Lomé, the Market Town, the Lagoon and the Ocean
July 21, 2010
Lome is the capital and largest city of Togo. Lomé is a city of only 730,000 inhabitants, and is adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea.
The city has undergone major changes during its past as the capital of a country that went from being a colony of Germany before the First World War to join the many colonies of both France and the British Empire. No clutch is a great collective spirit, and people have always regarded this land as their land. So, even now many people do not want to leave his piece of land that has been for generations in his family, and through the streets of the city you can see big houses with large pools and small stone houses side by side, contrasting social differences and national spirit.
During previous years, Lomé had been a major trade between the largest countries in the Gulf of Guinea. Later, he managed to attract tourists for its beautiful beaches. Now the city is full of rhythm, boutiques and trendy cafes, where the most humble homes are next to the skyscrapers of banks and luxury hotels.
The city attracts many tourists for its beaches and climate. The city has two rainy periods, one in late spring and another in early fall. The weather is always warm, ranging between 23 º C and 30 º C throughout the year although the heat is not appeased by the ocean breeze.
The north of the city is separated from the center of the city by a lake of 30 square kilometers. The lagoon looks like a beautiful oasis within the city.
Lomé Grand Market, the Lomé Grand Market, is a traditional three-storey market. Many locals and tourists come here to enjoy a wide selection of natural products from red peppers and lemons from the region until dried fish directly from the ocean. On the ground floor is Nana Benz, a site devoted to clothing, where you can find more traditional clothes and bright colors of the region. Moreover, in this market are still sold many ingredients that are used for traditional medicines and thousands of herbs and natural remedies.
It also highlights the National Museum of Togo, located in the Palacio de Congresos, one of the largest convention centers in the city. The museum was founded in 1975. In the museum there are several ethnographic and cultural exhibitions, with many different art streams. There are many artifacts, jewelry and musical instruments, objects made of ceramics and art collections of several centuries of history.
The city is full of colonial architecture such as the impressive chests and galleries of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Togo. Lomé Cathedral is a building built in the German Gothic style in the early twentieth century. Many other influences are mixed in this African city over time. The city is notable for its small houses of different colors. The panorama of the city is a unique combination of red soil, huge boulevards, small streets and the stunning coastline of the city.
The coast is definitely the quieter and more melancholy of the city. During the early hours of the morning shipped hundreds of local fishermen in their boats to go fishing. By noon, the beach is full of people, both locals and tourists, who come to take advantage of the calm waters of the gulf.
This city also features the Palace of Justice. Moreover, it is worthwhile to see the Independence Monument, located in the heart of the city in the center of the capital and near the Palace of Congresses and the National Museum of Togo.
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