The Eagle has landed!

Well more like the budgie has perched. We have finally made it to Bamako.
The taxi is having a well earned rest in the long stay car park of Casablanca airport. We cheated by catching a plane.
Bamako is everything we expected it to be............ chaotic, noisy, dusty and very hot to our poor unacclimatised bodies.
We are staying in a small hotel called Hotel Tamana which we plucked from a recommendation in the Lonely Planet Guide. Booking it in advance over the phone from Casablanca it was a bit of a culture shock when we arrived at 2.00 am this morning. After a few hours sleep though it is amazing how perceptions change. Last night we were planning to switch asap to a 5 star Hotel but now it seems perfect here. Not speaking French is more then a little of a drawback but we are managing.
This morning at breakfast we met a charming couple from the USA who have taken pity on us. They are experienced travellers in Mali and are introducing us to a reliable travel company.
We will have explain that we have ambitious plans but very small pockets and see how far we can go. The mud mosque of Djenne, Dogon country and Timboctou are all on our wish list in the two weeks we have here but we will have to wait and see.
We are taking it easy today to try and acclimatise but have been invited to join Cathy and Jon (our new friends) for dinner tonight.
G & T