Today we made the trip from Ouaga to Ouahigouya. Before leaving Ouaga, M took me to remedy my passport situation (misspelled name). The photo place was bustling with excitement. People were selling all sorts of things throughout town: portraits of President Compaore, Catholic jewelry, phone cards… I’m still amazed that more people don’t die here on a daily basis in moto crashes. Cars seem to generally obey traffic laws with respect to each-other, but interaction between cars and motos or cars and bikes is completely at random.
We took at chartered bus from Ouaga to Ouahigouya. Four people to a row, no room to move, but we had air conditioning! The landscape is barren but beautiful. There are more trees than I expected, but all the ground is red and brown and very dry. We drove past small villages that are little more than a few clusters of circles of huts. Everywhere people. Walking between villages. Biking. Carrying water, food, babies. Men in the fields. I don’t know what they are farming. What can grow in these conditions?
There was a huge celebration waiting for us when we reached Ouahgiouya. We drank water, a symbolic gesture of welcome. Women danced, and a band played: conga drums and a flute-like instrument. Women in red tops and blue skirts. This is Africa.
Before dinner we explored the city a bit. There are many buildings that are either half built or half destroyed. People lining the streets. Children running up to shake our hands. Most people were quick to return a smile and “Bon soir”. Garbage all over the streets with children running barefoot on the broken glass.
The temperature was 95 degrees F at 8:00pm, well after sunset.
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