Funny story

Sun 22 June, 2008

We made it to Sevare in about 3 hours on a full hot bus... no problem. Today we journey again, but only about an hour to Bandiagara. There we formally meet Mamadou, our guide for the Dogon Trek which I suspect will start tomorrow morning. The excitement is building and I should mention now that once the trek begins I will be without internet for obvious reasons (no electric). But, please keep your mind on the journey each day because YOU are with me in a very real way. Bandiagara has internet, and I should be able to write one more time.

Funny story: After writing yesterday I walked a ways over to a restaurant to grab a quick bite before the bus. It's outdoors of course; but quite nice with tablecloths and plenty of people wanting to take your order. It is not the tourist time of year so we are the only patrons. I look at the chalkboard menu and decide to try the hamburger a cheval thinking a hamburger will be quick and simple; not to mention interesting in the middle of Mali, Africa. After ordering I pull out my french phrasebook to look up Cheval and find that it means HORSE. OH MON DIEU... I could just feel all of you with me at that exact moment writhing in horror. What could I do in response but chuckle. So here comes this huge hamburger with a fried egg on top. No bun, simply on the plate with peas on the side. Here we go... taste... HMM... that was actually pretty good... then some thoughts of horror because I know how some of you have such precious Horse friends... taste... OK, so it's actually good so I may as well enjoy it. We ate most of it; but not all. Actually with a cold coke most everything tastes pretty good. Then, as is typical one of the men working there comes over to chat. A tiny bit of English and hand gestures goes a long way. To make a longer story shorter, we ended up laughing so hard because we actually ate a Beef Hamburger that was acting like a horse as it carried the fried egg.

I'm still laughing over it... and you horse-lovers can take a sigh of relief. I'm so happy to have all of you traveling with me (Hi Nancy !!!).

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That is hilarious! Tell me

Posted by HAC "Curly Red" Susan on Sun 22 June, 2008.

That is hilarious!
Tell me about the children you see.
What/how do they play? What jobs/chores do they help with? What brings them joy? What makes them proud?
I feel like I am learning so much. Such a thoughtful perspective you are sharing --thank you so much.

oh what a relief that it was

Posted by Alison on Sun 22 June, 2008.

oh what a relief that it was not a horse. Waiting patiently to hear of our next adventure.

All this talk of cold cokes

Posted by Amy on Sun 22 June, 2008.

All this talk of cold cokes and cafes makes me think of another cafe, in another African town, on another unimaginably hot day -- with, perhaps, the same red and white checkered tablecloths, the same chalkboard menu, the same dusty white plastic chairs. Another table, another bold order which ended, to our dismay, in nothing more than one very WARM bottle of undistinguished alcohol...

Thanks for writing, Deb, and bringing me along. It's not quite as good as REALLY working, walking, riding, and sweating alongside, like last time... but at least it's a darn good substitute.

So.. My computer has been

Posted by Elmer on Wed 25 June, 2008.

So.. My computer has been down but I managed to sneak a peek at your site today.. and I have to say after reading this.. Myself and My horse friend Amigo are very happy you didnt have to eat one of his stable mates.. I know Amigo is very plump and all but I can not imagine he would be tastey lol..I am soo excited to catch up on this trip.. We miss you