So I am back. And after two weeks of winter in Europe I am not used to the heat anymore. And hot it is. And me all sweaty. Taking the shower after shower just to cool me down a bit. The moment you get out of that nice cold shower you start sweating all over again. But I like it. Being all sweaty and dirty. Makes you feel alive.
Now I’ve got few more days in Bamako to organize the visas for other countries – Burkina, Benin, Ivory Coast and Liberia – before we hit the road and finally go to the village of Teberemt where the rest of Almou’s family live. A proper African village with charms of its own. No modern world distractions as there is no phone network coverage and no electricity. And no running water either. Just nice and kind people, family, to talk your days away. And a lot of things to fix and do. A welcome change from daily routine in Bamako. Not that Bamako would treat me badly. Not at all. It really is being kind to me but a change would do me good. These days we spend most of the time playing cards. That is they play and I get bored. As they play a game I just can’t get to grips with. The moment you think you’ve nailed it there it goes. Bam. Something inexplicable happens. Something that turns all your understanding into a worthless pile of ideas. So all there is left for me is to take photos of the players while they enjoy and argue their game away. And they do it with passion. So much that sometimes I fear for the poor table falling apart from being hit so hard. The moment you get them away from playing the game they are the most pleasant and sweet guys but when you let them get hold of the cards they turn into those unpredictable, passionate and unbelievably loud card players trashing those cards and their opponents at any cost. And they are my friends. And I like them. In fact I wouldn’t want them to be any other way.
