La Maison Rouge Mopti

... language greetings.<br><br>The only malfunction we experienced was on the way back to the hotel when a truckload of guys intercepted us to tell us that it would not be possible to go to Timbuktu tomorrow (I have no idea how they found us on the darkened streets of Mopti). But given that there are &#8216;no problems&#8217; in Africa, we could do a trek through Dogon Country first (which we wanted to do anyway) and the boat ride to Timbuktu would be possible after that ...

... to the (again, amazing) hotel, from whom I bought a cute little bag (at approximately three times the price of the same things on the market, but you know, it's for a good cause eh?) and sat and chatted with for Quite Some Time. There was a wee girl who came and sat next to me and instead of the usual 'Madam, madam, CADEAU! BIC! L'ARGENT!!", she said, and I quote (eh, if I can spell...) "je voudrais que tu sois mon amie". How ADORABLE is that? <br><br>Then there was Coolboy. His ...

... s shop to see something and was then followed for the next hour by the owner. It's alright, though, for every annoying man wanting to scam you/guide you/marry you, there's probably two who do just genuinely (seem to) want to talk to you or help you. Or practice they're English...<br><br>So yesterday, as I said, I left Bamako. On a bus. Which was suppose to be air-conditioned. Well, it wasn't. It was blasting hot air at me. For approximately 10 and a half ...

... it to no Maliand camped for the night before driving to Nara and finding a bar for the first cold be** since La Linea. Heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From N**a we had a huge drive to Bamako, the capital of Mali, wh**e we had 4 relaxing nights at a hotel (Sarah and I chose to stay in the tent cos we are tough!) which, bless it, had a pool and a bar. The weath** was roasting but the pool made it bearable and we chose to regroup and spent our time getting the washing done, chatting ...

... Africa and down ov** the des**t , landing somewh**e in Algi**s for refuelling. It was just an airstrip in the middle of a sandy nowh**e. Then the des**t beneath us went on and on and on, and I began to get a feel for the huge vastness of it all. We landed at Mopti Airport and our plane taxied towards the airport building. We stepped out into the blazing hot, dry midday sun - no airconditioned arrivals lounge- and waited for our bags ...

... used to play football for the Mopti team and was fairly famous. His coach had given him the name Mackenzie (god knows why he chose that name??) as there were two Boubacar's on the team. I thougt the name Boubacar was pretty damn cool in itself, but took to calling him Boubacar Mackenzie as it was just so absurd! He told me an incredibly heartbreaking story as well. We were talking about being around 30 ...

... no effect. Rehydration fluids wouldn't stay in either and to be honeset I don't know where it all came from as I didn't eat anything for four solid days, if you'll pardon the unintentional pun. We made it to Djenne and I saw the mosque, but I flaked really quickly and ended up with a 70 year old German Anethetists taking my pulse and telling me to "take ze fluids in small zips. Rest. don't eat ze zalad. Don't go to the Pays Dogon today" hmmmmmm. Boubacar and Papa (the driver ...

... Meeting back at the Just For You Bar we decided that the local f**ry was our best option th**e being 5,000 for deck space and 4x4 back. It was h**e Muzza, Clare, Jamie and Luke had a run in with the locals for the bill (Muzza and Luke always finding trouble!). One local was heard to say "You white, me black, you think I'm your slave". Muzza told him wh**e to go. It seems to be the way in most developing countries wh**e we are seen ...

... 8, walk till 11:30/12 eat lunch, relax and generally try to get out of the midday sun till 3:30 then walk on to the overnight village where we sleep on mattresses under the stars on top of roofs.. It's very dusty and hot but beautiful all the same. The locals couldn't be friendlier. We explore old school Dogon villages set into the escarpment. How they built up there I have no idea but its incredible. A maze of rock paths and huts looking over the ...

... option th**e being 5,000 for deck space and 4x4 back. It was h**e Muzza, Clare, Jamie and Luke had a run in with the locals for the bill (Muzza and Luke always finding trouble!). One local was heard to say "You white, me black, you think I'm your slave". Muzza told him wh**e to go. It seems to be the way in most developing countries wh**e we are seen as walking ATM's "You're a tourist, you're rich, it's not much money to you, just pay more ...