Darkness

After leaving the airport, I went to my hotel. I booked my hotel through a third-party website Bookings.com. As you couldn’t book the hotel directly via the company’s website. The site stated they would charge my credit card the day before I arrived. So, when I arrived at my hotel. I thought everything was good. Only to find out, yes, they had my reservation but they didn’t process the payment. As they only process payment in person via Naira, the Nigerian currency.

So, after my ordeal at the airport and arriving at the hotel to hear this. I was really frustrated because I didn’t have any Naira or a Nigerian bank account to transfer money (like we would in the US via PayPal, or CashApp) to the hotel to pay for my stay. I was like um, what do I do? I also stated why doesn’t their website state that, as it states they take international cards Visa, Mastercards, etc.

Thankfully, my Nigerian friend/escort hadn’t left yet. So, I asked him if he could pay for the hotel and I would reimburse him. I knew he had money because before the trip I had sent him some money to prepare for my arrival with getting tickets for the places I wanted to go and other things, etc.

So, he paid the fee for one night. I got to my room and I was disappointed as it did not look like a renovated hotel as it was advertised online. However, I was in Nigeria and thought to make the best out of it. So, I got some rest. Then the next day, which would be my first full day in Nigeria. I didn’t really want to go anywhere. I was exhausted from traveling and frustrated, the hotel room was hot and not up to expectations. I started questioning myself, wondering if I made a mistake in coming to Nigeria? All of a sudden I started crying for a few minutes, thinking maybe I needed to go back home. Lol.

BUT I pulled myself together and I had breakfast at the hotel and contacted my friends and family to let them know that I had arrived in Nigeria and all was well. I updated my status on Social Media so my colleagues would know all was well and those who were following my travels would know too.

However, as the day went on, the more annoyed I became. My room was hot as the air conditioner was on a timer that I had no control of. The bathroom was just really not up to par. The door frame to my room had a crack in it. Then the power went out. I was shocked that the power would go out in the hotel. Like I knew in people’s homes but in a hotel. Imagine my surprise. I had originally booked the hotel for two weeks. I was like oh, there is NO way, I can stay here for two whole weeks.

Me looking outside to see if everyone’s power was out or just the hotel.

Later, I went on the AirBnB app to find me somewhere else to go immediately. As I knew that app would take my money and not having any Naira or a Nigerian bank account wouldn’t be an issue with them.

Thankfully, I found a place and I asked the host if I could check in earlier than usual. As I was ready to leave that hotel, the host agreed. So, I prepared myself to relocate to an AirBnb for the duration of my stay!

Here are additional photos of the food served by the hotel. Besides the facility not being up to par… the food was good overall.

to be continued…