Bamako has been shaken by three days of murderous uprisings. The former head of the Haute Conseil Islamic, the powerful Wahabist leaning Imam Dicko is widely accused of orchestrating the anti government demonstrations which aims to topple IBK- some say in order for himself to try and grab power. The entire country has been put on alert and even in Timbuktu this morning the banks were closed.
My Air France ticket has been booked for my long overdue return to Mali on the first of September- who knows whether this will happen.
Everything now seems unstable in so many ways. It feels as if the very earth we stand on is moving somehow, criss-crossed by fault lines of diverse origins- epidemics and other disasters pulling in different directions and threatening to make everything crumble...
Not perhaps the time to start dreaming and planning a risky new venture... but the other day some mysterious impulse made me look up properties for sale in Morocco and I landed immediately on this 18th century Riad in Fez with a roof terrace with 360 degree views over the medina and an outside space for a little garden and swimmingpool...
It needs complete refurbishment, but what a project! 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms! Thickly encrusted with original glorious tiles and wood fret work! And I have a friend in Fez already, Gigi a vet who works in an American 'horse hospital' and knows all expats and has all necessary contacts of 'doing things up' in the medina.
I was wondering why I have been learning Arabic- I thought that it was mainly in order to give Youssouf in Timbuktu some extra cash - and of course since I am involved in Arabic manuscripts it can be viewed as 'staff development'... but maybe there was another reason for it? Some sort of divine guidance with an ulterior motive?
Hmmm.... what shall I call it? Riad Djenne? Riad Keita perhaps?
I think I might just be serious about this...London life is just not quite enough. Let's see...
oh oh! And what happened to the italian project? Gone with , not the wind , but with the virus? The virus which is apparently, as told on the News tonight, hitting Tanger! Anyway... take care!!!
ReplyDeleteyes, the Italy project is still a possibility- it takes a little time to mull it all over and decide but likely that something along these lines is about to take shape..
ReplyDeleteRiad Keita! Lovely idea. So excited for you about the possibility of this happening.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, I will go to Fez if you make up your mind on this. It sounds exciting! I´ve come back here after some time and I find you with such plans. Wow!
ReplyDeleteWe rented a Riad in Marrakesh from a friend of a friend a couple of years ago for a whole glorious, magnificent month. Nothing beats having a home that makes you able to pretend. at least for a little while, that you actually live there.
ReplyDeleteFocusing on the lovely idea there - not meaning not to consider the terrible, terrible situation in Mali. Without your insider knowledge Sophie, we wouldnt know the half of it.
ReplyDeleteHave just read these last comments! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI promise to come and stay at any hotel you set up anywhere.
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