Back to Niamey

I left the hotel about quarter to 7 on Thursday morning. The receptionist was asleep on the couch, so I just left my key on the desk. I got to the bus station at 7:15. The bus was supposed to leave at 8, but it was closer to 9 before it even arrived. While waiting I had made the mistake of giving 1000 CFA to a badly crippled beggar, and I was at once surrounded by begging children. Instead of giving them money, I gave them one of the 4 bottles of water the WV driver had insisted I take the night before, after I gave him all my gift eggs.

It was a long and hot ride back to Niamey. This time my two seat mates were both men, but I had managed to snag the window seat. I dozed off and on. It was dark by the time we reached Niamey. I shared a taxi with two other women, and the driver delivered one of them first, so i got the ¨scenic¨ tour of some of the earthen back streets or perhaps just side streets, of Niamey. I got the same room as before at Chez Tatayi.

I asked the receptionist about a restaurant, and he directed me across the street, where I watched a cat and half-grown kitten play while I ate. Then back to the hotel, for a shower and bed