Location: Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo to Mwanza Congo, Angola

Summary: What started as a simple border crossing turned into one of those unexpected travel moments that remind you why I love this journey so much. I found myself trapped in traffic for an hour and a half in Matadi when a funeral procession completely shut down the main street to the border. Instead of getting frustrated, I ended up having coffee with locals who kindly organized it for me, and even watched as a casket was passed by hand through the crowd - a deeply moving cultural moment I never could have planned for.The border crossing itself was the usual dance of paperwork, waiting, and patience, but having my Angola import documents from my first visit really saved time. What struck me most was the incredible contrast - from navigating narrow passages clogg ...