Seasonal Flooding
The rain season brings many changes to a dry country such as Mali. Temperatures drop (only when raining of course), crops and land get the direly needed water and patches of wetlands appear to offer animals a place to drink. On the negative side, flooding happens and the roads and villages disappear. We have gotten to see the more positive aspects during our drive to Timbuktu; the countryside was verdant, lush, and teeming with life. As soon as we crossed the river on the ferry to Timbuktu, the landscape dramatically became barren; no more seasonal wetlands and singing birds and instead the touts emerged from the sands. We knew then that we had arrived in the famous city.
Even camels like to keep cool.
During our lunch it was well over 100°F in the shade; we huddled in the small shady patch to escape the unforgiving sun and also the persistent touts clamoring for our attention to offer us Tuareg “passport” necklaces and camel rides into the desert. It is irritating to say the least, to have every person you meet offering you something; but it IS the low season and they are just trying to make a living. I just wanted to sweat and suffer from heat stroke in peace, that’s all.
Our tent on the roof
It was a relief to find the Camping Hotel here; Alkaidi runs the show, he was delightful and made us feel at home. Inside the hotel there is a large communal room with fans and we were even able to plug our laptops in. We chose, however, to set up our tents on the roof, it will be cooler at night that way and we will hopefully get more air circulation. Tomorrow will be Eid al Fitr, the end of Ramadan. Everything will of course be closed; if I was a Muslim this would be the day that I would most eagerly await! After a month of fasting from sun up to sun down, Eid al Fitr brings everyone together to break the fast one last time. I’m looking forward to finally being able to get street food during the day again!
