| People we met in Copenhagen-West Africa 2005/2006 |
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Kumasi, November 13th 2005
Emmanuel Awuku - Reverend of the Presbiterian Church
We were driving towards Kakum when we saw a big celebration mass just by the road, we stopped to hear the songs and see it closer, then the Reverend came straight to us and invited us to participate. An offer you can't refuse. After 2 minutes we were trapped by the music and energy of the people and there we were, dancing with raised hands and praising the Lord, Hallelujah...!
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Badogo, November 4th 2005
N'Tenin
N'Tenin is the singer of a small town called Karatou, near Badogo. She's a natural talent and has a voice that would be the envy of any singer. When we interviewed her, even if we all seated at the same place, we had to ask the questions through her husband, then her husband would ask her, she would then answer her husband and finally her husband would talk to us, an African tradition.
Listen to her wonderful voice here
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Timbuktu, October 29th 2005
Ridel, Pedro, Belkis, Tatiana and Jorge
Five doctors from Cuba doing a volunteer of two years in the Hospital of Timbuktu. We met them in the street and after finding out that they actually lived very close to our campsite we went for a visit. Being Mario Argentinian they expressed immediately their sympathy for Argentina and Che Guevara (Che was also a doctor), and after 5 minutes we were already drinking something "Mojito alike", in Timbuktu, very cool.
Our sincere respects for people like them who work, silently, under extreme hard conditions for helping others. |
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Timbuktu, October 29th 2005
Dr. Jerome Dackouo and Dr. Thierry Dackouo
The director of Timbuktu's Hospital and a doctor, respectively. We were very lucky in meeting them at the entrance of the hospital when Helle had a throat infection. Dr. Jerome finished his studies in Cuba so he spoke perfectly spanish which made things easier for us for explaining the symptoms. They were extremely kind and helpful, did diagnostic Helle's medicine in five minutes and didn't want to charge us for the consultation. Thanks again. |
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Bandiagara, October 25th 2005
Bouba-Cary
Our guide in the Dogon Land. Great guy born in Dogon that speaks excellent english, fully recommended. Very suitable for Swiss and Germans due to his total lack of humor, but extremely knowledgeable and he even worked for the Lonely Planet.
The Dogon land without a guide is not worth, so don't leave Bandiagara without him. |
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Djenne, 19. oktober 2005
Pigmy
The guide in Djenne. We never really used him but he he kept showing up at the campsite offering his assistance. He was cool though, never a hassle and spoke very good english. He's the guy that guided Michael Palin in his program "Sahara" for the BBC. |
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Bamako, October 19th 2005
The guys at the car washing
Mr. Hat and his three helpers did a great job washing and greasing the car. When Mario took the first picture it looked like he was getting angry, we found out later that he just wanted 10 seconds to put his hat on.
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Bamako, October 18th 2005
Christian & Hanna
A German couple with a great sense of humor. They did Alaska-Ushuaia with a VW in 1982, Cape Town to Algeria with an Unimog some years ago, and are now in West Africa enjoying their fully equipped 4x4 MAN truck.
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Bamako, October 17th 2005
Jean Bakir Bertet
An extremely friendly french guy. He's starting his own campsite in Bamako, not very central but very OK. He's very helpful with any assistance you need in town as visas, insurances or any other thing.
His phone number is:
Cell - 674 3230 /
Home - 220 4187 and the GPS:
N12 36.145
W07 56.121
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Wassadou, October 11th 2005
Moussa
Big funny guy who manages the Wassadou Campement. He wanted us in the campsite only if we eat in the restaurant for 20 euros. He then lost the bet against Mario of who had the biggest belly and had to let us camp for 3 days without eating in the restaurant. We did though eat one night and the food was absolutely delicious. |
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St. Louis, October 8th 2005
Makhtar Fall
Makhtar is a fisherman that lives 5 days a week in his pirogue. We were lucky to meet him in his "free" day. He walked with us and showed us inside the fish market in
Guet N'Dar, a place otherwise very difficult to get accepted as a tourist.
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Rosso, October 4th 2005
David
Crossing the Rosso border was one of the most stressful thing in the whole trip. Hundreds of "smart boys" hassle you constantly offering their services for sorting all the paperwork quickly. David was one of them, a real pain in the arse, but the less worse of all of them. So, we have to recommend him even if he was a hassler. 20 euros and he'll do all the work for you. |
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Marrakech, September 23rd 2005
Fedli Hassan
Fedli is Mr. Fixit in Marrakech, he'll drive you to town from the campsite and pick you up at any time for half price than a Petit Taxi. He talks good english and knows everybody in town if you need any other assistance. Highly recommended. His mobile: 066705202 |
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Marrakech, September 23rd 2005
Hassan Mamdouh
Absolutely the coolest man in the square at night, funny and clever was the only one who didn't ask money for a picture, therefore getting loads from everybody (yes, against Mario's principles of NEVER paying for a shot, he'd rather walk away than paying for photographing) |
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Mouley Idriss, September 15th 2005
Man with a Donkey
A very funny man with a donkey completely loaded (and hidden) by grass. It took him a while before he could stop the donkey for the picture. |
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Meknès, September 13th 2005
The Loaders of a Hay Truck
The guys that loaded the truck full with hay to the limits of gravity, they also smoked a pipe the whole time.
When Mario got to the top of their truck they "surrounded" Helle. Then Mario came storming back and they kept friendly a "distance" to his girl. |
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Meknès, September 13th 2005
three boys "making" chili
Three smiling and very funny boys making chili out of dry peppers. We met them by the road. |
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Meknès, September 13th 2005
Moroccan family
A whole family we met when we saw them washing blankets on the tip of a truck. The mother Aisha had a whole set of gold teeth and she was "the boss", even if the father kept sitting behind smoking his pipe while the girls did the job.
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