Back in Bamako

It's shocking to realize how big a city feels when you've just arrived from living in a tiny town for nearly two months. Kayes only housed 10 000 and i was plenty big; the advantage was that you could often run into your neighbors or colleagues at the market or in the bar ("the" being correct here, there was 1 reasonable bar, the rest were non-active countertops serving warm beer). Bamako is home to over 1 milion people, so it's comparatively VERY busy and far less friendly, even though our impressions had been precisely the reverse when we first arrived in Kayes. But then again, somewhere along the line, you have to admit that 10 hours of travelling on a cramped bus, sweating into an already damp seat and eating peanuts for lunch does tnd to leave one a bit drained from the trip, and thus prone to judging their destination a but harshly. At least, that's what it seems.

Right now, I am sitting on my bed in my hotel room in Bamako, typing this and very much enjoying the MUCH cooler Bamako climate. I hardly flinch at temperatures in the early thirties anymore. The neighborhood we're staying in is named Torokorobougou (now "bougou" just means "neighborhood", so that makes the name less intimidating), and this time, I'm hoping we'll be able to enjoy it more than when we were under the shock of arrival. There's a diversity of people, little cantinas and beauty salons and shops, not to mention the occasional goat taking a nap in the street!

Today, we're heading to the artisans' market in the city center. This is where all the regions of Mali send their arts and crafts to be sold, from pottery to fabric to instruments and sculptures. And because Mali isn't touristy yet, the quality is wonderful and there's never any risk of getting something kitchy.

Must also stop at the travel agency and buy more luggage credits. I have no more room!

Love all of you guys, and I'll post probably one more time from Paris, then I'm home!

I really want a glass of milk. Not powdered. 1% cow, limpid milk in all its cold glory.