Goliatha and Embassy Wheels in Togo

Here I am on the hood of one of the U.S. embassy cars in Lome, Togo.

Don't worry. I did not take a ride ON the car, just in it.

Dragon sunbathing in Africa

Here is Goliatha taking it easy at the U.S. ambassador's swimming pool in Lome, Togo.

A note from Togo

January 5, 2009

Hello everyone. Goliatha arrived here in Togo just in time for the end-of-year holidays. Togo is a very small and poor country in West Africa. It is on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city is Lomé (pronounced Lo-mey). Togo was a colony of Germany, Great Britain and France, one after the other. That is why the official language is French. It has been independent since 1960 and has been striving toward democracy ever since. Since 1963 it has been ruled by the same family, the Gnassingbé s, first the father, Eyadéma, and now the son, Faure.

I am the American Ambassador to the Togolese Republic, and a friend of Danika’s Uncle Dan and Aunt Lisa. We all served together in the Dominican Republic. Goliatha joined me and my husband and daughter here at the Ambassador’s Residence for some vacation time – which she needed after all her travels. We lounged around the pool, and went shopping. It was hard to take pictures out on the streets, since most people in African countries don’t like to have their picture taken and won’t give their permission. (They think it diminishes their souls.) Also, since Togo has many military sites there are restrictions on taking pictures in public places. We did get some good shots of Goliatha at the U.S. Embassy and riding in the Ambassador’s car with the official flags. We wanted to take her with us on a quick trip to a neighboring country called Benin, but she did not have a visa (a stamp in your passport that gives you permission to visit another country) so we didn’t want to smuggle her across the border illegally.

I am going to send Mr. Kubiske the pictures we took so he can put them on the web site. I can’t do it from here because Togo’s Internet communication infrastructure is not developed enough.

Patricia M. Hawkins

U.S. Ambassador to the Togolese Republic

Lomé, Togo, West Africa

More pictures from Iraq

Many thanks to friend, fellow cigar smoker and great New Orleans microbrew tourguide Ltc Robert Buckman for babysitting Goliatha.

The dragon is now on her way to Lome, Togo. (That in the continent of Africa, in case you want to look it up on a map.)

Before Goliatha left, however, Ltc Buckman sent a couple of pictures of Goliatha visiting some important sites in Baghdad.

On the right is a picture of Ltc. Buckman and Golliatha at the Crossed Swords monument that was in all the news.

And below is the mausoleum of the Ba'ath Party founder (they've removed his body, though).The Ba'ath Party was the party that was run by the late dictator Saddam Hussien.

Look at the miles

Goliatha has had some journey so far. (All those crisscross lines are her travels.)

1. Bryan, Ohio to Ypsilanti, Michigan = 72 miles
2. Ypsilanti, Mich., to Beloit, Wisc. = 272 miles
3. Beloit to Chicago, Ill. = 70 miles
4. Chicago to Sao Paulo and then Brasilia, Brazil = 5,750 miles
5. Brasilia to Baghdad (via Miami for military mail) = 10,432 miles

She is now on her way to Qatar for an additional 700 miles.

So far she has traveled at least 17, 296 miles.

From Qatar she is bound for Lome, Togo for another 15,000 miles or so.

And her travels have really just begun.

Too bad she is not getting frequent flier miles. Dani could have a real nice vacation with all those miles racked up.

Made it to Baghdad: Pictures

Thanks to Col. Robert Buckman I was able to see something of Baghdad last month.

Here I am with Col. Buckman at the Duck and Cover club the army has in the middle of the international zone of Baghdad. As you see by the way the colonel is dressed, this is still not such a safe area.

I've got more pictures coming pretty soon.

Made it to Baghdad

Got confirmation a couple of days ago that Goliatha made it to Baghdad, Iraq.

Col. Robert Buckman is showing the beastie around the Green Zone and his Army base.

We should have pictures and text soon.