Destination: Mali

In some ways, this is perhaps the most exciting part of any trip. It is early morning the day of the flight. The emails, the work development, the itinerary - and the packing (did I forget anything? is always the question, isn't it?). I shall certainly not forget the research that I do before departure. In some ways, one arrives before the physical setting foot upon the ground. This is how have traveled most all of my life - in my mind. I have used the venue of the library and lately the internet to first travel to an exotic destination.

Speaking of exotic destinations, here is an excerpt from one of my security reports:

Arriving in Mali can be quite a shock. As you step out of the air-conditioned cocoon of a modern jet at Bamako's dusty, decaying airport, you may feel as though you've left civilization behind. But first glances can be deceiving. If you look beyond the rusting terminal, you'll see the real Mali: distinctive mud dwellings inhabited by flamboyantly dressed Malians going about their business. In many ways, little has changed since Mali's days as the site of great empires. Travelers willing to brave the heat and dust will find that they have entered an impressive civilization, where life today is much as it always has been.

My connecting flight is through Charles de Gaulle airport outside of Paris. I am thrilled at this since Air France is a new airline for me and I have only set foot in Paris within my mind. I am indeed a francophile, that being helped along by four years of French language in high school (I forgot most all of it). I am going to see about taking a train into central Paris since I have a 7 hour layover (thank you Mr. Franko! Most persons thinks it odd that I do not mind long layovers to explore airports. I always give up an aisle seat to be able to look out the airplane window). I have been watching the security reports that I receive from three different sources (SOS MedicEvac, Department of State, FlightLock) and it sounds like the youth rights have calmed down. There were only 138 vehicles burned to cinders last night to the north of Paris. Interestingly, my only security concern on this trip is within a developed nation.

THF (Travel Hint for Free): take photos of your luggage and place a printed color copy on your person. It is oh so helpful in convincing a airline luggage person to allow you to search with them in the luggage hold area. I keep a copy of this photo on my PDA along with a listing of the luggage tag numbers (those little tag stickies can fall off of the ticket holder).

I am sensing that our Sahel Country Office (ShCO) can really use some help. I do not have any particulars, but my research shows that Mali is the fifth poorest nation on earth. Mali is north, and adjacent to, Guinea. The latter has access to the Atlantic Ocean. The two nations are collectively, and historically, known as the Sahel. Timbouctou is located in the north central portion of Mali. I would dearly love to visit this fabled trading stop, known for it's early universities filled with crumbling scrolls and books of Muslim learning from the 14th century. This city was a central trading vertex for overland trade of salt and gold (the two are connected!). This trade was interrupted by the Portugese forging water routes, thus bypassing the hazardous overland trade routes.

I feel so confident now tht I purchased my SOS MedEvac insurance. Thoeretically, they will drop a helicopter down anywhere in the world to evacuate one out to a decent medical facility.

THF: Research through your medical insurance the doctors that have agreements in your destination city. Print this list out with addresses and phone numbers and keep them on your person. Give a copy of the list to your host when you arrive. I also keep it on my PDA in Adobe Acrobat format.

Well, I had better head for the airport! The trip has commenced.