 Mopti and to Timbukto |
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It's great to hear from everyone again. It's me, the evil destroyer of photographs here. My dark plan to permenently delete all of our future memories of the fantastic people and places we encountered in Ghana and Burkina has come to fruition... phwharr, ha ha har. Now for my next act.....
You'll be pleased to know that after a few days of what politely might be called 'the trots', or less politely 'the raving splats', our stomachs are retuning to normal function. This issue did lead to the slight abbreviation of our wonderful walk in the lands of the Dogon. I haven't yet read all of what Eric wrote yesterday, but I feel certain that the disaster of the photos might have eclipsed the fabulous walk. So here's a few of my unworthy highlights: On the first day a troupe of monkeys crossed the road in front of us just before we climbed down from the plateau in a torrent. We sat beside a huge waterfall and gazed across the endless sahel plains. We saw at the base of the escarpment (falaise) the original home of the Tellem, a place of bizarre legend and myth. At Telli, we climbed amongst these
Men's meeting house
This is the meeting place for the village men. NO GIRLS ALLOWED. There was even a sign written in English to ensure that this sacred ground wouldn't be spoiled by the presence of any women. The vil... [more]
Basically, it was a brilliant classic African few days.
Now, after two days recuperating in a nice hotel in Bandiagara, we're in Mopti and about to take a 3 day boatride to Timbukto. That's right, we're going for it. After the ride through the Niger Inland Delta, we will have 1 day in the town before a 12 hour 4 wheel landrover ride back here to fascinating Mopti. You probably won't hear from us for a few days after this, maybe from Timbukto, or when we get back here in about 5 or 6 days. So for now it's me, the dark destroyer signing off and getting ready to plot my next dastardly deed.
love mike and eric
ps
Thanks for the support Christine.
Come on Pete, one more message, eh?
It's great to hear from you Ruby - sounds like you're having a great time, too.
Suzie and Gia thanks as ever - i've got you some cool presents but how the hell can we carry all this stuff?
Ar kid - mighty mighty Liverpool. Can't believe the Alex are suffering already. Looking forward to actually speaking soon - we return 1st Sept
Lucille- you rule - any news from the school of interest?
Kylie - I always love to read what you write.
Zachary - Thanks for the message.
Shirley- We are brothers.
11 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
August 17th 2006 - GP: Mental Images
Mike your erasure mishap will be forgiven as long as you both continue to provide such lucid and descriptive accounts of your adventures. The mental images we all percieve are probably closer to what you feel in seeing these many wonders then what the camera could possibly capture. For it is through the lense of your eyes that we get the true "feeling" rather then that of the camera. These blogs will long be saved by many of us and re-read with pleasure in years to come. Good luck and safe passage on your long journey to Timbakto (you're probably reading this when you are back at Mopti).
August 17th 2006 - Suze and Gia: Cool that Timbukto is ON!
Great to hear from the tech wizard again....the name isn't Slippy for nothing, eh? :) Sounds like some good stuff coming up and I am very glad that Timbukto won't be missed. So it's a short stay - at least you'll be able to say you were there! Hey, thanks in advance for the presents - can't wait to see what you have! Was at the apartment today Michael...plants are still alive - how amazing is that?! Got some laundry sitting here too and maybe....maybe....a spiffed up place will greet you upon returning :) Will do my best - or our best, as Gia will surely help out. Well, text if possible and have a fantastic time in the next few days! Be safe, be well.....love, Suzie and Gia
August 17th 2006 - Jason: Hey
Hope you guys are having a great time. Had no idea you were going to be there this long. I'm sure this trip has been absolutely amazing. I haven't posted before this but I certainly have been keeping up with this incredible journey. I still can't help but think of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when I look at those bridges!
Eric, look forward to hearing from you when you return. I hope you both have a wonderful end to your incredible vacation.
J
August 18th 2006 - Shirley: Timbukto
I believed that Timbukto was a place my mother referred to in an angry way from time to time... never honestly thought it was a real place. My geography is very poor.... safe home. See you soon.
August 18th 2006 - Kevin:
WOW!!! Sounds like you're having fun. Too bad about the pictures, but you are both doing a great job describing what you've seen. Good thing we have the blog to see some photos and you still have time to take more. What lion poop? Did you see the lions? Have fun in Timbuktu. You will be the only people I know who can say they went to Timbuktu and back.
See you soon, Kevin ( Eric and Scott say hi too)
August 18th 2006 - Auntie Donna: Will miss your blog for the next few days!
I get disappointed when there is no word from guys so I won't go running to the computer the next few days. So glad to hear you are having a great trip. It is really too bad about the pictures but at least we have your stories. I do hope you get some photos of the rest of the trip. Maybe you should just retrack your steps and do the photos over ha ha! I bet you both would love it wouldn't you not having to come back to reality. Well again stay safe healthy and enjoy look forward to hearing more and hopefully seeing more.
