Day 1 in Timbuktu...

It's been a while since we visited Mali. Last time, we left off on the arrival to Timbuktu...

Day 1!
It was hot...

but not hot enough to stop this kid (as well as tons of other longing to wear winter clothing Malians) from wearing a parka!

We started the day by walking around Timbuktu. Basically a bunch of buildings on top of a bunch of sand. We came to the conclusion that Timbuktu's "streets of gold" were hidden under the sand.

We did find Rue Bada Boom though, but couldn't find Rue Bada Bing.

I know, I know, poor donkeys.
Well they are in much better shape than this guy...

It's not a good idea to be sand colored in Timbuktu!
That must be why the driver didn't see him... :´(

Later we went to the festival site 3 km from Timbuktu.
Yeah! The Festival In The Desert!

 The stage

The opening ceremony.
A Tuareg gettin down on top of his camel, and boy in background gettin down on the dune.

A Tuareg gets his camel to do tricks for the audience

A mystery man from the group Tartit (listen here!)

I made friends and they offered me tea, 10 and then 20 camels in exchange for marriage (those guys aren't in the photo), and then they dressed me up.

The sun starts to set.
These are the tents we slept in.

Beetles start to walk around.

Bag whiskey from Ghana, Black Diamond brand of course!, starts being drunk.

And last of all, at 2am, Tinariwen (listen here!) starts playing!