The real Timbuctoo is in Mali, which is a much larger country to the West of The Gambia. I wanted to go there too but there won't be enough time during this elective. So the name of the bookshop in question is just wordplay.
Don't be sorry about the question- I wish more people would do as you did, and discuss what they're reading here. One of the reasons is becuase I forget to include so many things, and discussion would help me remember/ understand them!
Anonymous said…
Shame you can't go there! I'm curious to know whether it is actually a place middle of nowhere!! Is that the capital of Mali??
Timbuctoo is not the capital and is in the middle of Mali which is mainly desert and difficult to get around, so yes, you could say it is in the 'middle of nowhere'. It is now semi-derelict but was once the most desirable foreign destination due to its abundance of salt and gold. See I want to go there for the trekking and to see the intracately carved mud mosques close-up. This is not going to be my last time in West Africa ;)
Anonymous said…
Timbooktoo is great, and the mango cafe is lovely. The all-french cashier downstairs, with the beard, is a perve though - watch out. Oh, and I think if you go 'West of the Gambia' you will drown.
Haha you're right- I didn't mean that! When did you go to The Gambia or are you still there? I am itching to visit West Africa again!
Anonymous said…
The name timbooktoo is just work play as in book too the all french gye is really sweet i know his daughter .I wanted to know if it is not too stupid but what do the four eyes stand for i know it is an Adinca sign but what does it mean
Hey, thanks for asking- as a result I looked it up - it is a symbol wisdom, knowledge and prudence! So the view is really very interesting! http://www.adinkra.org/htmls/adinkra/mate.htm Are you in The Gambia? Have you found any other symbols?
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just sent you an email. Write back if you can
Sees like you're having a good time there.
Is that timbooktoo as in the saying we are in timbooktoo? Is this where the saying originated. Sorry if this is a really dumb question.
Sahan
The real Timbuctoo is in Mali, which is a much larger country to the West of The Gambia. I wanted to go there too but there won't be enough time during this elective. So the name of the bookshop in question is just wordplay.
Don't be sorry about the question- I wish more people would do as you did, and discuss what they're reading here. One of the reasons is becuase I forget to include so many things, and discussion would help me remember/ understand them!
Sahan
Oh, and I think if you go 'West of the Gambia' you will drown.