Luanda, Angola

"While every other country in Southern Africa has opened up to tourism in recent decades, Angola remains the exception—a vast Atlantic coast nation that has long been considered “out of bounds” to most visitors for myriad, shifting reasons, including the cost of living and the cost of war ...
Its position on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, its palm-fringed corniche, and its handsome colonial architecture will be a draw for visitors to southern Africa… one day. For now, the sheer expense of the city (often cited as the most prohibitive for visitors on the planet) coupled with crumbling infrastructure and a population who have seen precious little of the potential benefits of vast state oil revenues, makes for an urban hub that is still a long way from realizing its potential."

The oppressive heat, coupled with the rather intimidating warnings not to photograph certain buildings or people for fear of arrest were enough to dissuade Mr. W and I from venturing forth today.  Nevertheless, we did receive a warm welcome on the pier this morning from a group of enthusiastic dancers (see extra).  

The main image shows the disparity between the seemingly modern, gleaming new city rising up and the incredibly depressing slums that the majority of the population of Luanda call home.  Sobering indeed.