Travel Diary: Benin Republic Has My Heart.

Road trips have always held a special place in my heart, and the journey from Lagos to Ouidah felt like stepping back into my favorite childhood memories.

The drive took just over three hours, weaving through bustling cities, quiet stretches of road, and into Benin’s vibrant culture. In Cotonou, I saw the iconic Woman King statue, a striking tribute to the strength and resilience of African women. The beach here was unlike anything I’d seen before—old planes repurposed into architectural structures, creating a surreal blend of history and innovation.

Ouidah, however, left the deepest impression on me. It’s a place clothed in the echoes of a painful history, one that speaks of resilience and remembrance. Waking up at Casa del Papa to the sunrise over the Atlantic was magical. The shores came alive with tiny crabs scurrying in and out of the sand, while the breeze carried whispers of the past.

These moments are my keepsakes from Cotonou and Ouidah—fragments of beauty, history, and connection.