Bamako - another world

---

We safely arrived into Bamako international airport (a 2 storey little building) at the convenient time of 2:30am on Sunday. Luckily for us we met a French guy during the eight hour wait at Casa airport. He was going to visit his girlfriend who has been living in Bamako for some time. By some crazy chain of events we ended up at her house that night and now are renting a room in the next door apartment sharing with three French medical student who work at a local hospital.
We live in a local area called Lafiabogou down a unpaved, uneven dirt track. It would only take three minutes to walk down the street from where we catch the sotrama (green van with bench seats - holes where the windows should be) into town, however with the hoards of wide-eyed, beaming children rushing up to us to ask our names and shake our hands before breaking into a fit of giggles and running off just as fast it takes about 20 minutes.
So far in Mali we have been welcomed with beautiful white smiles, a thousands enquiries about our health and offers of food and tea from people who really do have nothing.

Unfortunately our sweating fits have more than tripled. It's as hot at night as it was in the day in Morocco and we are really battling agains the sun and the dust.

Also unfortunately this computer is not the newest and as a result there will be no photos on this blog. We only hope our words give a clue as to the overwhelming experience that Mali has provided so far.

---

Photos

Route
Plane flight into Bamako International Shed

Comments

[chris]

fat
good to hear you got there ok. can't imagine what it's like - you need to post photos. uk is the same, not 'crippled' by a heatwave this week - more like 'gripped' by big brother furore... I wish I knew what people were on about. take care both. richy.

[Denise]

Fairygodmother
This week we have been mostly waiting for yur blog! Glad to hear people are smiling at you, they used to run away and beat themselves with dried palms in England / Wales. Miss you but kind of glad you are there!!! Denise and David

[Markus Aureilius]

Loving the trip
Hi guys, quick message of greeting from Markus A. Loving your trip so far. Sounds like things are finally getting more "African" for you. Can't imagine it at all but am sure you are having a great time. Life here is turning chaotic with two house moves coming up. Alice, can you send Kate some kind of african "chill out" potion as the stress levels are rising! Chris, you have a real way with words, am impressed. Keep up the good work. Alice, met my namesake in Rome. He had really curly hair! We both has a great time, Rome is fascinating to say the least. Wish you both well, take care, Mark

[Lynne and Phil]

Wow - what an adventure!
Hiya travellers, Been reading your logs with fascination and wonderment. You guys are certainly living it! Hope your cash is lasting the pace, in addition to your shoes and sense of humour! Take care, will keep logged on, love from us x

[Colin, 278]

Hey guys, only just started reading thru the blogs. Sounds like your having loads of fun out there, but eating in McDs oh foreshame! Finishing up here in a couple of weeks, heading up to Newcastle with Is then flying out to Dehli in January to start my own bit of travellin :-) keep up the blogs, and more pics!!! Cu, Colin.