Love Auntie Donna, Mich and Nick
August 18th 2006 - Lucille: Timbuktu
Great to hear from you again and that you are going to make it to Timbuktu. I know that is one place Eric spoke with me about wanting to get to and we discussed the depth of the journey to get there. Can't wait to hear all about the journey there and back and Timbuktu. Glad you are both feeling better. You will probably get this when back from Timbuktu but be assured that I was with you both there and I am still on this trip with you both. Enjoy, enjoy and enjoy and stay safe.
Looking forward to the remaining journals and any photos if possible . The most important thing is that you have the real photos in your mind and all these wonderful experiences and they will be with you both forever. I can visualize and imagine from both of your vivid descriptions without pictures, which I am quite used to doing. Looking forward to many lunch time discussions and descriptions of your travels.
Love your friend,Lucille
August 18th 2006 - Deveney:
hey mike and eric, sorry i haven't been able to write. computer troubles. i'm so glad to here that you guys are still alive!! nice move slippy glimer... u should let eric handle the camer for now. so far your trip has seemed extreamily adventures. the stampeeds of people seem a bit rough to handel thoe. i hope you don't get car sick and don't fall off any bridges! love always
Deveney, Little Richie, Cheryl and Big Richie
P.S. gia told me that this is a kerrbie ^_^
P.P.S. i have just survied a week of ballet boot camp
August 18th 2006 - Julie: Mars email
Glad to hear you are both having such great experiences. Eric, I just received your email about the Mars viewing. I don't think the information was correct. Someone else emailed me to say it was a hoax, happened a few years back, ... Sorry to disappoint. It would have been an awesome site from the beach. Both of you take care and enjoy the rest of your trip. -- Julie
August 19th 2006 - Kylie: Hi!
Sounds like you're having fin! (Except for all the toxic fumes and the early wake up call and all that. Come to think of it, most of the stuff didn't sound too enjoyable. I'll stop trying to explain my thinking before I forget what I was going to write)
Ruby and I went kayaking (did I spell that right? I've never used that word before) and it was really fun, though your legs get wet, and it's hard to cooperate in a two-person kayak. On our way to this island, there were a bunch of teenage boys who were swimming, even though they weren't supposed to be, and when Ruby's mom told them so, they shouted endless swears at us as we paddled away, oh, and they mooned us. I didn't see it, but Ruby says that the guy was fat.
Earlier that day, I finally decided to cut my hair. Bailey kept telling me that I should, and I decided to, when I saw the movie 'The Parent Trap' where these twin girls met, and one had long hair, and one had short hair, and the cut one of the twin's hair, and she looked really pretty!
My hair is about shoulder length now, and let me just say that I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! I think it looks really awsome! But I'm still trying to figure out how people with short hair brush out the tangles, when you can't comb it from the back when it hangs over your shoulder.
But enough about hair, which I know, considering where you are right now, probablly isn't the most exciting thing to talk about.
I'm getting more and more poems to put in my poetry book. I have 26 so far, that I think are good, but I think I need at least 30, minimum, for a decent sized book.
I'm also under time crunch for the summer reading list and math, though I'm doing okay.
Oh, now I remember the entire thing that I wanted to say in the first place!
I was just thinking about how, when we left fifth grade (and fourth grade for that matter) how much of a close-knit family we had become. We were all such great friends! I'm really going to miss everybody in middle school. But, like Izzy always says, 'Go with the flow!'
I've promised myself that I'll be totally optimistic and friendly in middle school. I want to make as many friends as possible, find silver linings in the worst of circumstances, and show bullies that they won't get to me. That (along with the new haircut) is my new image for middle school.
I remember at summer camp one year with Julie, there were these really vicious bullies who called my friends and I dweebs, geeks, nerds, and were outright obnoxious. I'm not going to put up with that in middle school. I don't mean that I'll be vicious right back at them, but I'll tell them it wasn't very nice, tell a teacher, and ignore them!
It's getting late! Gotta go!
-Kylie
August 20th 2006 - Kylie: Bonjour
Hey Eric, hey Mike! I'm at my aunt and uncle's house in Cape Cod. It's really nice, and there's a Liquor store underneath it.
For these past few days, I just can't stop writing poems! Not only that but my poems are (If I do say so myself) great!
I'm getting used to my new haircut!
My aunt and uncle also have this really friendly and smart dog Samantha! She'll catch a ball if you throw it in the air, and will return it in between your knees! They also have cats Yin and Yong? Yang?
Their cats are soooooooooooooo friendly.
Uggh. My mom is reading over my shoulder.
Okay, she's gone.
It's raining in the cape today. We were gonna go on the bike trail. Oh well. You win some you lose some.
Write to you later!
-Kylie
P.S. My lip gloss tastes like grape, and I'm licking it off my lips! (It tastes really good!) You should try it!
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