October 13, 2025: Hotel Adventures in Nouakchott
Good day. October 13th comes around, and signing up for a hotel is always an interesting adventure. Johan usually finds a place on the way and books it for one night, only to discover the actual cost on site. Today at Aloe Amirah Hotel, the desk quoted €110, while Johan had secured an online deal for about €72. Trying to extend the stay proved tricky, as the hotel suggested booking another night through Hotels.com instead of offering a better rate directly. Common sense didn’t seem to prevail there.
Refueling Challenges
Once that was figured out, we decided it was time to fill up the tank. Diesel is available without issue, but paying for it is a challenge. Ideally, we wanted to pay with a VISA card to conserve the cash we had, but it didn’t work as expected. We tried at least ten stations, and every single one said “cash only.”
Exploring Nouakchott for Banking
Next, we needed a bank or exchange office. With the help of our electronic devices, we explored much of Nouakchott, only to arrive at Chosin Bank 15 minutes after it closed. Though we saw a lot of the city, we didn’t accomplish the mission yet. On the way back to the hotel, we found several exchange places, and finally secured a favorable rate, giving us enough cash to buy diesel.
Observations of Nouakchott
Nouakchott is a very intense town. Everyone is doing something, but there are fewer places to casually stop for a coffee unless you know where to go. Filling up the tank was also practical, as diesel in Mauritania is 20-30 cents cheaper per liter than where we were headed next. The goal was to have enough fuel to make it closer to the border before refilling again.
Evening Coffee and a Minor Mishap
In the evening, we enjoyed a coffee in front of our nice hotel, which made the day feel complete. However, the day also included a minor traffic mishap: I missed a stop sign and a local policeman noticed. I had to pay a small amount—about 200 of their currency—but it was the quickest way to resolve it.
Wrapping Up the Day
Overall, it was an interesting and eventful day in Nouakchott. Thanks for being along for the journey, and on to tomorrow!
