Almost there! Bamako was nice for what it was. I think we all really liked that town in the end. It’s like Dakar only on a smaller scale, slightly less multi-cultural, slightly less cosmopolitan, and slightly less western; but it still maintains a bustling engaging atmosphere. We really didn’t do anything else in Bamako on Thursday or Friday morning. We did make a stop by Air Senegal to once again make sure we were actually on the flight out. Which turned out to be a very good idea because we weren’t. But they got it sorted out alright. On Thursday night we went out to the movies. We saw what might possibly be the most ‘violence for the sake of entertainment’ film ever: Bad Boys 2. It really was the hugest piece of screwed up Americana I’ve ever seen. Was there a message to the film? Why yes, basically I took from the film the message that if you screw with America, we will kill you. We are judge, jury, and most assuredly executioner, because we are always right, no questions asked, because idf you do question the American Way we will violently destroy you, your family, and everything you believe in. Oh yeah, and city cops need submachine guns...

Yesterday we chilled out until our flight in the afternoon. We got ourselves stuck on the street during Friday prayer which was fascinating and a little intimidating. It was on one of the main streets downtown that’s usually especially busy; but everyone, and I mean everyone stopped their work and flooded the street. No cars moving, just thousands of people up and down the street and sidewalk praying in unison. A pretty awe-inspiring sight.

Our flight was fine and short. We were hoping to stay someplace cheaper in Dakar than Granelles (where we stayed on our way out), but the only place we found with rooms was a dirty brothel. So we took our wisely made reservation and spent the night in an amazing 5 room apartment owned by the hotel. Honestly this place is great, kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms... I could live here easily. Its too bad in a way that were not staying. The Paris-Dakar Rally, one of the biggest motor sport events in the world, ends here tonight, but none of us really have any more money, and it doesn’t really go with the rest of the vacation. Besides we all really want to get back to Gambia as soon as possible. Now though I’ve got to get some breakfast and jump in a rig going home. Tonight ‘ll be in my own bed, a very nice thought.