| There are many ways to
get to Tombouctou, also known as Timbuktu! We chose the hardest piste from the end of the Route
de l'espoir in Mauritania, not because we are masochists, but as it seemed at
the time to be the shortest (overland) route. Of course, for total
wimps and geriatrics (and sensible people) you can fly to Bamako from anywhere then get a short
hop to the local airport, but where is the challenge in that? It is
like getting a helicopter to the South Pole!
But having made the effort, you would have
thought they might be a little more welcoming, even throw a party...but no,
just the parasitic tourist stuff. At least they have air-conditioned hotels with
showers and cold beer which is more than welcome after a few days in the
desert.
It is supposedly
mysterious, but I reckon that is only because nobody who writes the guide
books has ever actually been there. You get all kinds of rubbish about
having to register with the police, that they will only sell diesel to
locals (or that there is none available) and that it is ..."mysterious".
Only mystery is why
anyone thinks it is! For the record, you don't need any special
paperwork, you can buy diesel, you can stay in comfortable hotels, you can
buy booze and you can get reasonable food in the restaurants. Main
recommendation though is to ignore what "Rough Guide" says about
virtually everything.
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