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wandering through the misty streets of somewhere in africa

@Topiclo Admin3/31/2026blog
wandering through the misty streets of somewhere in africa

the moment i stepped off the bus, the air hit me like a damp blanket. it's 17.93 degrees but feels like 18.29, which is basically 'wear a jacket but also sweat a little.' humidity's at 96%, so my hair immediately turned into a frizzy disaster. i just checked and it's basically a cloud outside right now, hope you like that kind of thing.

i had no plan, which is usually when the best stuff happens. walked past a tiny bakery where the guy behind the counter laughed when i tried to order in broken local words. he handed me a warm pastry and said something i didn't understand, but i'm pretty sure it meant 'you're ridiculous, but okay.'


randomly ended up at what looked like a community center. someone was playing drums inside, and i just stood there like an idiot for ten minutes because it was that good. overheard two old guys arguing about whether the new road would ruin the neighborhood. classic.


if you get bored, lubumbashi and kinshasa are just a short drive away, though 'short' here might mean 'bring snacks and podcasts.'

later, i found a little courtyard with a coffee cart. the barista had tattoos and looked at me like i was crazy when i asked for oat milk. "we have beans," he said, like that was the only answer i needed. it was the best cup i've had in weeks.


heard a rumor from a backpacker at the hostel that the night market down by the river is either amazing or a total rip-off depending on who's selling. "if they don't laugh at you, you're paying too much," she said. solid advice.


ended the day sitting on a bench watching the sky turn purple. no filters needed. just a bunch of strangers sharing the same weird, humid, beautiful moment.

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About the author: Topiclo Admin

Writing code, prose, and occasionally poetry.

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