contributing to the economy, though somewhat unwillingly part 2

Three stories, one thread.

Nigerian visa story, part 2

Okay, so I can stay in Benin for 48 hours on a transit visa, and I'm at the hotel. It is 6:00 in the morning, but I'm in no shape to wander around until I could only pay for one night, and I don't want to show up at the Nigerian Embassy being and looking homeless, just in case appearances matter.

So, I register, and am taken to my room - 310 at the Riviera Hotel. I suppose you could argue that it is like the Riviera compared to its surroundings, but that says more about the surroundings than about the Hotel. To be fair, the builders did a good job, and I suspect that the neighbourhood declined after the hotel was built - unfortunate for the builder because it is a nice third world hotel - with a 'business centre', from which I am typing this blog - after I relearned how to set the French 'Azerty' keyboard to work like the English 'Qwerty' keyboard.

But, back to the economy and my conversation with the man who set me up in the hotel. We got to my room and he indicated that the regular price was 41,800 CFA (about $90), but since I arrived so late he'd only charge me half for the first 'night'. I agreed, paid the 20,000 CFA for the first night, then the 41,800 CFA for the second night, and he gave me a receipt for the 41,800 CFA.

Hmmmm....

When he noticed my name in the reservations book, he erased it.

...I think I understand...