4th of July

We headed to Manantali recently. There is an annual gathering of Peace Corps volunteers in this western town for the 4th of July. It was really nice to get away from Mali for a few days. By that we mean that the scene was quite American. There were people speaking english all around, listening to tunes and drinking beers just like back home. There was even a full roasting pig on a spit.
Sam and Kelly rode bikes up to the Manantali dam in the morning and had a look around while Mark stayed behind for some more traditional entertainment. It is a strikingly beautiful 73km long reservoir behind a surprisingly stout dam.

Not a lot of constructions here fit into that category.

It was billed as a bit of a redneck affair so Mark got right into it with the handlebar mustache/mullet combo (note: full pig on spit in background). A few people assumed that Sam must be horrified by this look until they found out that it was Sam who cut the mullet in the first place. After that they may have been more disturbed by her than him.
Everything went so well that Mark stayed a few extra days because his service had yet to start up. Sam headed back with the crew to go to work. Public transport was a slightly longer trip than the Peace Corps land cruiser that had brought her there but that is just west African travel. Mark hung out with the hippos and monkeys and the Manantali volunteers for two more days and was lucky enough to ride back in Peace Corps transport again. Score!