Many air and land hours later, we landed in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, and were met by Roberto Cerea. Roberto and Alberto are the local tour operators for Mountain Travel and operate their own agency (Transafrica) based in Togo.

A brief paragraph on Roberto…then I’ll continue raving about him and his organization through the rest of the articles. You would have to search long and hard to find a more personable, warm, caring, organized individual. It was primarily based on our experience with him that we scheduled another trip to West Africa a year later – Ghana, Benin and Togo. The man was tireless in his concern for our group…sometimes I wonder if he ever slept! There was nothing you could ask of him that he wouldn’t try to get done.

We flew in one day before the group for a little extra time and Roberto transfered us to the OK Inn (that’s really the name) in Ouagadougou. Armed with lots of shopping recommendations from Roberto and Susan (Roberto’s major domo in Togo who was taking this trip with us), we spent the next day wandering around the city and shopping. First impression of Ouagadougou? It is REALLY hot. About 105-120 degrees in the day with temperatures going down to 90 degrees at night. Everyone wears hats…all handmade and different. This one was really unusual – made from leather and raffia-type straw – and looked like a big bulls-eye and…I bought one! (It cost a few dollars.)

A few words about Susan (1st in command after Roberto or Alberto). Susan is Danish, has lived in Togo for years with her husband who works there. Another person with a fabulous personality who added so much to the tour. Susan is tough as they come when dealing with Africans who may have been trying to take advantage of someone in the group, or her! An interesting, nice person, Susan and I instantly became kindred spirits with our love of shopping. Susan told a story about how she once bought a full-length, carved, wooden bed out of someone’s yard and had Roberto carry it back to Togo on top of their 4WD! My kind of person…

No beds, just some little purchases. A bronze bowl with wrought figures on top. Motorcycles made from tin cans for grandchildren. Then, we were ready to meet our group at the “Welcome” dinner and trip orientation. Thirteen detemined people, of all ages, ready to deal with with a rugged adventure in West Africa. Florida, New Mexico, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Illinois.

A fast purchase the next morning leaving the OK Inn. Of course, there was a display of handicrafts to buy in front of the OK Inn, and we spotted an uncommon bronze pipe for sale. “Ex-Marine” offered some money and a bottle of Champagne that the airline had given us. The group thought this was quite funny because most West Africans are Muslim and don’t drink…but as our caravan of vehicles pulled away…the owner came running after us…the deal was made…the seller had a bottle of champagne along with some money and we were the proud possessors of a very distinctive pipe.

bronze chief’s pipe in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
The accumulation of goods had only just begun…