On the final leg

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Bonjour,

We dragged ourselves away from the hustle of Cotonou on Tuesday and in two legs (first stopping at Abomey) are now in Parakou.
The journey north, facilitated by the now mandatory Peugeot 504, was without hassle (by African standards) and we soon remembered how different things are up here as the thick forests petered out into harsh, quite barren scrubland. Things are definately heating up with the hot, dry air doing little to cool the cramped interior of the 50 year old car (4 in the back, 2 in the fornt passengers seat). It will not be far north now until, like in Mali, the vegetation dissapears altogether and the harsh Sahel region will be back. The difference this time is that our plan is to push even further north and properly enter the Sahara - I think we are both simeltanously excited about seeing the reality of the place and dreading the 15 hour drive in the 40+C heat to the desert town of Agadez.
Still, that's a way off yet, tomorrow we head another 400kms north to the Beninese border town of Malanville then, after a night of sleep and recovery attempt the border crossing, over the river Niger, into Niger - satisfying logic I think.
We have enjoyed these two, smaller northern towns which are jammed packed full of more beaming, screaming, naked children and some geninely (i know - i was surprised) interesting historical remains.
Both happy and well enough - dodgy stomachs and the like and very much excited about Christmas and the associated meats.
A request form us to our appropriate Mums - can we please have sausages wrapped in bacon (A.K.A. pigs in blankets).
Love to all at home,
C and A. xxx

P.S - the digital camera was lost many months ago so anyone still holding thier breath for photos please don't - you'll suffocate.

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