IMAGES OF MALI...TIMBUKTU...THE ARRIVAL

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IMAGES OF MALI...TIMBUKTU...THE ARRIVAL

Sanddunes line the Niger riverbank as our pinasse slides into the port of Korioume...people everywhere...hands grabbing our packs to load into 4WDs or reaching out in the event we are feeling benevolent...goodbyes to Ibrahim & Amadou who will now head downriver...into 4WD with Bastos...telling us this will be the BEST Festival au Desert yet...and the President is coming...belt along tarmac through a grove of Aussie gums...then through sand...through a brick signless gate...BIENVENUE A TOMBOUCTOU..."Welcome to Timbuktu"...we have made it...that fabled city...place of learning...once on the Niger river...now 20kms away...overtaken by the Sahara Desert...

Welcome to Timbuktu...the city of 333 Saints...La Mysterieuse

Relax & Enjoy,

Dancing Dave (who danced, danced and kept on dancing until he got to Timbuktu...(as you do)...)

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Photos

WE HAVE MADE IT...
Bienvenue a Tombouctou....Welcome to Timbuktu

...LA MYSTERIEUSE
Textures in mud

SONGHAI SETTLEMENT
wherever there is room for a tent...

THE WHITE TUAREG
Mike looking quite at home...

TWO...
From the rooftop... Djingareiber mosque

COMMEMORATIVE SQUARE
...to the end of the civil war between the Tuaregs & the south...hence the Festival au Desert

BOCTOU'S WELL
Legend has it Timbuktu was named after the "woman with the big navel" who operated this well

IBN BATTUTA WAS HERE
In 1353 the Arab Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta visited Timbuktu in his travels through Africa, Middle East, India & China...made me jump when I saw his name on this wall.

RENE CAILLIE HOUSE
In 1828 was the first European to visit Timbuktu and live to tell the tale

MJR ALEXANDER GORDON LAING HOUSE
In 1826 was the first European to visit Timbuktu...but was killed by the Tuareg as he tried to leave...

CHE GUEVARA IN TIMBUKTU...
Voit ci le Grand Revolutionaire