Brazzaville is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Congo and is located on the Congo River. As of the 2007 census, it has a population of … about 2 million in total …

The populous city of Kinshasa (more than 10 million inhabitants in 2009), capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lies just across the Congo River …

Brazzaville is named after the Italian (but French-naturalized) explorer Pietro Savorgnan di Brazza, the man who first discovered the Republic of Congo. Di Brazza was a gentle man, known for his non-violent methods and opposition to colonial exploitation. His body was returned in 2006, interred in a new gleaming memorial.

Brazzaville is the only African capital to have retained its colonial name.

French control over the (Brazzaville) area was made official by the Berlin Conference of 1884. The city became the capital first of the French Congo, and then of French Equatorial Africa.

Brazza was the capital of ‘Free France’ for a number of years in the World War II. Charles De Gaulle stayed here in exile during World War II.

Here’s my hotel …

… it’s the rainy season.

There are surprisingly few stray dogs. This family lives in the fire hall.

Traditional food is good. Western food … interesting.

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