Before we left DC, we made one last stop at the US Botanical Gardens to see the blooming Amorphopallus titanum. The plant that has a ginormous flower that smells like rotting meat Yep, that's the one.
After that, we were off to Bamako via Paris for two nights. Ah, Paris, La Ville Lumière, you don't disappoint. We stayed at a lovely boutique hotel in the 8th: Le Pavillon des Lettres. A truly charming hotel, well situated. Maybe a bit of a splurge, but c'mon, we're headed to Mali for two years. To top it off (literally, as we were in a room in the converted attic space), we had an Eifel Tower view. Magnifique!
Mark and I on a tourist bus in Paris
Fun with forced perspective!
Yes, the actual view from our bedroom window!
Searching for Lady Marmalade (we didn't find her)
The flight to Bamako was uneventful. Cosmo did great on each flight. On the way to Paris, he even had his own seat - merci, Air France!
He even has his own seatbelt
Cosmo leading the way through CDG!
My "first" day at work was an embassy-wide celebration for Tabaski. There was a raffle of lots of prizes for the local staff with the special prizes being mouton and a very special grand mouton.
Over the weekend we found a local market with our embassy sponsor.
The actual work is good. I have a great staff and the other employees seem welcoming and happy to be here, for the most part. It's busy though. Our house is also quite nice: lots of space and storage space, really nice gardens, and a beautiful pool (that as of today, is now crystal clear).
Luckily, we arrived in time for two four-day weeks with a four-day weekend in between. We got do a little bit of exploring in our neighborhood and around Bamako. It's definitely different than what we're used to. But, that's what we signed on for, right?
Guess who's coming to dinner?
Over the weekend we found a local market with our embassy sponsor.
Our first Bamako market purchases - mats for the porches.
Luckily, we arrived in time for two four-day weeks with a four-day weekend in between. We got do a little bit of exploring in our neighborhood and around Bamako. It's definitely different than what we're used to. But, that's what we signed on for, right?
Cosmo makes friends wherever he goes.
You are here (or somewhere around there).
Kids are kids anywhere - a branch and a puddle = fun!
Goat of Bamako.
This little guy was fascinated by us.
Pirogues on the Niger River.
