Copyright 2000
by Phillip Martin
All rights reserved.

Burkina-Faso

one of the checkpoints

a baobab tree

BOBO DIOULASSO   It was an ordeal -- and then some -- to get to Bobo. xJust like animals, we were herded into the back of a public transport truck. xWhen we were sufficiently uncomfortable, they put two more people in.xFinally, we were off and stopping for the day's travel. xIt took us about two hours just to leave Ferkessedougou.

As soon as we left we came to our first police checkpoint of the day. There would be seventeen more to follow. xSome were good and some boring. xIn one I roamed a neat village taking pictures. xAt another two bandits behind bars leered at Amanda. xAt the Burkina Faso border, we waited for hours. The owner of the truck came to the back collecting additional money to pay police bribes. xHe didn't bother to ask us.

Around 9:00 P.M. we arrived in Bobo and checked into the Catholic Guest House. xIt was worth it for the food alone! xIf there was a lot to do in Bobo, we certainly didn't know what it was. We spent basically the entire day at the market. x