Thomas Hubert - journalist(e)

L'une des joies de la conduite à Kinshasa réside dans la lecture des noms que les conducteurs de taxi attribuent à leur véhicule. Vous habitez à Kin ? Envoyez vos meilleurs pare-soleils de taxi à Fred, il les collectionne !

Mary's employer had us duly warned: "The Congolese postal service is currently not functioning, although some letters have been known to make it through to the office in Kinshasa." In fact, the post does work.

DR Congo's excellent beers would refresh the most demanding throats - as long as you acquire the necessary equipment and respect the unwritten rules governing off-licence shops.

I had it coming. Too many tarmac roads infested with racketeering policemen avoided, too much driving in mud ponds where you cannot see where your wheels are going: there came my first flat tyre.

A few days ago, loud music began to pour out of a powerful sound system outside a house on our street. That night was a sleepless one, earplugs notwithstanding.