Bienvenue Bamako
To modify the saying, "An art lover and her money are soon parted." I hit the mini artisnal marche near the PC burea and it was art-gasms galore! Dogon masks, Bambara masks, Toureg jewelry! Ooooh shiny! And so much of it. I wish we had art like this in Niger. (At least my house will now.)
Thus far being in Bamako is like being transported to an alternate reality. Kind of like Niger with dirty street stands, fresh vegetables and panyas, but with shop owners who take pics of you with digital cameras and offer to email them to you. And your typical scroggy street kids, but sitting around playing old school Gameboys.
I was hoping to wind up at Hotel Cedres in the center of Bamako, but wound up instead in charming, comparably price Hotel Segere across the river in Torokorbougou. (try saying that 10 times fast, or for that matter once at all)
The staff at PC Bureau Mali were ridiculously helpful. They called Air Ethiopia to double check on my ticket and reminded me that I would have to pay for my entry visa to Ethiopia in USD. Good thing too, cause I have NO USD on me. Luckily someone was willing to trade me dollars to CFA. Can you imagine me trapped in Bole International with no money to pay for an entry visa? What do you suppose they'd do with me? Maybe I could tie a bowl around my neck and beg at the arrivals gate for a few years.
Thus far being in Bamako is like being transported to an alternate reality. Kind of like Niger with dirty street stands, fresh vegetables and panyas, but with shop owners who take pics of you with digital cameras and offer to email them to you. And your typical scroggy street kids, but sitting around playing old school Gameboys.
I was hoping to wind up at Hotel Cedres in the center of Bamako, but wound up instead in charming, comparably price Hotel Segere across the river in Torokorbougou. (try saying that 10 times fast, or for that matter once at all)
The staff at PC Bureau Mali were ridiculously helpful. They called Air Ethiopia to double check on my ticket and reminded me that I would have to pay for my entry visa to Ethiopia in USD. Good thing too, cause I have NO USD on me. Luckily someone was willing to trade me dollars to CFA. Can you imagine me trapped in Bole International with no money to pay for an entry visa? What do you suppose they'd do with me? Maybe I could tie a bowl around my neck and beg at the arrivals gate for a few years.