Travellingman reisverhalen - - Bamako
Day 2: 31 januari 2006
Bamako

Having still some pain from a hernia, the bed was not really comfortable. With up and downs I managed to sleep a little bit. I woke up in the morning a took a cold shower. If there would be any hot water, it was probably warmed by the sun. But with an air temperature of already over 25 °C, I didn't mind a cold shower. On the roof there was a breakfast with some bread and coffee. I spoke with an older American man from New York who already was travelling for a longer time through Mali. He hoped to get on a bus to Burkina Faso.

So far everything seems to be fine, till I met Momo again. He told me that I had to change to another hotel. I was surprised and asked him for the reason. The hotel is owned by a Frenchman, who told him that he, as a black man, was not welcome in the hotel. Strange, since Momo is working for the organization who booked the hotel for me and most people in Mali are black. Momo was pretty upset about this disrespect and already arranged another hotel. The only problem was that 2 other people of the group I was supposed to travel with, also stayed in the hotel, but were not awake yet. But after one hour waiting they were also present and we moved, after paying for the night we stayed. We went by tour bus to hotel Les Colibris, which surely was more expensive (22.500 CFA or € 35.-) but also off a far better quality. After putting my luggage in the room, I was dropped off in the city center. I changed some traveller cheques (which took over 30 minutes and involved 6 people) and went on to the market. This area is quit big and soon I found myself lost. Of course on many places I had to see the shops, but I reduced it to only a couple. They sell everything here, but it's wiser to be careful to do this on your first day. You will find out you don't get the best prices or quality. After visiting a batik shop and watched some jewellery (in which I'm not interested at all, but it does tell something about the local culture) I was wandering around for a couple of hours before I found my way back to the main street (Avenue de Peuple).



Since my hotel was on the south bank, I decided to walk the old bridge (there is also a new bridge). There was a lot of traffic and I was hardly surprised to see an accident between one of the many small motorcycles and small green bus. The driver of the motorcycle was badly wounded and the traffic was completely stuck. Not surprisingly it took the ambulance almost an hour to get to place of the accident. I walked on and completely tired I arrived back at the hotel. After a dive in the swimming pool I felt much better. I met two Dutch women, who also were on the way to the Festival on the Niger, just like me. Around 7.30 pm I had dinner with David an Marcie, two of my travel mates for the next weeks. Around midnight the first full day in Mali ended and I went to bed.

Initial publication: 26 maart 2006
Last update: 24 mei 2008
© A. Heeroma

  • Travel route

Mali - Ghana 2006 tour
»Day 1 Amsterdam - Bamako
»Day 2 Bamako
»Day 3 Bamako - Segou
»Day 4 Segou
»Day 5 Segou
»Day 6 Segou
»Day 7 Segou
»Day 8 Segou - Djenné
»Day 9 Djenné - Mopti
»Day 10 Mopti - Dogon (Banani)
»Day 11 Dogon (Banani - Tirelli)
»Day 12 Dogon - Bandiagara
»Day 13 Bandiagara - Teriyabougou
»Day 14 Teriyabougou - Bamako
»Day 15 Bamako - Siby
»Day 16 Siby - Bamako

Goto next trip Ghana tour

  • Overige info

  • Mali
    »Bamako
    »Bogalan
    »Djenné
    »Dogon
    »Festival on the Niger
    »Kalabougou
    »Mopti
    »Segou
    »Siby
    »Teriyabougou
    »Road Bamako-Segou



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