Favorite things about Benin 2: Lemonade

Step 1: Buy a demi-kilo of sugar from the boutique on the highway.

Step 2: Find another boutique that a, has access to a refrigerator and b, still has bottled water in stock.

Step 3: Stand under the lemon tree outside your house until someone taller with more gangly legs and a better history climbing lemon trees offers to get you some lemons. You’ll need about four.

Step 4: Combine sugar, water and juice of the lemons in a Nalgene.

Step 5: Shake.

Step 6: Enjoy. Before the water reaches room temperature. This is the first cold thing you’ve drunk all day.