Killing time in Sikasso

Breakfast was included with the price at the Maissa, so I got up at 7 but the restaurant was completely dark. I wandered around and had a look at the pool, photographed 3 sheep who seemed to have the run of the hotel, and tried to take pictures of some small, dusty red finch-like birds, and some of the Agama lizards that were everywhere, but they proved too fast for me. About 7:30 I found someone who was willing to open up the dining room for me, and wake up the waiter who was dozing at one of the tables. breakfast was Continental-style, a baguette (half), a cup of instant coffee with powdered milk, and a pat of butter and jam.

After eating, I asked at the reception for directions to a cyber cafe, and to the Save the Children offices. Save the Children turned out to be just a block away, behind the hotel, so I went there first. Since it was Sunday, neither of my contacts were there (I hadn't expected they would be) so I left a written message for Mr Coulibaly saying I had arrived safely and was staying at the Maissa Hotel, as he had suggested.

The directions I had been given for a cyber cafe were pretty vague (that way - and pointing) so I just walked out to the main road and headed back in the direction of the centre of town, figuring at least that way I couldn't get lost. My instincts proved correct, and after about a 20 minute walk, I found a cyber cafe, where I happily spent the next 3 hours. The only thing they couldn't do was download my photos, as they had no disks.

I stopped at a roadside store on the way back to the hotel and had a refreshingly cold Orange Quench (a brand I haven't found since). Back at the hotel I discovered that both Mr Coulibaly and Papa had phoned while I was out. The receptionist charged me 1000CFA to use his phone to call them back. I arranged to meet Save the Children next morning as we'd previously arranged, and agreed to meet Papa at the hotel at 6pm, once I was finished with S t C.

I chilled out in my room for a few hours before spending 2 blissful hours in the pool!