Leaving tomorrow morning at dawn (that sounds far more romantic than I suspect it will feel) for Kolda, a town in the Haute Casamance region, where the UNFPA has links to a variety of AIDS prevention programs. The drive, I am told, will take at least 11 hours, the majority of which will be spent on “difficult” roads.
(When Senegalese drivers acknowledge that roads are a problem, it’s a safe bet you’ll encounter crater-sized potholes and deep sand. After listening to several accounts of the drive, I found myself feeling hugely and uncharacteristically grateful that we will be traveling not in the usual shock-challenged sedan, but in a large SUV, its white doors emblazoned with UN decals.)
We’re leaving early because Casamance, which sits between The Gambia and Guinea Bissau, while no longer consumed by outright war between rebels and government forces, is still home to bandits who occasionally prey on vehicles caught on the roads after dark. The attacks, I’m told, are fairly rare (maybe one each month), but I’m perfectly willing to accept that this is a case of better safe than sorry.
Anyway, I’ll be in the area for most of the week, most likely sweating profusely (when Senegalese people acknowledge that you’re going somewhere “hot,” it is not an adjective to be taken lightly. Arthur, who is accompanying me on the trip, has made plans to buy water before we leave the city. “Lots and lots of water,” he said, nodding sagely.) Taking this advisement under consideration, I have begun preventative hydration measures.
Not sure what Internet connectivity will be like, so may have to hold off posting until I return to Dakar on Friday. In the meantime, I’ll take lots of pictures.
Hopefully the bumpy road will bear some reporting fruits for you. Look forward to the virbal and visual account.
Be safe!
Posted by: Christopher | March 19, 2007 at 04:57 AM