The water has now receded and once more the view from the sunset bar is one of football players rather than fishermen in their pirogues. This peaceful scene belies the increasing rumours of unrest and Al-Quaida activity coming from the north. A Frenchman has been kidnapped and the French Government has issued a red alert on the areas north of Douanza, and are recalling all French citizens from Timbuktu.
At the same time the hotel has been more or less fully booked for some time now, and we have just had our best month ever. The email bookings are coming in avalanches, and fortunately most people seem to understand that the troubles do not affect Djenné or the Dogon country at all. Many European governments have issued warnings about Mali travel however. But Mali is very big, and unfortunate events in remote desert border areas should not deter people from visiting the normal tourist areas of the country.