Lobster Lady

One day, about a year and a half after we had moved to Port-Gentil, a woman from Togo came to the door carrying 20 kilos of live lobsters in a pan on her head. It was a very big pan. She introduced herself as Odile, and wouldn't I like to buy 10 kilos of lobsters? I ought to add here that the sun was high in the sky and relentless (at least 35C / 90F), and she had a 2-year-old child strapped to her back. Since I do like lobster and happen to have a soft spot for women walking down the street with 20 kilos of stuff on their head carrying a baby in the hot sun I called everyone I knew in town and we bought her whole load. Needless to say I quickly became Odile's new favorite customer and found myself buying lobster a bit more regularly than I might normally in another situation.

Here's our guard Herve and the kids "playing" with one of our new friends.
I should also admit that while I enjoy eating lobster (MMMMm...lobster and mango salad at the beach!), I really don't enjoy the boiling-alive-in-a-pot aspect to the whole ordeal. Odile quickly assured me she wasn't as worried about it as I was, and before I knew it she was in my kitchen taking care of business.
Note lobster in pot to the left and Odile cleaning up to the right. I doubt the guy at the fish counter at the supermarket back home would be as kind...
So, anyone planning to come to Gabon for vacation is welcome to join us in a delicious lobster salad, with the compliments of Odile.