Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I went to the Cyber Café, another fabulous experience on a French keyboard, and was thrilled to receive messages from family and friends and comments on my blog. Unfortunately, the connection is ungodly slow and I was only able to quickly skim the photos and text of Heather’s blog from Mexico before the site was blocked and I was out of minutes. I can’t wait to give it the time that it deserves, but Stephanie and I loved all the fabulous pictures of Chichen.
Not feeling overly adventurous for dinner I had a warm soup with peas, carrots, noodles and onions. It was well seasoned and I personally believe that broth always does the trick for many ailments. Now I am back in my room and ready for sleep, after a cold shower – only the Mande and Hotel Independence had hot water so you can imagine the Byblos Hotel and here at La Colombe has been interesting shower experiences. You always long for the cold shower during the day but when you wake up in the morning it is the last sort of luxury from your mind.
To answer one or two questions I remember from the comments. Frites are basically fried potatoes, or sort of like French fries, only way better. They are the most amazing potatoes fried in peanut oil. The Coke in Mali is pretty awesome as well, being made with sucre, or sugar, rather than the high-fructose corn syrup in the United States. You really can taste the difference! Meals are usually beef or lamb or some sort with frites, rice, couscous, or pasta. At this point, my personal request for my return home entails peas, peas, and more peas!! I am not certain what sort of provisions we will find for our drive tomorrow, but I can’t wait to get back to Sevare and the small market to buy baguettes, cheese, Pringles in a can, and tuna fish in oil. I want peas so badly that the canned peas look very promising and I will just open the container and eat them with my spoon. The cheese is always warm and melted by the time you eat it and so it spreads rather nicely onto the baguette. It is fabulous by itself or with the addition of tuna fish makes a nice sandwich. I avoid most vegetables and they are what I long for the most.
I am hoping to go with Zach to see a drummer in Mopti. The musician makes his own drums and I would love to see them made. Zach purchased a drum after watching the fresh goat skin stretched across the top. He said it was an amazing opportunity and a once in a lifetime experience.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I awoke early for our drive back from Timbuktu. You always dread the return venture, knowing this time what lies ahead, but in some ways it is nice knowing as well. This time only one unfortunate accident – on the trip to Timbuktu one land cruiser broke down and we had to squeeze into three. About half-way through the drive our car, being the last in the line, was losing speed and sight of the other three vehicles. It meant only one thing, a flat tire. So while our driver expertly changed the flat I went for a walk in the bush to a rather nice outcropping which I thought made a lovely spot for a ladies room. The entire trip into Timbuktu and the return was like being engulfed in a turbulent sea of sand, cleft by narrow sand valleys which happened to be the road and broken by wave-like ridges of rocks and bushes. The only shelter had to be within our land cruiser, and even then faces and bodies were scoured by the sand with which the air was laden. In one particular stretch everything was mottled by the rains and the heat, and the walls of homes in the villages were stippled like the skins of pachyderms.
It took roughly seven hours for the return, much shorter than the drive to Timbuktu, but it was rather nice to return to the Byblos Hotel and the friendly faces of the owners. Of course, the electricity was out for the first half an hour and everyone raced for room neuf, or nine, which was ours the first time and the smallest and coolest of the rooms. We were able to get our little icebox back although some people did manage to snag smaller rooms then their previous accommodations and that sent people into small disagreements.
Tomorrow morning is free, we seem to have deviated and mixed around our schedule for Mopti quite a bit. I took the longest shower once the electricity had returned and included all the personal amenities and niceties that I haven’t indulged in since my arrival in Mali. I will most likely sleep in tomorrow and I have even considered straightening my hair and letting it be straight for several days. It sounds like such a novelty but at this point I could use a reminder of my lifestyle at home. Journals are due tomorrow and I have to finish my question for this week, just three days behind. The journal is nothing like my blog but responds to a sheet of questions so I spend a lot of time each day on journaling for both class and pleasure.
It is Kathryn’s twenty-first birthday today and because of the free morning tomorrow people are taking the opportunity to party, and I believe heading out to a club at some point. I am so exhausted and drained from the drive, along with the heat, that the mere thought of celebrating is lost. Not to mention a club in a foreign country, let alone my own, is not my cup of tea, or shot of tequila!
I am looking forward to the leatherworkers visit tomorrow afternoon and cannot wait to learn more about their process and witness their technical skill. And, before ending for the night because I know I will most likely send my last several entries tomorrow at the Cyber Café I am feeling much improved and aside from being tired and drained from the heat have no other ailments to report.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Today I woke at eight thirty and decided I needed some sense of familiarity, if only for five minutes. I proceeded to straighten my hair which only took half an hour. The straightened tendrils now reveal a rather dry and parched amount of damage I am sure will have to be remedied once I return home. Regardless, it feels good to run my fingers through my hair and I plan on letting my hair be straight for the next four days if possible.
