Nigeria Journal Part 5: Dinner in Lagos and Dressing Like the Natives.

 I don’t remember how long we rode in the cars but by the time we got to the fast food joint where we ate dinner it was dark.  The place was called “Mega Chicken.”       

Ezekial, pastor Brett, and Pastors Ignatius and Lozie at
Mega Chicken

It was a 2 story building.  The bottom floor was split between a side where traditional foods could be bought and eaten.  The other side offered different kinds of rice dishes, pounded yam, chicken and beef dishes, some salads and refreshments.  I had some beef, joloff rice, which was white rice in a red spicy sauce, sticks of pounded yam and a coke.  Pounded yam is not like sweet potatoes that we think of as yams.  They are extremely large tubers that taste more like white potatoes.  They're very high in starch but not sweet at all.

piles of yams, at the market in Owerri

   Next we went to the DeMordent Hotel, where we would be staying while we were in Lagos.  By the time we got here it was around 10:30 at night.  It's quite an opulent hotel, with marble sided walls, deluxe bathrooms, a lovely dining room/lounge and lovely staff.

The Demordent Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria

We were met by Sister Esther, who had sewn outfits for each of us.  We each received 2 outfits. 

Susie, Rod and Darlene in the outfits made for us by Sister Esther

I'm all decked out in my Nigerian finery.

 The men’s were like pajamas; pull up pants with elastic waist lines and pullover tops with embroidery around the vented neckline.  One set was white with a blue design and the other was white with a pink and purple design.  We women each received a loose fitting muumuu kind of dress that was pink and white and grey and had elaborate appliqué at the neckline.   The other was a tight fitting two piece dress.  The top was tailored tight at the waist with short puffed sleeves and a square cut neckline.  It zippered up the back.  The skirt had elastic at the waist but also zippered up the back.  It was tight to right above the knees and then flared out like a mermaid skirt.  It was green with white and red lozenge shapes on it, with black trim at the neckline and sleeves.  I have to say, that although I don’t normally wear tight fitting clothes, it was the perfect size and looked good on me!  But, oh!  It was hard getting in and out of the SUV in it!

   Finally, around 11:30 we dropped into bed!