Bamako, with its open sewer system constantly clogged, its dirt roads in the city centre and its profusion of beggars - only outnumbered by the innumerable flies that stir up the heavy fumes - is on sanitary par with New Delhi in India.
Spent five days roaming the crowded market, paying a visit to the national museum and obtaining another expensive visa.
Had our first encounter with the disreputable guides of Mali. You'll find them (actually, they'll find you) in any city/town/village/junction/road or footpath in Mali. Initially they are a pester, but after you've met a few, you know how the story goes, as they pull all the tricks in the book.
We left Bamako for
Djenne, in what looked like a high standard bus, but after the third breakdown it was just to pull out our sleeping bags and spread them out on the rocky ground next to the road. A light drizzle fell as we eventually fell asleep to a high frequency lullaby from the cicadas.
The next morning a bypassing minibus picked us up and eventually delivered us in Djenne in the middle of the hectic Monday market.
The mosque - the most
Full Text Entry: Sahara hot nights