Happy Thanksgiving!

Joyeux Fete de Dinde! We didn't get a turkey, but decided to roast some pigeons...a much smaller relative to the turkey, but same effect!

Ballade on the Fleuve Niger

Today we went out on a boat ride on the Niger River to have brunch with some friends! It was a beautiful way to spend the afternoon, and we enjoyed some amazing cheese that had arrived with Vina's dad from Paris the day before!

Our boat

Olivier on the Niger

Washing clothes in the Niger

Monica happy with the cheese

Our crocodile visit

A few Bissau photos!

I didn't get to see too much of portuguese-speaking Guinea Bissau, but spent a couple of hours checking out the city. It is a country a few years out of conflict and the city doesn't seem to have much to offer! But I still found it charming!

Street View in Bissau

I didn't see the ocean for the first few days I was there - The last day, I decided I can't visit a coastal city and not see the ocean! My lone quest (no other conference participants seemed as optimistic) for the ocean vista and glistening white beaches ended here - not quite what I had in mind! There must be nicer beaches a bit out of town!

This picture sums up the airport experience in Bissau - "Trouble Counter"..haha!

Olivier returns from Gao tomorrow! He has been seeing amazing villages set along the Niger River in desert landscapes and working hard to set up the management teams for the community radios...but unfortunately he doesn't have a digital camera with him! After the next trip up north, we will definitely have amazing pictures to share!

Des petits departs de Bamako

Olivier left on Oct. 31 to great adventures around Gao! He will be up there until November 15th...he's visiting the villages where they will be installing the radios, meeting with the governor and mayors, and even spent the night in the desert under the stars when the car broke down in the middle of nowhere! The car is fixed now and everyone is fine! I am currently in Guinea Bissau at the Annual Health Ministers meeting...unfortunately I have just been able to visit the interior of the hotel for now, but I hope to see a bit of Bissau tomorrow before leaving. Yesterday the President of Guinea Bissau attended the meeting.

Below is a picture from a Halloween Party at a US embassy official's house! A soccer player, a drag indian dancer, yours truly as a battered substitute teacher, Minnie Mouse (my friend Vina) and a Monk...(yes, he shaved his head!).