Got kicked off the roof by someone I didn't know, but morning had come, so I didn't argue. Spent the morning getting rid of money, since we were leaving today and dinars are not reconvertable: melons, sandwiches and a water jug for the trip.
The noontime departure was changed to 3pm; at 4, the truck pulled up to customs-- 23 years old, bad tires, loaded to the hilt and already carrying a half-dozen Nigeriens, in addition to the eleven of us. The customs official told out driver, Sidi, that it was forbidden to carry passengers in a truck and he would have to leave us here. He had some grudge against Sidi, possibly racist, but he finally let us go at 7:30. A few miles out of town, we loaded up with more goods, custom-tax-free. The ride was terrible-- all around me were metal edges and corners and the road was violently bumpy, sometimes throwing me a foot in the air. Fortunately, we stopped for the night at 11, camping around the truck.PHOTO CREDIT
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