"Frank Reid" wrote in message
...


Oci-One Kanubi wrote:

Kinshasa map is at:
http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/d...f-congo13.html

This is a good map for reference. Here are some landmarks for those who
might want to mount a search for my flyfishing gear when this blows over.
:-)

The school is located at A2, at the bottom 'point' of the large right-hand
green area. For those with the more improved map skills, subdivide each map
square into 10x10 additional squares, and I'll give coordinates in Lat/Long,
with (1,1) being the top, left corner, (5, 10) being the middle of the right
edge, and (10,10) being the bottom right. So the school is located at A2
(8,8), on the east side of the main road. This is a rather old and outdated
map, as there are some other roads not shown, and that main drag is now
called Route de Matadi. Ave du L'ecole is several hundred yards southwest of
here, and unused and impassible from a bridge washout. Camp Tshatshi is
where the coup attempt was last month, and the gunfire was in the street
between us. The current military roadblocks are at the bend in the road (A2
(6,7)) and where the road crosses into square A3), as that is where the mobs
were moving and bashing at our gates.

Some major rioting today was at B2 (5,3), which is the nexxus of roads in
Kintambo, and some cars got smashed up there. The worst of it, however, was
across town at the UN headquarters (C1 (6,6), right where the '0' of '30
Juin' is) and the BIG riots were at G4 (9,5), in Masina, at the MONUC
compound. Unfortunately, Ave. Lumumba is the only road to the airport, so
although some flights came in today, not one person was there to board for
the outbound and every plane that came into Kinshasa left empty! The
military ran a convoy to bring the few incoming folks through the riots into
town.

For historical reference, the place where we got held up at gunpoint last
year is B2 (4,5) on the extention of Komoring, which is not shown. There's a
nice little restaurant at C1 (5,7), and the place where I fish the big river
is at A2 (3,5), on the south side of the island.

Everything seems to have quieted down outside now (thank god!) and the word
is that a few rabble rousers are stomping around downtown, but getting
chased around by the police and military. There hasn't been any more gunfire
since midday, and the helicopters have stopped their rounds. People are
saying that more mob action is expected tomorrow, but that the bulk of the
frustration has been vented and we expect it to be a lukewarm event.

Whew, today was just freaking scary at times, I tell you what! But at least
the Congolese guard outside with the seriously mean-looking dog is well fed.
I brought him a 3-course meal and told him (in French) "Thanks for being
here!"

--riverman