This gallery contains 2 photos.
The Infamous Salt Mines of Taodenni, Mali 2005 Men from Mauritania have driven their truck across the featureless sands of the Sahara to sell their merchandise to the miners at Taodenni. I say “featureless” but to denizens of the desert … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Mauritania 2005…near the border with Mali A Fulani caravan of bullocks carrying howdahs traveled toward us. The white tent-like coverings of the howdahs gleaming in the bright sun. Roughly thirty bullocks stolidly plodded west loaded with the tribe’s possessions: carved wooden bedsteads, … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Oualata, Mauritania 2005 A girl belonging to one of the few families living in the mostly abandoned village stands near a typically decorated door. Oualata was once an important stop on the caravan route from Tombouctou to the markets of … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Mauritania 2005 At dusk the entire population of Tchit began to stream out of their homes and, chattering happily, they hurried through the narrow sandy alleys to a field at the edge of the village. Drummers standing on one side … Continue reading
Tchit, Mauritania 2005 Although once Tchit was a thriving community on the silk road now it is an isolated village of several hundred people. We were there on the night that Ramadan ended and the entire populace hurried to join … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Oualata, Mauritania 2005 Oualata was known in the 14th century as one of the ‘seven sacred cities of Islam’. Its reputation as a holy city with well stocked libraries attracted scholars and future imams. As an oasis deep in the Sahara, it was a … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Tjeka, Mauritania 2005 After days of nothing but sand and sky, I was happy to see the “bustling metropolis” of Tjeka. It was market day and the locals sat under makeshift awnings to sell their produce…mainly onions and a few … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Sahara Desert 2005: Somewhere in Mauritania We stopped to camp near some scrubby palm trees around four in the afternoon on that day. One of the cars had a problem with the transmission and our mechanic needed a few daylight hours … Continue reading
This gallery contains 1 photo.
The Celebration at the End of Ramadan Tchit, Mauritania 2005 Tchit is an ancient caravan stopover in the Sahara Desert. I’m guessing, but I think less than a thousand people live there. The population had recently dropped due to the … Continue reading
This gallery contains 3 photos.
Araouane, Mali 2005 The headman’s son pours tea near the door to the sand filled front room of his home. Notice the height of the teapot as he pours the tea. Not only does this aerate the tea and enhance flavor, … Continue reading
