le blanc

Now that Cheri and I have left Ghana, we have turned from Siliminga and Blefono respectively to Le Blanc. The big difference now is that neither of us can wow the offenders by rattling of something clever in the local language. The two of us share maybe one hundred words in French but have been using the numerous hours of travel to pick up some extra phrases via downloaded lessons on the ipod.

I am on a French keyboard and not feeling patient enough to catch up on every part of out trip but I will offer some highlights.

From Accra we went to Kumasi for a night. The next morning we joined a 7 hour bus to Bolgatanga of the Upper East Region. We stayed at the house of a local radio DJ, drank pito and attended the going away party of a fellow PCV.

From Bolga we went to Ouagadougou where we unexpectedly spent three nights. A day wandering the newly re=opened Grande Marchez, an evening with an Irovian friend of Cheris, a makeshift picnic in a very dry but still nice forest. Many many steak sandwiches and we left for Banfora. We got in a bit late so had a meal and planned the next adventure.

The next morning, we tried to rent bicyles and check out a lake nearby. In trying to ensure that we had helmets, we clearly misled out hosts and wer subsequently led on a long walk through busy, moto filled, muddy streets until we met a market seller who had sold large straw hats that would be much more appropriate for a rice paddy than for a long bikerid. The mud, traffic and lack of head protection made us feel fine about scrapping the bike idea and taking a taxi.

The keyboard has worn me out so I will catch you all up on the rest next time. Now in Banfora then to Mopti then Niamey. Break out the map.

Love to all
Ira