The Ivory Coast may not have been on our itinerary for long, but our stay at the beach and parking under the shade of coconut trees was unforgettable. However, it was scary to see coconuts falling off trees so close to us. Locals joked that only bad people get hit by coconuts. During our visit to Grand-Bassam, the old capital city of the French colonial empire, we witnessed the remnants of a beautiful past.

But the beauty of marred by the huge amount of trash on the beaches and in the cities. Every day, the waves brought more trash to the shore, and it was heart-wrenching to witness the damage it caused. We urge everyone to be more mindful of their waste and to take steps to reduce it. The environment is precious, and we must do our part to preserve it for future generations.