My Amazing Adventure in Mali, West Africa - Miscellaneous Pics

This is the girls and me at a small park near the

President's mansion.

Check out this landscaping at this park.

CH making a meal - I really miss my favorite

of hers - Za Mae - it was sooooooooo good!!

Me and "CH", their housekeeper. She is my

very good friend!!

Mommy opening a box received from the U.S.

C with Twizzlers and other stuff! Yum Yum!

H with Macaroni & Cheese - Yummy!

E with Lemonade and Dream Whip.

J with all the Real Bacon Bits they got in the box.

E doing what she loves to do - watch movies!!

Isn't she so cute!

C & sisters dancing!!

H helping to make homemade cookies - Yum!

E having a great "cool down" on a hot Malian

day.

This is a playhouse that John and some others

built for the children.

This is the man who made all

my skirts I wore in Mali. He is

a good friend!!

My Amazing Adventure in Mali, West Africa - Traffic

People and traffic are always close together in

Bamako. The green conveyance is called a

"Sotrama" which is a bus.

More traffic - I haven't seen anything like it

in the U.S. There are traffic laws but they are

not always followed.

Look how close to the road you have to park,

and pedestrians walk along behind the parked

cars which makes it very dangerous.

Traffic like this on every street in Bamako.

Those motorcycle-types are called Motos and

there are hundreds on the roads.

My Amazing Adventure in Mali, West Africa - The Boutiques

This is part of one of the larger Open Air Markets

in Bamako.

C in purple walking down same larger Open Air

Market.

Another Open Air Market.

Almost any kind of shoe you can imagine at

this Boutique.

Strictly a used tire Boutique.

More boutiques on a very busy road. The

whole you see in the front is for garbage and

sewage.

Through the car window you can see many

hand made boutiques. There are hundreds of

these hand made ones.

Street that has lots of Boutiques.

My Amazing Adventure in Mali, West Africa - Bamako National Park

Entering Bamako National Park. It is truly one

of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen!

Everyone walking to the picnic area.

K, C, & J taking a rest.

H - so grown up!!

C high in the tree.

E climbing the tree.

H in the tree - isn't this a beautiful area!

One of the beautiful paths in the Park.

The Family.

J & K stealing a kiss.

Two young Malian boys who followed us in the

Park.

My Amazing Adventure in Mali, West Africa - The Village

The road to the village -where I met some

wonderful people!!

The Village family and Me! They remain in my thoughts,

my heart, and my prayers! What a wonderful group

of people. I was truly blessed to know them and call

them my friends!!

This is the Matriarch of the family. She is a very

dear friend of mine!

The sons of the family we visited.

This is the area in front of the house where we

always sat with the family to eat, talk, and laugh.

This is the house where the three families

live. There is one building but three separate

doors to enter each family's section.

The corn removed from the ears; waiting for

the pouring and pounding to follow.

The women pour the corn back and

forth several time before pounding.

The women pound the corn until it becomes mush

and they use it to make their next meal.

This is how you eat at the village. Everyone eats

from one communal bowl using your hands.

This young lady is making a tea that they serve

after lunch. It is very sweet and tasty.

Nana & J - check out his hat and my Malian

head dress!

Krista in Malian garb!

C, E, & J - The communal well for the family

is behind E's head.

Village children - they love for anyone to play with

them and chase them as I did when I was there!

John's dear friend and his daughter.

Some of the other village children. Aren't they cute!

C carrying J the way Malian women carry their

youngest children.

E with little brother J. They are so cute!!

C, H, and two of the village boys drawing,

coloring, and reading.

John and another dear friend!

John's dear friend again!