Mike took off at 5:45am this morning as he had a bus at 6am to Bamako.
Claudio and I got up at about 7am and were at the market by 8am.
Hmmm...not much was happening just yet. Barely any stands were set up. The floor was still quite muddy., and big trucks were still dominating the big square in front of the mosque.
Bummer, we woke up to early. So we walked around a bit to check out the whole perimeter and then found a wooden bench just in the axis of the entrance of the mosque and sat there for hours, watching everything get set up, while having all sorts of conversations with all the locals either stopping by or just standing there like statues in front of us. Lots and lots of kids, begging for food, money, or a soccer ball. All these kids begging and for whom white skin is synonymous of money, almost makes it seem that there are way more children than adults around. And worst of all, it also feels like these kids are all homeless, which they are not. But as if their patents even cared. I am assuming that as long ad the kids are at home for the meals and at night, the parents won't pay any attention to them. Apparently, here (in rural west Africa) as soon as you are old enough to walk, you are on your own during daytime.
And so we waited, and waited. Hoping that the marvels of this market would eventually come to live. But no, nothing much exciting really happened. We got told at some point to check out the little harbor by the bridge. Loads of villagers coming from all over walking into the town with their merchandize. We made our way there. Now that was definitely worth it. Loads of people carrying all sorts of things on their heads or in little wheeled carts walking in a long line, looks an exodus. A beautiful exodus of traders hoping to make some good money today. On the other side of the bridge, a collection of horse, buffalo, and donkey carriages "parked" for the day, waiting or their owners to return with a lighter load of merchandize. A beautiful sight. A very unique parking lot, nothing like the western shopping malls parking lots. Lol
We hung out there for a while, in awe.
Then the sun being way to strong and there being no shade at all, we made out way back to the market which had become much livelier, yet not any lovelier.
11:30am, we walked back to the hotel, just to be there in case they asked us to check out by noon, and to rest a bit from the unbearable heat. I think we both passed out for a while. Our public ride to Mopti wouldn't leave before 4pm or so. So we stayed put in the shade and resting until 3pm.
The "car" we were about to ride in with 7 other passengers + the driver is not what most people would call a car. Just picture a 50 year old European car, remove all plastic and foam and only leave the metallic parts. The initiation system is done by hand, rubbing two wires together. The windshield, well, it better be just a breeze only and it better not rain, because the glass is all cracked up and looks like it went through war, and the wipers might as well be made of wood. The doors close and open. How? Am still not sure. The suspension, the what?! What is a suspension?! Lol and yet we drove 130+ km in that. Oh and I forgot the bread pedal which is held in its location by a piece of wire. Each ride the driver makes, he makes a ton of cash, in relative terms for the local cost of living. Not sure how long he has had this car for, but it now looks like a car zombie. And it doesn't seem to worry its owner into giving it a bit more care and maintenance.
Oh, I also forgot, as we were walking back to the hotel with Claudio, he got a text message on his Italian cell phone which reminded him that today was his birthday. Lol he had forgotten.
The car ride felt much longer than it actually way. Glad to arrive in Mopti, we both check in to our respective hotels. He needed internet access, I didn't.
A good shower and a little nap and I went to Adams's for dinner and to hang out. Claudio joined me there soon after. The food was delicious. I even had two portions. Uffff...I was stuffed!
Then we walked up to his house roof top. Paradise. Quiet, overlooking the town, and overlooked by the full moon. Wow! We sat down on a large mat and just hung out there for hours, chatting about everything. I even fell asleep while Adama was talking to me. But the situation was so relaxing/ I couldn't help it.
Claudio bought a few pieces of jewelry from him and by 11pm we took off. Our but to Bamako tomorrow departs at 5am!!!
Tomorrow a very long, uncomfortable, sweaty, dirty day awaits...
Good night!
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