Ouaga - do go!
on Michael Cashman (Ghana), 27/Apr/2010 17:53, 34 days ago
Well, after Charlotte's semi-sleepless night enlivened byFacebookingincluding a long chat with my nephew in Japan, Charlotte feels sufficiently recovered that we could after all conclude our holiday with  a long weekend in Ouagadougou with Mar and Mark. Above are 2 of the 4 back-seat passengers (including a new friend, Antea, of Mar& Mark's) heading forOuaga.On Saturday we see masks and other artifacts at the Museum.Quite a good shot of all three I would say.Then in the evening to theOuagajazz festival.Before we go in I tell the story of arriving late at Romeo and Juliet and fining the front row of seats free. We go in to the concert and history repeats itselfThis is the absolutely delightful Toumani Diabate from Mali, the "Jimi Hendrix of the Kora". World-famous, grammy-winning, and gives us a splendid masterclass in his 24-stringed kora.The audience join in - some on stage, some just from their seats.This guy reminds me of my brother-in-law. I have eight brothers-in-law- none of them will think it's them. Afterwards we go for a drink with Mar& Mark's Belgian friend living inOuaga. Later I ask "Whyis he called Radar?" (remembering the TV series MASH, for the over-50s) but he is actually calledReda- because that's his name, and by now you should be able to work out how to pronounce it.Now perhaps the boys should be more sporting, and desist from playing a 7-letter word first turn, but I have to tell you that we don't resist that temptation. Gondwanarestaurant. Recommended. Quite appropriate, sinceGondwanais apparently the now-severed Africa-Australia super-continent.Heading home. Coming North the taxi driver filled up in one go, but going South there are 3 stops to put about 6 beer-bottles  of fuel in (or siphon a similar amount, sucking it from a big pitcher) each time. We have had a guess why - what's your theory - answers by blog comment only.