Friday morning was the big day we had been waiting for as the family (except for Melissa who had to leave early for a conference) was returning to the place we called home for so many years: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Since there were 6 of us, but only 5 seats inside, we had to take turns riding in back.
In the morning it was nice and cool, but so so windy!
The boys started out in the back and then it was the girls' turn.
We thought it'd be a great opportunity to do some December sun-bathing, but every time we hoisted up our pagnes to let the sun rays tan our winter-white legs, the pick-up passed a truck and we had to quickly pull them down again before we shocked the Nigerians and Burkinabés. We did have a couple of trucks flash their lights at us, but we weren't sure if it was because we were women, white, or both.
It was so fun road-tripping in Africa again.
It isso completely different.
The scenery is different.
The trees are different.
This is a Baobab tree--one of my most favorite kinds of trees in the world.
If you look in the middle of the picture below you'll see a tree with HUGE nests.
This is not an unusual sight, but the size of the nests continue to amazes me.
The bathrooms are different.
The gas stations are different.
The towns are different.
The trucks and buses you pass are different.
(I apologize for the poor quality of some of these photos.
They were taken through a windshield.)
In both the above and the below pictures, there are passengers hanging out in the back!
Border crossings are always an interesting affair.
We had three stops on each side.
Sometimes they pay careful attention to ensure our "papers" are in order...sometimes they don't.
While Dad was taking care of the passports, Mom found a way to cool Andrew off from the scorching sun.
I used my camera's zoom to take pictures of all that was happening at this particular border stop.
They fill the orange canisters, load them onto the donkey cart, and then transport the water back to their village.
It's amazing how high they pile the tops of the buses.
The border shop...well-stocked with shoes in case you want a "new" pair for the next country.
This sign made us super excited!
Entering familiar territory!
Notice how the quality of the roads change from country to country!
Finally, we were getting close to home.
Being back in Ouaga was wonderful.
So much has changed and yet some things I don't think ever will.
There is such a mix of old and new.
Goats eating lunch on the side of the street is not something you would see in the US capital!
Muslim men praying.
Shoes for sale.
The traditional/familiar way of carrying babies.
So. Many. Mobylettes.
Dad said after Singapore, Ouaga is the city with the most mopeds/mobyettes in the world.
We visited our old elementary school: St. Exupéry.
The old guard who has worked there for decades let us into the courtyard.
Nothing had changed!
Erika and I have so many memories from this French school.
Other highlights besides seeing places was seeing people: old friends, neighbors, teachers, beggars, etc.
This is Mariam.
She has had such a hard life and is very dear to our family.
She was our House Help for so long and was a daily part of our lives.
We love her and were encouraged to see her doing well.
She said she wouldn't have recognized us since we had grown so much.
Oh, how she giggled when she saw Andrew.
8 years ago Andrew was much shorter, very thin, and had NO facial hair!
We also saw old Cru staff members.
They had only one little girl last time we saw them.
Now they have two girls and a boy!
We taught them Uno!
So fun!
They named their eldest daughter Erika!
Isn't that sweet?
It was such a good fantastic trip.
Way too short.
I'm ready to go back.
Since there were 6 of us, but only 5 seats inside, we had to take turns riding in back.
In the morning it was nice and cool, but so so windy!
The boys started out in the back and then it was the girls' turn.
No, that is not a brace around Andrew's neck, but his new favorite pillow.
It was so fun road-tripping in Africa again.
It is
The scenery is different.
This is a Baobab tree--one of my most favorite kinds of trees in the world.
This is not an unusual sight, but the size of the nests continue to amazes me.
The bathrooms are different.
The gas stations are different.
The towns are different.
The trucks and buses you pass are different.
(I apologize for the poor quality of some of these photos.
They were taken through a windshield.)
Border crossings are always an interesting affair.
We had three stops on each side.
Sometimes they pay careful attention to ensure our "papers" are in order...sometimes they don't.
While Dad was taking care of the passports, Mom found a way to cool Andrew off from the scorching sun.
It's a lot of work to pump water from a well.
At the previous stop, we bought bags of water from a vendor like the one pictured below.
This sign made us super excited!
Entering familiar territory!
Finally, we were getting close to home.
Being back in Ouaga was wonderful.
So much has changed and yet some things I don't think ever will.
There is such a mix of old and new.
Little stands and shops everywhere, selling anything from potatoes to soccer cleats, to rakes, dishes, and dolls.
The traditional/familiar way of carrying babies.
So. Many. Mobylettes.
Dad said after Singapore, Ouaga is the city with the most mopeds/mobyettes in the world.
We visited our old elementary school: St. Exupéry.
The old guard who has worked there for decades let us into the courtyard.
Nothing had changed!
Erika and I have so many memories from this French school.
This is Mariam.
She has had such a hard life and is very dear to our family.
She was our House Help for so long and was a daily part of our lives.
We love her and were encouraged to see her doing well.
She said she wouldn't have recognized us since we had grown so much.
Oh, how she giggled when she saw Andrew.
8 years ago Andrew was much shorter, very thin, and had NO facial hair!
They had only one little girl last time we saw them.
Now they have two girls and a boy!
We taught them Uno!
So fun!
Isn't that sweet?
Way too short.
I'm ready to go back.
I think the riding in the back would have made the trip more fun! Erika looks like she is wearing a Crystal outfit. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat posts Lindsay! So glad you're having fun!!!
ReplyDelete