First encounter with Guinea

We crossed the border into Guinea today and suddenly everything is green and lush and beautiful. The sudden change of my perception might have to do something with my sickness in the last two days, too, but the first impression of Guinea is very positive.

There was a coup two years ago and the country is still governed by an army controlled temporary government, you see soldiers everywhere (and they are easy to spot in their sky blue overalls). But they are extremely friendly, explain to you that they are only there to protect you, and you don’t see the typical rude tone between the authorities and the local people either.

The stage was short and the border crossing easier than expected, we had time to walk into a village in the afternoon.

We were invited by a friendly man (on the left in the following picture) to visit his house and of course didn’t reject the opportunity.

His wife is crushing millet, the others a (some of) his children. He’s got a square house which seems to be a sign of wealth in Guinea, and the number of chicken and goats, plus the fact that the stew simmering above the fire included some kind of meat, indicates that our man is well situated as well.

I asked the man if he would allow us to peek into his house and he gave us a tour of the mansion.

The living room
The parent’s bedroom (storing this year’s harvest of peanuts which we got a bag of)

For comparison, this is a simpler hut, one single room with a bed inside and nothing else.

Our camp is in a grassy area with huge trees and I think it will be the first night to use our mosquito sprays.

Stage 9: St Louis – Tambacounda

The longest and most exhausting stage until now. Savannah, bushes, villages with crazy children (throwing stones at our cars).

My internet access is too poor to upload photos or videos, will add a few tomorrow.

Stage 8: Boutilimit – St Louis

We crossed the border to Senegal today. My first impression of Senegal: nothing has changed. It is still the most corrupt country on the route, everybody is trying to rip you off, using the most creative justifications.

On the other hand Senegal has he nicest bread and the best beer.

In the evening we went to St Louis to have dinner in a very nice slow food restaurant.

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