Togo Memory #5: The Hotel Kara Pool and Le Jardin Restaurant
These are two places we visited today and that we have frequented throughout the past decade. Today we encountered a huge thunderstorm and were pelted by cold, hard raindrops as we stood under the little covered tables beside the pool. I stood there with the Millers and all of our children until we made a run for it into the Hotel 
Hannah celebrated her 8th birthday at the Kara pool and we have spent countless days off hanging out, teaching our kids to swim, and hanging out with teammates. Both the pool and Le Jardin restaurant have also been venues for our ladies’ prayer time on Thursdays through the years.
Le Jardin is the nicest restaurant in town. It is outdoors and the restaurant is host to a super yummy Duc de Boeuf de Bourgoinon as well as other dishes we like. Our family’s favorite affordable meal plan is to order 6 plates of Nems, kind of like a spring roll but made with rice paper. We have many times ordered ahead and picked up our Nems around dinner time. We had some tonight after our rainy pool afternoon and they were very delicious! Le Jardin has also been where we have hosted fancy dinners with our team, our choice of venue for Mother’s Day or other special celebrations, and a place where I’ve gone to be by myself and study or pray. Oh, and they also have really good banana splits and hot chocolate!
We know the lifeguards at the pool and the waitresses and cook at Le Jardin. They have been at their jobs for years. These are two places I think everyone in our family will really miss.
Here are the children at Le Jardin. I’ll have to find a picture of the Kara Pool later and add it in.
Dear Becky, I have two more memories to throw into the pot. #1: when Don rode back from somewhere (?) with your entire family and him squeezed into the beloved Tabligbo Team Galloper! When you were somewhere between Sokode and Kara, you insisted on buying LOTS of mangoes, because you were planning to dry them and give them as gifts during furlough. They were cheaper there than in Kara. So then Don, your entire family, AND the mangoes were squeezed into the Galloper! Ha, ha – I love it!
#2: Around election time, Dave was really stressing out. At one point, he went to SIL and spoke to Marv about potential escape plans. Dave told Marv, “I feel exposed . . . and naked. . . like I’m caught with my pants down!” And Marv said, “That’s a lot of negative phrases all together there, Dave.”
Yay! Those are 2 other great memories that I had forgotten! I barely remember David telling Marv all of that but I’m so glad you did! I always remember you thinking of and reminding me of things on pretty much any subject or issue that I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. Things hidden to me were revealed to you and I miss so badly all of your insights, dear friend!
Okay, I am laughing out loud at Marv’s comment to Dave! Too funny.
I have to admit, I was surprised to find something as nice as le Jardin or Hotel Kara Pool in Kara Togo! I do have a funny memory of Le Jardin, though. Just outside those pretty garden-lined walks, I ran into a bunch of guinea hens running around on the muddy, rocky road- making all kinds of noise– and I think that is also when I realized there were a number of bats in the trees near there…
my impression of Africa- relative luxury next to abject poverty and dirt and animals everywhere. I am thankful that you had these two places of retreat and comfort to enjoy for all the years. I know there are many things you will miss- but hope you will make new memories here and in your new home. (And we have a pool– it’s just not open in December!) 
Ha ha, Jane — that’s hilarious picturing all of them in the Galloper. I once fit 12 people in that Galloper — no joke (to and from a ladies’ meeting!).
I love reading these memories, Becky — I plan to one day write out mine on my blog — just haven’t had the UMPH to do it.
I have a memory of the Hotel Kara pool from our survey trip there in ’97…it was the first time in my life that I saw ants literally carring a whole slice of tomato or a whole piece of lettuce up stairs. Amazing!
Becky,
My google reader has failed me! I’ve missed your last 6 or so posts!! Aahh! I love that you are sharing your Togo memories. I did something similar on my blog and I think it really helped to process everything. Plus, it’s really fun remembering the fun times, stressful times and straight out scary times with you. I had totally forgotten about Cafe Celeste! I can’t remember why it shut down…because she moved? Now that I’ve got my google reader issue resolved, I won’t miss anymore posts! Love you, friend.