Plans have already changed for today. The bronze caster wants to visit and so we will do the leatherworker on another day. He will come here around four o’clock and until then we are at our own leisure. Apparently we aren’t allowed at his village so he will come here to demonstrate the wax process and probably sell his merchandise.
I want real food so badly, a pizza or pasta and I can’t decide what I will do for lunch today, most likely something here at the hotel. It is really fabulous to have a slow day after the last two weeks and I look forward to soaking up every ounce of relaxation possible, too bad they don’t have a pool. I can’t wait to get back to the Hotel Independence where the pool was so inviting.
I went to the Cyber Café, another fabulous experience on a French keyboard, and was thrilled to receive messages from family and friends and comments on my blog. Unfortunately, the connection is ungodly slow and I was only able to quickly skim the photos and text of Heather’s blog from Mexico before the site was blocked and I was out of minutes. I can’t wait to give it the time that it deserves, but Stephanie and I loved all the fabulous pictures of Chichen.
Not feeling overly adventurous for dinner I had a warm soup with peas, carrots, noodles and onions. It was well seasoned and I personally believe that broth always does the trick for many ailments. Now I am back in my room and ready for sleep, after a cold shower – only the Mande and Hotel Independence had hot water so you can imagine the Byblos Hotel and here at La Colombe has been interesting shower experiences. You always long for the cold shower during the day but when you wake up in the morning it is the last sort of luxury from your mind.
To answer one or two questions I remember from the comments. Frites are basically fried potatoes, or sort of like French fries, only way better. They are the most amazing potatoes fried in peanut oil. The Coke in Mali is pretty awesome as well, being made with sucre, or sugar, rather than the high-fructose corn syrup in the United States. You really can taste the difference! Meals are usually beef or lamb or some sort with frites, rice, couscous, or pasta. At this point, my personal request for my return home entails peas, peas, and more peas!! I am not certain what sort of provisions we will find for our drive tomorrow, but I can’t wait to get back to Sevare and the small market to buy baguettes, cheese, Pringles in a can, and tuna fish in oil. I want peas so badly that the canned peas look very promising and I will just open the container and eat them with my spoon. The cheese is always warm and melted by the time you eat it and so it spreads rather nicely onto the baguette. It is fabulous by itself or with the addition of tuna fish makes a nice sandwich. I avoid most vegetables and they are what I long for the most.
I am hoping to go with Zach to see a drummer in Mopti. The musician makes his own drums and I would love to see them made. Zach purchased a drum after watching the fresh goat skin stretched across the top. He said it was an amazing opportunity and a once in a lifetime experience.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I awoke early for our drive back from Timbuktu. You always dread the return venture, knowing this time what lies ahead, but in some ways it is nice knowing as well. This time only one unfortunate accident – on the trip to Timbuktu one land cruiser broke down and we had to squeeze into three. About half-way through the drive our car, being the last in the line, was losing speed and sight of the other three vehicles. It meant only one thing, a flat tire. So while our driver expertly changed the flat I went for a walk in the bush to a rather nice outcropping which I thought made a lovely spot for a ladies room. The entire trip into Timbuktu and the return was like being engulfed in a turbulent sea of sand, cleft by narrow sand valleys which happened to be the road and broken by wave-like ridges of rocks and bushes. The only shelter had to be within our land cruiser, and even then faces and bodies were scoured by the sand with which the air was laden. In one particular stretch everything was mottled by the rains and the heat, and the walls of homes in the villages were stippled like the skins of pachyderms.
It took roughly seven hours for the return, much shorter than the drive to Timbuktu, but it was rather nice to return to the Byblos Hotel and the friendly faces of the owners. Of course, the electricity was out for the first half an hour and everyone raced for room neuf, or nine, which was ours the first time and the smallest and coolest of the rooms. We were able to get our little icebox back although some people did manage to snag smaller rooms then their previous accommodations and that sent people into small disagreements.
Tomorrow morning is free, we seem to have deviated and mixed around our schedule for Mopti quite a bit. I took the longest shower once the electricity had returned and included all the personal amenities and niceties that I haven’t indulged in since my arrival in Mali. I will most likely sleep in tomorrow and I have even considered straightening my hair and letting it be straight for several days. It sounds like such a novelty but at this point I could use a reminder of my lifestyle at home. Journals are due tomorrow and I have to finish my question for this week, just three days behind. The journal is nothing like my blog but responds to a sheet of questions so I spend a lot of time each day on journaling for both class and pleasure.
It is Kathryn’s twenty-first birthday today and because of the free morning tomorrow people are taking the opportunity to party, and I believe heading out to a club at some point. I am so exhausted and drained from the drive, along with the heat, that the mere thought of celebrating is lost. Not to mention a club in a foreign country, let alone my own, is not my cup of tea, or shot of tequila!
