Djenne

Back in Djenne, but beset by internet gremlins making communication very difficult. I arrived in Bamako nearly a week ago where Keita met me and we travelled north through a smiling and verdant Malian countryside  where the millet stood plump and high as a man, soon ready for harvest. That is until we reached the north side of San, where the harvest started looking increasingly paltry and around Djenne only the rice will yield this year. There has not been enough rain for the millet to develop. Difficult times in Djenne then, as if it was not difficult enough!

But although I am of course concerned that the rains have not been plentiful enough here, I can’t help feeling relieved that I have arrived at the tail end of the rainy season, which I detest. It is beautiful, yes: the evening skies are often stunning and always seem to me to be painted on a Chinese vase- such as my view here across the water which is where the footballers play in the dry season.
Baba has run the place in an exemplary fashion in my absence- I am very pleased with him and gave him a Swiss army knife as a present amongst other things.