of a very modern building in Lagos - just down the street from our flat near Banana Island. There are lots of these developments going up and the city has built several new bridges to connect the islands and make commuting easier.

Open Road

This is a rare find - an open stretch of road, even quieter on a sunday. This isn't far from our flat which is why we chose to live here!

Old meets New

This is a very high end house in an affluent neighborhood but it astounds me that the crew still creates scaffolding out of bamboo.

High Brow

This is one of the many higher end houses in our neighborhood. There is no shortage of these and they are all new construction.

Lucky Number

This is a make-shift but legal lottery that is organized on the street. There are several games but they are primarily number driven - you can select your numbers and place them to win. I asked our driver if it is rigged as there is so much fraud in Nigeria but apparently they use a machine to choose the winning numbers.

Baptist Church

Churches make everyone nervous in Nigeria but there have been very few problems in Lagos. This is a nice Baptist Church just down the street from E's office.

Road Trip

This is an all-too common site. In fact, it is tame compared to some of the buses and trucks I have seen packed to the brim with people - none of whom are in any kind of seat.

Reality Check

This is a housing complex not far from our flat. It is, in a word, a slum but lots of people live there as it is adjacent to a large market place where one can easily buy and sell everyday items.

Reality Check - 2

We pass the housing complex almost daily and this time I noticed a guy in the "back yard" (aka the dirt covered space between the flats) working out with free weights. The "do not urinate here" sign is a staple of any public space.

1004 Estates

This is a really interesting pic I borrowed from a friend's blog - it's the view of the kids' school and the surrounding estate (apartments) taken from her flat. The school looks surprisingly green and the area as a whole looks planned. The city looks and feels as if there was virtually no zoning or planning so this is a welcome sight.

Sunnies for sale

This guy is selling sunglasses. It is a huge block of wood with little slits carved in that hold the sunglasses in place.

Security

This is the type of security detail that many expats are provided with when heading to Mainland Lagos. There are 3-4 guards in the truck and it follows your usual car and driver, with security lights and lots of honking so that other cars can not get between you in traffic. It is typically only for coming and going to the airport but if the Company feels extra security is needed (sometimes following political issues or crimes in the area) then you have to use the extra security when going out at night.

Security - 2

This is a different Security car following another vehicle - not necessarily owned by an expat but anytime you head for the airport, you are sure to see a lot of SUVs followed by security detail. The amount of honking is atrocious!

Office Mates

This is a view from E's office parking garage. There is a police barracks next door that also utilizes the Company's parking lot for their morning drills. 

Head Strong

Yet another example of how many different things locals can carry (and balance!) on their heads!

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