I am looking forward to the leatherworkers visit tomorrow afternoon and cannot wait to learn more about their process and witness their technical skill. And, before ending for the night because I know I will most likely send my last several entries tomorrow at the Cyber Café I am feeling much improved and aside from being tired and drained from the heat have no other ailments to report.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Today I woke at eight thirty and decided I needed some sense of familiarity, if only for five minutes. I proceeded to straighten my hair which only took half an hour. The straightened tendrils now reveal a rather dry and parched amount of damage I am sure will have to be remedied once I return home. Regardless, it feels good to run my fingers through my hair and I plan on letting my hair be straight for the next four days if possible.
Plans have already changed for today. The bronze caster wants to visit and so we will do the leatherworker on another day. He will come here around four o’clock and until then we are at our own leisure. Apparently we aren’t allowed at his village so he will come here to demonstrate the wax process and probably sell his merchandise.
I want real food so badly, a pizza or pasta and I can’t decide what I will do for lunch today, most likely something here at the hotel. It is really fabulous to have a slow day after the last two weeks and I look forward to soaking up every ounce of relaxation possible, too bad they don’t have a pool. I can’t wait to get back to the Hotel Independence where the pool was so inviting.
8 comments:
Megan said...
Hehe...I posted my own blog for once! Shh...how do you like my bag? I think I changed ethnicity on our return drive. Miss everyone!
July 25, 2008 6:36 AM
All right...so I came here to post your blog, but apparently my job has been usurped, as has been my pink background. Just you wait Meggie, you thought the flamingo pink was bad. You should buy a drum for Joe...he would love that! Oh and Herbert wants you know if Bert is in that bag, because if he his, your in trouble. Bert better still be green! I will write more later, on my way to work.
You must surely be on the mend when you want food so I will assume whatever ailment you had is gone for good. Very clever posting your own blog and then commenting on it. Not sure what all that does or does not mean but I bet Heather was surprised. I just wanted you to know that if that bag was one we let you borrow you can keep it. Um... I don't want it back. Glad you are having a little down time to chill out a little. I know about the camel ride. In fact I was going to post that Heather was under the impression you had ridden one and forgotten to post it or lost the chance when you were sick. I am at work now on my lunch break and just got off the phone with Heather and she told me what had transpired. So wait for Egypt and your sister or maybe all of us would be there. When did you see the Tuareg people? You did not say. Did you see them in passing or at a market? I want to know!!!Well I should go. We are going to OC. Heather will keep me posted on the postings like you did. Is Bert ok? Love you and miss you. Mom and Dad
I forgot. More questions. Did you get to the drum maker????????
And were the land cruisers like the ones in Kenya or only closed or open to the elements?????
Don't forget to answer about the Tuareg tribes. Love ya.
Ha ha ha...who did that! Nice colors. Herbert picked them out. Send more pictures. Miss you.
Me again
bert is good
he is getting ready for dogon country
i saw the taureg in the desert and all over timbouctou
no drums and i dont know if there will be another chance
did get dad something from leatherworkers today that is being made special
wasnt sure to get or not
wont say what it is till i get it and take a pic to post
love
m
Hi Meg,
Talked to Heather a few days ago. She informed me you were sick on your trip. I am so glad to hear you are better and I am so thankful you were able to make it to Timbuktu!! I know you were really looking forward to that. Did you buy anything that says Timbuktu? Sounds like the Byblos Hotel is treating you well. I'm sure a cold mid-day is refreshing but not so much in the morning!! I can't believe that you were prescribed double the dosage of your malaria meds!!! But at least, it is all figured out and things seem to be going that much smoother, despite your exhaustion. At least you got to sleep in some and get in a little personal time. I am really interested to learn more about these leathermakers- sounds exciting! I bet they will craft beautiful things. Did you ever buy a drum like Zach? Anyway, your pics are amazing and I'm lovin' the new luggage bag! I'm sure Heather will have bowls of peas waiting for you back in Chicago ha! Things are going pretty well with me...just crazy busy as I told you. My free time is becoming non-existent. I'm even going into the lab this evening (on a Sunday!!!) to set up a reaction. It's a little overwhelming but I'm slowly getting adjusted. Went to a bridal shower yesterday for a girl in my lab- I had a really good time. it was nice to see my bosses and colleagues in more of an informal setting. I can't believe tomorrow is Monday already...what happened to the weekend. Our parents are at the beach this weekend. Apparently OC has had some terrific weather. Talked to everyone this morning when they were at Floaters and Fager's Island for brunch...aahh must be nice, right? Hopefully, I'll get a chance to talk to Heather tonight after work. She said she might call me around 9pm, my time. Anyway, lots going on here but so glad to hear things are going well and you do not have any more ailments (let's keep it that way!) Take care and I'll talk to you soon, with love, ash
Hi Megan! Wow - Timbuktu! Sorry I've been lax in commenting. Have been following your blog and it's been fun to follow your adventures. I just got back from another trip to NYC. Glad you are feeling better! Getting sick while traveling is always terrifying. Who knew Frites and Cokes could be such delicacies. You take great photos of people - can't wait to see more when you return to the world of good internet connections and can post all of them. The mud mosque also looks amazing. I leave on Saturday for a week in Sun Valleym Idaho - very different environs than Mali!
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