Just got back from a mega-trip around the new Kigali with Paul. First we went to change some dollars into spending tokens. No more queuing up in banks or getting ripped off by street exchange merchants - there are little 'cambio' offices everywhere. Apparently all the street guys have been forced to get offices. But it is great ... no queue, no fees, good exchange rate - excellent!
Then we went to the Trade Expo for Artisans ... it was totally wonderful. About 80 stalls from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania selling fab stuff. Paul was the most effective 'financial adviser'. The sellers took one look at the muzungu and doubled their prices. Paul promptly beat them down to half - and then started negotiating. I bought TONNES of stuff (not sure how I'm going to get it home) for very cheap (don't worry John :-)
After we were shopped out, we went on a tour of Kigali to see all the new buildings and gardens - it's certainly a lot more developed. We went to a big new, modern shopping centre - the like of which has never been seen in Kigali. It even has a supermarket - a proper one! The traffic is absolutely crazy - there are just so many cars on the road. There is a huge area in the centre of town which used to be full of shacks and dwellings - it has now been totally cleared to make way for a new business park. The people were given compensation but of course they say it is not enough. All the land owners in the centre of town have been told to either build a multi storey building or sell the land.
OK, I still love Kigali.
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