Week #3
On Sunday, we ventured out of the city to participate in a run/hike with the American Hash House Harriers Club of Bamako. Every other Sunday the group gets together and someone sets a trail, including dead ends, which the rest of the group follows at a run or more young family-friendly hike. There were all sorts of lingo and rituals that we didn't totally follow but was great to get out of the city.
It took a good 40 minutes to get out of the urban area. It's a crazy driving scene with motorcycles all over the road, overloaded mini-buses, goats wandering into the road occasionally, donkey carts, bicycles, people scurrying thru or trying to sell you something when traffic stalls. It's probably fortunate that traffic is usually moving fairly slowly. Randy is getting to be an old hand at the driving but I'm hoping to avoid it for a bit longer. Taxis are pretty cheap in a pinch...
Our adventure was east of the city, off the road to Koulikouro for anyone familiar with Bamako : ) It is rainy season now and all is very, very green. Gardens are lush with produce. The river is high, wide and lots of rapids. The track we were following took us thru' a landscape dotted with family gardens, goats grazing, houses in construction and some lived in. Gus started out racing with Daddy but soon took a comfortable place up on Daddy's shoulders. Jenna hiked with an AISB classmate - keeping up well with Magina's 5th grade legs! Here's a few post-hike happy photos. We have already planned a few more excursions out of Bamako in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
2 comments:
Hi all you Browns! I am loving your blog and the pictures. It brings back my own memories of living overseas, where everything becomes an interesting adventure (tho flat tires and being stuck in mud are not so much fun at the time...) I'm amazed at how quickly you've settled in. In the Peace Corps training eons ago, they told us that culture shock hit around wekk #3, so I hope that you don't have much of that. It probably will help to have Jenna and Gus there. Meanwhile, we are missing you yet loving the blog.
Ann and David
Dear Swab and Fam,
How wonderful to be able to see all of you in action in Mali. This was my first visit to the site, but it won't be my last. The photos are wonderful (gotta love West Africa in the rainy season) and the commentary is fun (tho I'd like to hear from Stacy to make sure she is feeling as thrilled as you are!) Are Jenna and Gus eating boule for breakfast or chechaina? Is Stacy hooked on goro yet? Your place looks great. I hope that you are having lots of PC volunteers over to swim in your pool. Remember how we counted on the generosity of those rich ex-pats in Niamey!
Looking forward to more entries. Take care, Browns.
Love,
Sarah Phee
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