Dinner with Danger & Safari Bar

Summary: While dining at a local restaurant, James Stejskal and his colleagues had a tense encounter with an armed, intoxicated soldier. Later, they frequented the Safari Bar, a local hangout known for its American hamburgers and Belgian fries, which served as their unofficial operations center.

Insights:

• Daily life in Kinshasa, Zaire (now DRC) during that time was fraught with danger and uncertainty.
• The Safari Bar became a safe haven and strategic meeting point for James and his team due to its diverse clientele and central location.
• Resourcefulness was key, as evidenced by the bar owner's wife adapting to the demand for American food.

Proper Nouns:

• Kinshasa: Capital of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), highlighting the specific location and its inherent challenges.
• Safari Bar: The unofficial ops center where James and his team debriefed, demonstrating their adaptability in a volatile environment.
• Belgian: Nationality of the restaurant and Safari Bar owners, reflecting the lingering colonial influences in the region.