Stepan Semenov - an interpreter of French, Director of the Center for French studies at the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of Russia, member of the International Union of journalists. Because of the nature of the work travels a lot, including on the motorcycle.

During the following events, except for the beetle, has not suffered no representative of the local fauna.
See the article quotes do not necessarily reflect the views of the author, and the information gleaned them from open foreign sources and private interviews.

Democratic Republic Of The Congo. The largest country of Africa. Recently here hostilities ended, but bloody confrontation still erupt throughout, especially in the deeper parts of the country. The largest contingent of UN peacekeeping forces (23 thousand people ) in the world. Violent and pervasive nature. Apes Bonobos. The complete absence of Railways and telephone landlines. The basic vehicle is all-wheel drive vehicles and off-road motorcycles. The white population is almost there. The country is strictly not recommended for inbound tourism.

Decorated in a colonial style, covered veranda has breathtaking views of the green thickets hills. Huge lazy river was moving on the horizon. Cloudy sun resignedly slid to the steaming surface of the water. "Like a motorcycle headlight in the fog", I thought, not even realizing that this comparison is materialized on my life path at the end of the current day.
Tacking between the glasses, the bar ran chameleon-sized dog. His hard eyes were fixed upon the great river Congo.

The idea to buy a new motorcycle was drilling my soul already in the course of the year. But the choice is painfully dragged on, because like other on all occasions: and quick, and powerful, and that the trees were climbed. Decide was also a frequent business trips. Can HONDA Africa? One name worth something!

- "'ve been to Africa?" - asked the Chief, slowly sipping blackcurrant Kirsch. The question does not match the place of our stay. We sat in the middle of Europe, in Luxembourg, in the restaurant "La fourchette and Droite" - translated as "right Fork". According to the rules of this famous institution fork while eating here was supposed to hold in his right hand. From surprise I took the fork in the left hand. - "Yes, I have, in Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco".
Wanted to add: "Seychelles", but somehow ashamed.
"This is not Africa... You would have said "Seychelles". In short, in July we have economic forum in Congo. Planned a lot of important events. Enough to circulate in Europe, will be to accompany me. Get ready".

"Though the true nature look," he delighted I and two days later, in Moscow, read found on the Internet an article about the Congo some Frenchman. To my surprise official information about the country in the Russian language was nowhere.
"Nature in the Congo positioning picturesque and friendly. In extremely dense forest thickets in a hot climate with high humidity inhabit some of the most dangerous animal in the world, such as pythons, crocodiles, hairy forest hogs, Cobra, poisonous spiders, flying leeches, giant worms, and many other kinds of aggressive insects and parasites. Here is found the black Mamba is the most venomous snake in the world."
"Perhaps the nature of this time can wait, but ethnic types and national cuisine, probably, very interesting."
"In the Congo side by side, there are more than 70 speaking different languages, nationalities, including pygmies - absolutely powerless to physically destroy the human delicacy. Their swaying in the wind, sun dried young adults body - an indispensable attribute of the food reserve of the local villages..." Before I was vaccinated against yellow fever, hepatitis and typhoid. Even were offered a choice of a few diseases, but I politely refused. The article read standing up, trying not to make any unnecessary movements.
"Congo is the birthplace and favorite residence of the most dangerous viruses on the planet. Rare cases of weapons-grade smallpox more than offset by the causative agents of malaria, hepatitis and typhoid, viruses Ebola and AIDS, which infected about a quarter of the entire population..."
Written inspired hard to overcome the urge to drop everything and go on an expedition to the North. Realizing the futility of searching information and theoretical base, a few days later I started consultations with the few, as it turned out specialists.
- "It is important not to sleep with every fourth" - inspired the familiar UN employee. This is to prevent AIDS, I guessed because infected only one-fourth of the population.
- "Whiskey to take on an empty stomach three times a day, and in the process of eating, before any exit to the street, preferably at night and immediately after waking up. The Windows of the car do not open - swallowed dust, and in the eggs of parasites. You know what then, already in Moscow, turn the eggs of parasites?!" In confirmation of his words, Eonomic twisted like a sausage with his forefinger.
"Teeth can be cleaned using only European mineral water from a bottle. It is also necessary to opolaskivaetsya after a shower. You can eat...". Next was a lengthy enumeration of all that not only there, but even to touch.

- "Don't fear, summed up my neighbor in the garage, sitting comfortably in a chair with a bottle of Budweiser, the local population is afraid of white as fire. This so-called "Code of the white man", one unarmed Belgian dispersed several hundred armed natives"...