There’s something welcoming about Lagos. Even the airport felt like home, with the old drivers in their tired aso-oke calling out with rasp voices “Taxi! Sister Taxi”.I caught myself smiling at the familiarity of it. It wasn’t the first time I had visited this city since my hurried exit two years ago. This time however, I was excited and looking forward to being there.

The trip from the airport to our hotel on the mainland was thankfully effortless. It seemed like even the traffic-causing spirits were taking a break like the rest of us. Little, if anything has changed on the mainland, but I rooted out my camera and was preoccupied by the memories I found at almost every turn along the way.

Lagos for me is a lot like that loud unattractive lover you can’t stand to be around too long, but are enamoured with regardless. The hustle and bustle in this concrete jungle is characterised by the unpleasant smell of what I like to think is the sea, crowds of people at bus-stops, and the constant riotous noise; a mix of blaring horns and shrilling voices. But, it’s Lagos, my place of love.

Related: Project Love in Lagos

I decided to visit the island for old time sake. Third Mainland bridge seemed so beautiful for no real reason, and I relived my days of blowing kisses to strangers in traffic, and getting lost on my first day of work trying to get to Marina but found myself on this bridge with no U-turn. (I parked and just wept)

Same with the Island, Ikoyi holds all kinds of memories for me, and I was glad to see that you Lagosians in revealing outfits are still fake-jogging on the Lekki link bridge.

My first stop on the Island was at my beloved Ice cream Factory, Admiralty Way, Lekki. Still a premier dessert restaurant in Lagos,  their ice-cream is the finest and certainly trumps Coldstone’s. I’ve always loved the interior here, minimalist and chic, and it has been quite well maintained.

No one makes muffins like ice cream factory does, no one. However, there used to be a lot more blueberries and chocolate chips buried in them and their Sundae used to be a mountain of Ice cream two years ago, but this economy is hard on businesses so I forgive. They are still every bit as delicious and fairly priced, just in less quantity.

I was a little disappointed with this menu booklet though. It’s a small thing, but for a premiere restaurant, it was quite aged and reeked of struggle. Profits are thinner for everyone, but it doesn’t cost that much to reprint these booklets with up-to-date prices, does it?

Wandering further into the island, Ikate-Elegushi no longer has a roundabout, Jakande now has a Shoprite, Ajah market junction now has a flyover and Sangotedo is now so uppity I couldn’t recognise the area after having live there for 2 years. Governor Ambode has really been working.

Lagos will always be home but Abuja is heaven in comparison. After three nights, I was more than ready to leave. However, not without these plantain chips. If you are visiting Lagos be sure to try some. Lately, they are as hard to find as gemstones but available in Ikoyi.

In the meantime, tell me about your last visit to Lagos and your guilty pleasure?