The bus ride home

Well, after a whirlwind few days, we’re back home again. Despite being in the big city, the only place we ate in Ouaga was the hotel restaurant & room service – the food was better this time than before, but still totally overpriced. But every night we were just too wiped out to want to go out. And also, no one wanted to leave the in-room internet access – its such as switch from our daily trek to the internet café!

After a disrupted sleep (don’t ask), I dragged myself out of bed and to the breakfast buffet… to enjoy one last pain chocolat before returning to Bobo. We checked out, which takes a surprisingly long time, and flagged the taxi. He was surprised we were going from the Sofitel to the bus station. No one goes between the Sofitel and the bus station. So, the 5 of us (minus Dustin, who is away on a business trip) crammed into a taxi for 4 and off we went, our driver trying to convince us that next time we go to Bobo we should rent his SUV, for 40,000CFA each way. The bus cost us 11,000CFA each, so 55,000 for the round trip in total. But in retrospect – the rental SUV would be worth it! Next time, we’re doing what the other NGO’s do: rent a car or fly.

We pulled up to the bus terminal, and the car was surrounded by people trying to “help” us – for a fee, of course. We scuttled around to the back of the car and grabbed our bags without letting anyone touch them… the “helpers” will sometimes try to take you bags right out of your hands if you’re not aggressive enough and then of course feel they deserved to be paid regardless of whether you wanted or needed their help. Although I am sure there are some pickpockets and petty criminals, I once felt grateful that Burkina is generally so safe, while we were in the crowd of people. We made our way into the terminal and there are no signs, no waiting areas, no one to ask for directions… but we asked a few people and stood with the other more nicely dressed people and eventually the air conditioned bus pulled in. At least, we paid an extra 1000CFA for an air conditioned bus. After we got on, it became clear that while it was certainly a bus with an airconditioner, this feature wasn’t actually working. So, bus loaded, we drove to the bus yard to sit for 45 minutes while they fixed the air conditioning. We finally left Bobo and shortly thereafter were stopped at a checkpoint, and the police started going through the luggage compartments… again, yay Burkina – in most places in West Africa, this process is one in which the police always find a few people who’s documents (or something) are not in order, and for the bus to continue, a fee must be paid. But here in Burkina, the police inspected the bus, and we were on our way.

Along the highway we passed a dozen of these “bush taxis” – impossibly overloaded, with 4 rows of seats, 4-5 people in each and often 2 in the front. And an incredible array of stuff piled on the roof. Its common to see one or more motos, some bikes, wheelbarrows, and assorted furniture piled precariously on the roof.

Despite the occasional interesting vehicle or village, the scenery is fairly monotonous and absolutely flat for most of the 5 hour drive… red dirt, trees, puddles and the occasional pond, with cows and goats here and there. We stopped in Boromo at the big bus station; the specialties of the bus station in Boromo are sesame snacks, bagnés, eggs (either hard boiled or an omelet sandwhich), bright orange drink that looked like fanta in coke bottles, baggies of water and ginger juice and onions. Piles and piles of onions. More onions than all the rest put together, its really odd. It was pouring rain, so as the vendors approached the windows and leaned in the door and shouted “madame, madame, cent francs cent francs” which is the price of several of the items. It doesn’t matter who you buy from, there’s always another girl suggesting you need to buy some from her too…

It was nice to be home, make a big bowl of soup and fall into my bed… I slept for 13 hours! And finally was able to put away my clothes with the hangers purchased the day before we left. And joy of joys, I finally unpacked, washed and used my espresso machine today. It was such a treat to have good, dark roast coffee this morning. Yum.

We’re hoping to have internet connected at home before to long – which will be good, as this daily trip to the internet café is getting old. Today is a slow day, and I have lots to upload & download so the photos I was going to include have been canceled. Next time, in shallah. Speaking of home, I’ll attach photos of my house on the next entry. (too many photos at a time makes it impossibly slow).