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Monrovia Liberia (ROB)
Conakry Guinea (CKY)
Sierra Leone (SRK)
These airports were my introduction to West Africa. I was in for a shock when I first landed at Conakry Airport. You are greeted by mobs of people forcefully grabbing your bags. They have a baggage carousel, that they bring the luggage to in hand carts to be placed upon (it doesn't work). There was actually only one ATM in the whole country of Guinea and that did not work.
It was shocking to me at first but now I think it's a good experience and reminder that we are very privileged in the West to have our nice airports and ATM machines. I can't blame the hustlers who made my airport experience uncomfortable. I mean, what should I expect? If I was African, I would be a hustler too. What else is one to do when crushed by poverty?
You think the airports are scary? Try getting on an ancient Antonov 24 (complete with cockroaches in the plane) to fly between the airports. I didn't choose this flight either, it was booked for me by the agency I was working for.
