Last day in Bamako (or so we thought)!

Fabric shopping - so many options!

After a few nights of difficult (if any), sleep, we've come to the end of our week in Mali. The highs were high and the lows were low. The food was good, when we could find it, and the people generous. But off we go, tomorrow afternoon, to Senegal. Annie finished her work this morning and followed it up by getting some fabric, which will hopefully turn into some crazy outfits in Senegal.

Last night we hit a curious restaurant called Bistro La Bafing. It was an African-themed restaurant, one of the few that we've come across, that's basically fans keeping people cool under a giant tent of sorts. We had some tasty chicken with mango sauce before moving into the bar area and splitting a (big) bottle of Castel lager, Dakar's main beer of choice.

This afternoon, after a solid nap, we went out to the Diabaté's house together, the first time Annie got to see it. Sadly, we missed Toumani by a day on both sides of our trip - he left the day we arrived and he's coming back tonight, just before we leave. Next time, insha'allah. The last kora lesson with Ledye will be tomorrow morning, right before we head off to the airport.

The entrance to what is probably the top recording studio in Mali, on the third floor of the Diabaté's house. Also a choice spot for drying laundry.