Hi folks! This is gonna be the longest post ever, as I recap the past 3 or so weeks with photos…

So, I caught an Afriqiya flight from Cotonou at about 1:00am on Sunday 26th March, via Tripoli to London. Thankfully, both planes were quite empty, so I got 3 seats to lie across and have a bit of a kip! Arriving at around midday in London, I then met up with 4 good mates: Ed, Reggie, Billy and Clive for a curry and a pint. See post further down for photos of that get-together

Then it was off on an 18:05 Easyjet flight to Cologne, arriving around 20:30 local time. Then, a train as far as I could get, which was Siegburg, where I stayed overnight in a hotel which literally overlooked the railway line! Just as well, as I had to catch a 6:45 train the next morning to Haiger, where a lift was waiting to take me to the Wycliffe Centre in Holzhausen. Here it is:

(click on image to see a larger version)

Holzhausen is a lovely village, quite contrasting from Cotonou (which is ‘lovely’ in different ways!) Here’s Holzhausen taken from the Wycliffe centre:

Upon arrival, I was ushered straight into the classroom, where the first lecture was about to begin. Here’s the room and the other members of the group:

So, straight on with work, learning about the history and theories of ethnomusicology, studying the works of Merriam, Merryn and Nettl amongst others. Here are some of the course details:

Part of the course was to give a presentation based on an ethnography. The one I read was about the music and dance of the BaAka pygmies in the Congo and C.A.R. Here I am giving my presentation to the others:

The first weekend, I visited Frankfurt and had a whale of a time at the Music Exhibition, where there were hundreds of pianos to play. The second weekend, I visited my friend Gerald, whom I did a German exchange with nine years ago. Here I am with him

From his house, I went into Frankfurt and had an explore. Here’s Frankfurt, viewed from the top of the 200 metre high ‘Main Tower’:

And here’s a picture of the old part of Frankfurt. Very pretty:

And one more Frankfurt photo I must include (for Mike Webb if no-one else). Here’s the monster of an organ in Frankfurt Catherdral:

Once the course was over (including submitting a project of about 4000 words) I caught a train to Dortmund, then a flight to Luton, where Lois’ friend Clare picked me up and gave me hot cross buns and coffee for breakfast! Then off to Ampthill, to visit folk, including lunch in Bedford with Mum & Dad. Here they are:

Then in the evening, there was a get together at the Woods place, where lots of folk dropped in to say ‘Hi.’ (thanks to all of you who did – great to see you!) Here are a few shots from the evening:

(Rob with 3 tall men!)

(Rob with the Wood family)

(Rob with our pastor Stephen and his wife Carole).

(John the train/plane spotter!)

…and here’s the man who makes this whole blog possible. The brains behind robbaker.org, Mr Reggie Thompson:

(no Reg, don’t delete it – although I know you can!!)

Finally, after bed at 1:30am, I was up at 6:30 to get a lift to Gatwick with the inlaws. Here they are enjoying breakfast:

Finally, back to Cotonou, Benin, to be reunited with my lovely family. Here are the kids (taken once I’d got back:

There. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed hearing about the trip and seeing some of the photos. More Benin news soon. Watch this space…