Friend and former housemate Jane has just returned to Chad this week after spending 10 days' vacation at my place. A frequent question she had to field was why come to Ouaga for vacation, when so many leave it?
We shared gourmet meals (her cooking), trips to restaurants that brought back memories of the "Friday club"'s regular outings, shopping, a visit to the pool, watching a DVD, and breaking for work (mainly me, but she did some work too). Our normal budget wouldn't cover it, but on vacation you always spend more...
And since my niece Jill and her friend Alyssa were in their final week of their 2 months in Burkina, she also joined us for an overnight trip to a local game park (my first time ... Jill's excellent photography at work in the pictures above).
Her messages as soon as she got back were of dust, blackouts, no electricity even in expensive hotel rooms since no room at the inn (mission guest houses), plus the awareness of whole difficult security situation when she returns to her post near the border with Darfur.
We do have it good in Ouaga. I should be counting my blessings more often.
