Back to Mali -- prepping for Djenne

Before I forget -- I did manage to get my photos onto KodakGallery: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=552047358805%3A1400588475&cm_mmc=site_email-_-new_site_share-_-core-_-View_photos_button

On our second full day in Mali we were heading to Djenne which was an 8-9 hour ride, mostly on paved roads to Djenne. Quite an experience! It took FOREVER to get out of Bamako. Stopped for gas first which is an experience in and of itself. Not only are there millions of people "working" to pump your gas, but there are also (in the city) people asking for money everywhere. Sad. Many were women with young children (babies). Apparently, genital mutilation is still rampant in the country. For many women, that, coupled with multiple children in short time periods leads to fistulas which create problems of leaking urine which causes the women to smell all the time. Cleanliness is VERY important to Malians, so this is NOT a good thing and the men will sometimes kick the women out of the homes, with the young children. They are then forced to beg. I hadn't realized that the custom is for the older women to do the mutilation -- how horrible and sad. Up to 80% of women in the country have had this done to them. I just cannot imagine.

It took us about an hour to get out of the city. The trip was quite dusty (riding with windows open) and hot (90+ out). Passed through many villages, many with various toll "gates" -- picture either oil drums strung across the road and/or manually operated "gates". I was riding in the lead car (of 3) and at one point we lost the others -- headed back to find one car with a flat tire. Its spare was rather bald, so they took the spare from our car to use. This was done quite quickly and we were on our way. Drivers were chewing on kola nuts and our allowed us a taste -- quite bitter, but not bad.

The most interesting aspect of the trip (for me) was the ferry ride. Not exactly what we experience here. Not only are there no "docks", but you drive your vehicle through up to a foot of water onto the ferry. And then the people asking for "cadeaus" (gifts) and selling things. A bit much for me.





Then we made it (FINALLY) -- 8 hours is a LONG time in a vehicle.

Our hotel in Djenne was run by a Dutch women -- the Dutch are known for their gardens and the gardens were lovely despite being in a desert.



The people in Mali are quite interested in international politics and taken with our current president. His image is everywhere -- from clothing to playing cards. At the lounge/restaurant in our hotel, the following chair was available:



We enjoyed dinner at the hotel and settled in for the night after getting some information on how to bargain and the program for the following day when we'd tour Djenne.........