Segou is the best "gou"

Today felt like that scene from the stranger - where the main character is walking on the beach and the sun is so hot that he decides to murder someone. I always thought - crazy existentialist literature - how could weather ever effect your emotions in such a radical way. That was before I experienced peak hot season. I had an itinerary today - but instead - i asked Drissa to take me home - so I could take 6 showers and sit under 2 fans.

What made this heat so awful is that I spent Friday and Sat in beautiful Segou. I was about at my breaking point with this heat, so I asked Drissa if we could escape to sleepy, breezy, tree lined, colonial Segou; he said yes. Coincidentally, the day before we planned to leave - I found out that I got some extra cash $$ for my research project. Thus, my escape became a full fledged vacation. We spent a day and a half eating well, drinking wine by a river, taking naps in air-conditioning, and breathing in the pollution-free air. I feel in love with Africa again.

We were joined by Art History Fulbrighter Paul and his wife Marie. It was great - everything was slow and indulgent and easy. We even went sight seeing at the Markala dam and bought some fresh fish right off the river.

Then was the sad 3 hour drive to Bamako. Upon entering city limits you could feel the heavy air starting to clog your lungs - like the Wump world after the pollutants come. I went from my air-conditioned, IKEA-adorned hotel in Segou to sleeping on my mat on the roof. I awoke with soot covering my bed and sheet. Welcome back to Bamako. With the peak temps of today (113)- we resolved to buy a refridgerator. Cold mangoes and cold water would make things much more bearable.