Usual breakfast routine and rolling, retracing the ridiculously rough piste back to Tamanrasett. Try as we could we could not get Hassan to divulge any details for the hours before the plane leaves (sched 1;10am). Infuriating. Picked Cherry up at the 6km marker.
Rumbled on down past our campsite of two nights ago and into town. Our destination is Camping D'assine.
Excellent! rooms to change and shower with hot water. Did some laundry while Abdullah prepared the final lunch. Sardines AGAIN...
Relaxing afternoon in the rooms and then we declared a need for a plan.
Abdullah took off to see his family so we said goodbye and started handing out the tip packets.
Coffee and pastries; wifi; African market; dinner; airport.
Coffee worked
Wifi was closed of course, Friday being a religious holiday.
African market - like Djanet but 100x
Then a taxi ride across town to an Abdullah recommended venue for dinner
and back to the hotel where we hang until it's time to leave for airport some 11km out of town. Tamanrasset doesn't have much to recommend it. Absolutely zero tourists or facilities. Lots of staring, not necessarily unfriendly.
Hassan really has to go to guide school.
Finally headed to the airport at 11pm with Akmed at the wheel and Hassan playing guide. I really thought the vehicle might not make it the 11km as there was a huge increase in burning oil smell tonight. Our crew sure seemed like country boys in the big city. Before we went into town this afternoon they all put on best clean clothes and Akmed in particular was wearing his cheche very "up" - buffon style. Akmed has difficulty finding his way around town and the GPS indicates he took a very circuitous route back to the hotel after dinner.
All tip packets delivered and farewells exchanged.
Looking back there is no doubt about it Abdullah is what makes this trip work.
- from my iPad
Location:Tamanrasset
