Follow me on Twitter Posted on behalf of Guest Author Oi Servais
Oi here…
I will be living in Brazzaville for the next 3 years. I make a note to myself that when I have a visitor for one day in Brazzaville, there are three places that I will bring them to see: the Brazza Mausoleum, the President’s Palace and the St. Ann Cathedral.
The Brazza Mausoleum
The only city in the whole central west side of Africa, I know so far, that did not change its name at independence is Brazzaville. It is named after Savorgnan De Brazza, a French explorer of Italian origin who discovered and befriended the locals of this town. Not only they will never change the name of this city but they also erected a mausoleum, a huge marble monument in the middle of the city as memorial for him. The mausoleum chronicles the details of his life and work in this side of the Congo River with great pride and care. It is impressive to see a white person so loved, revered and honour to such scale in an African city.
The Presidential Palace
I took a picture of the Presidential Palace the first time I saw it; not of the Palace itself, but of a tanker permanently parked in front of the main entrance of the heavily guarded gate. The tanker was raised on a solid stone pedestal with the gun pointed to the gate of the palace. On the tanker there is a sentence written in French which says ‘Plus jamais ca’ (Never again). The President had been hit by the gun of this same tanker one night, and luckily he survived the assassination attempt. This tanker was placed there to remind him of the traitor who shot him, each time he goes in and out of the palace, but it also says a lot about how the current president of Republic of Congo came into power, and what he feels he needs to stay there. I really would love to have all my Interior Alignment ‘family’ over to Brazzaville to see this. It could be a subject of long discussion in our group about the feng shui effect this tanker has on both the residence of the presidential palace as well as all the population which resides in Brazzaville.
St. Ann Cathedral
Another landmark of Brazzaville that is very beautiful is the St Ann Cathedral. This cathedral is under renovation right now. It must be the only Catholic cathedral in the world with a malachite roof throughout.
© Copyright Oi Servais, 2007. All rights reserved.
2 Responses to “The Feng Shui of a City”
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This is very interesting. Where are you originally from, and how did you happen to come to move to Brazzaville?
I read your last post about the realtors in Brazzaville, and wondered then why you were posting on that interesting subject (and I forwarded your post to the realtors I know in America). Now I understand, since you’ve moved there.
I think I’ll check out Brazzaville in Google Images. Have you ever thought of posting some photos on your site? I’d be interested in seeing this tanker and also the malachite roof.
Best regards,
Eileen
Dedicated Elementary Teacher Overseas (in the Middle East)
elementaryteacher.wordpress.com
Dear Eileen,
I have photos of the tanker and the malachite roof and still trying to figure out how to put them in the web or in my blog. Glad you find the articles interesting. The republic of Congo is a fascinating country. I have a surprise waiting for me at every corner everyday and at every conversation at diner table.
For your info. there is no english language school in Pointe Noire and I know of so many expats that have to turn down their job assignment to Pointe Noire because there is no english language school for their kids. Too bad for those kids, the experience of a slow pace life in Africa could have enrich their young life as oppose to all the too competitive and acheivement oriented school environment back home.
I am originally from Thailand but live in East Bay area California. I accompany my husband to Brazzaville for his job assignment with Chevron.
Thank to my extend IA family I survive and thrive in Africa with many stories to tell each day.
Oi