Western Sahara,Mauritania to Bamako

---

Finally our Visa came through and we were off towards the desert. We entered southern Morocco and to Marakesch where we saw the most amazing spectacle of the night market. Thousands of people gathered to eat at stalls selling goats brains,snails and almost every part of camels etc etc. Juice stalls ,magicians,street performers ,snake charmers and any other street activities were present. Many other sights such as the old palace mosques etc were in every corner.Further south we entered Western Sahara and our first taste of land mines,desert and UN peace keeping soldiers a common sight.After a couple of long driving days we entered Mauritania and the endless desert . We camped at Nouadhibou and Noukchott. This capital city was little more than sandy streets and rubbish and car wrecks littering everywhere but these were proud people and very welcoming. We then continued east across the Sahara driving on sand drifts and non existant roads. We spent many hours digging the truck out of deep sand- very tiring and dehydrating. After 7 days of this and no showers or water to wash with we made it to the Malian border and a further day into Bamako. This is a vibrant city and we have spent 3 days seeing the sights and I managed to get to the places that Bill and I stayed and ate 15 years ago when we came through. We leave tomorrow and on to northern Mali and the mud mosque at Djenne and the a few days by pinesse( large canoe) to Timbuckto.

---

Photos

Mauritania
Philip buying T Shirt Noukchott

Mauritania
Goat Market

Mauritanian baby
desert south Mauritania

Bamako
Niger River next to our camping ground Hotel Djoliba