Jean-Luc didn’t show, so I went back to the travel agent—as I said, I’m anxious to get these reservations made so I’ll know where I stand. She could get me the boat but not the plane from Casablanca to New York. I couldn’t believe that, so I went to the Royal Air Maroc office and found that the $375 standby is not available in that direction. But—the regular flight is only $391. I booked it for Dec. 6, the first flight after the boat reaches Casa, Dec. 2. Then the bad news: the airlines have their own exchange rates which, for someone carrying CFAs, like myself, is a rip-off. In this case, to the tune of $70! Have to do it though.
Jean-Luc hadn’t been by with info about freighters, so I booked the passenger ship, Dakar – Casa. at $350. Pretty expensive for the distance, but it’s deluxe— a present I’m giving myself at the end of my trip.
Today I ate like a pig. For breakfast, a piece of flat Arab bread, two boiled eggs, two cups of yogurt and three bananas. For snacks, a soda, a couple of doughnut balls, a big carrot and a bowl of too-sweet coffee. For lunch, a pint of creamy milk with two little cakes. Dinner: half a loaf of French bread, a fried fish and ¼ kilo of cheese. Not my usual starving traveler’s diet!Stopped at the truck park to ask for a lift to Mali tomorrow. I figured the bus would be crowded and it supposedly makes about 200 police stops. And the train, which goes half-way there, I’ve already taken. I was directed to different places and finally found that a truck ride is not $40 but $75. I’ll take the half-way train ride for $20, then see what’s what. Since I already paid for my room tonight, I’ll leave tomorrow evening and save a night’s rent by sleeping on the train. It’s a shame that I haven’t seen more of Ivory Coast, but I don’t want to miss my boat, so I’ll hurry to Dakar, then act like a tourist for a while.
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