Nouadhibou
Day 8
Mon 25th
Start: Somewhere in northern Mauritania
Mid: Nouadhibou [20 54 N 17 02 W]
End: Nouadhibou
Early in the morning we awoke to the early sun being partially blackened by the ore going into the air. All of our bags were the grey color and we got up to just enjoy the morning. As we approached Nouadhibou the Mauritanians two cars over with were throwing something overboard. We watched as they threw a bumper, empty transmission, and other car parts. Throughout the course of about ten minutes they had practically thrown over a whole car. The odd thing was that every piece had to be brought on top at the beginning of the ride.
13 hours and 10 minutes after getting on top, we got off. My face looked like a raccoon, despite being completely covered by the turban, and there were black iron pellets stuck in my front teeth which made everybody laugh when I smiled. A taxi brought us directly the our hotel, while we tried to call the three volunteers we had contacts for in Nouadhibou. None of them worked. Hotel is was then.
After showers, checking e-mail at an internet café, and eating lunch, we went to the market to chec out the city some. On one silver shop the owner showed the addresses of three Gambian volunteers that had passed by just a week before. In the middle of Mauritania at a random shop we met someone that not only interacted with Allison, Mary and Michelle but had their contacts in their own handwriting. It was neat to see that connection.
Before it got too hot we started on our laundry. I threw away the pair of jeans I wore on the train while Nate paid the hotel staff to clean his. We did all the other shirts by hand. It took three washings before the iron coming off our clothes was an acceptable minimum. Two hours later our laundry was hanging to be dried.
While Nate took a nap, Erika Ulf and I went to find some fish for dinner. We bought a ½ kilo of tuna and ½ kilo of some other fish for a total of $3.
We now knew what other volunteers had said about he train: “I’m glad I did it, but would never do it again.”
Before going to bed we said goodbye to Ulf, as he would be spending a few more days n Nouadhibou before heading to Morocco. The next day would be our last together, heading back to the capital.
Also, we settled all money accounts. They paid me back for their share of the trip in either CFA (good in six countries) or Euros or USD. I then bought their remaining UM from them since I was staying a few more days longer in Mauritania.
Mon 25th
Start: Somewhere in northern Mauritania
Mid: Nouadhibou [20 54 N 17 02 W]
End: Nouadhibou
Early in the morning we awoke to the early sun being partially blackened by the ore going into the air. All of our bags were the grey color and we got up to just enjoy the morning. As we approached Nouadhibou the Mauritanians two cars over with were throwing something overboard. We watched as they threw a bumper, empty transmission, and other car parts. Throughout the course of about ten minutes they had practically thrown over a whole car. The odd thing was that every piece had to be brought on top at the beginning of the ride.
13 hours and 10 minutes after getting on top, we got off. My face looked like a raccoon, despite being completely covered by the turban, and there were black iron pellets stuck in my front teeth which made everybody laugh when I smiled. A taxi brought us directly the our hotel, while we tried to call the three volunteers we had contacts for in Nouadhibou. None of them worked. Hotel is was then.
After showers, checking e-mail at an internet café, and eating lunch, we went to the market to chec out the city some. On one silver shop the owner showed the addresses of three Gambian volunteers that had passed by just a week before. In the middle of Mauritania at a random shop we met someone that not only interacted with Allison, Mary and Michelle but had their contacts in their own handwriting. It was neat to see that connection.
Before it got too hot we started on our laundry. I threw away the pair of jeans I wore on the train while Nate paid the hotel staff to clean his. We did all the other shirts by hand. It took three washings before the iron coming off our clothes was an acceptable minimum. Two hours later our laundry was hanging to be dried.
While Nate took a nap, Erika Ulf and I went to find some fish for dinner. We bought a ½ kilo of tuna and ½ kilo of some other fish for a total of $3.
We now knew what other volunteers had said about he train: “I’m glad I did it, but would never do it again.”
Before going to bed we said goodbye to Ulf, as he would be spending a few more days n Nouadhibou before heading to Morocco. The next day would be our last together, heading back to the capital.
Also, we settled all money accounts. They paid me back for their share of the trip in either CFA (good in six countries) or Euros or USD. I then bought their remaining UM from them since I was staying a few more days longer in Mauritania.
posted by Mike | 12:57 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home