Pictures from the last two months in Mali, Turkey, Bosnia and Croatia

by | Oct 6, 2015 | W. Africa

My new goal for this site in 2015: post 7 times. For the year. Oh, how far I have fallen as a blogger. Today, a photo update with pictures from the last several months, including a recent trip to Istanbul, Bosnia and Croatia. These photos are not in chronological order.

songhoyclub

The Songhoy nightclub has become a favorite of ours in recent months. I love clubs that feel like living rooms, and this is one of them. Cheap beer, exceptional music, lounge seating and a small dance floor. Perfect. Take note of Dramane in the left hand corner. Here, he is playing bass, but he can pick up just about any instrument and blow your mind. Always smiling, too.

bamako

The clear air of the rainy season allows for a nice shot of the BCEAO tower, one of the tallest buildings in Bamako.

adama

One of Adama’s daughters sleeps as he drives us up river.

malimuso

Bintou being a true femme Africaine, walking the hash with water bottle on her head.

sidytoure

This is another shot from Songhoy. Sidy Toure’s lead guitar player came off the stage and brought those soaring Takamba lead lines onto the dance floor.

sadiosidibe

Sadio Sidibe – sorceress, singer, dancer, incredible performer.

malibaproductions

Tabaski. Eid al-Adha. Le jour de la fête. Everyone looks forward to this, the biggest holiday of the year in Mali. Especially kids. This group was representing Maliba Productions, who have their hand in a good part of the rap music produced in Mali.

lukaguindo

Chris from Sahel Sounds had been doing some work with rapper/producer Luka Guindo. He invited us along for a music video shoot. Great scene on a residential street of Bagadadji.

fromabove

Inner courtyard of a house in Nafadji, Bamako.

dronesarajevo

On my trip through Istanbul and Bosnia, I was traveling with a good friend who I’ve known since grade school. He has recently become a drone enthusiast, and Daphne the Drone joined us on the journey. Here, he is getting ready to fly over Sarajevo. I highly recommend checking out his instagram at @shaudgt.

bintoulakare

Bintou and her half-sister on the trails above the national park in Bamako.

aisha

I sent all the staff home on the day of the fete. I closed the kitchen and worked the bar myself for the day. Aisha works in the kitchen normally, but on this day she prepared food with her family. In the afternoon, she was nice enough to bring me (unasked, of course) enough food for about 3 families.

lambgrill

Our friend Drissa is an expert welder and chef, a good combination when you want to cook some lamb on a grill made out of an oil drum. He runs an excellent restaurant in Bamako with his wife Jaimie called Bamako Barbecue Chicken.

bintoubirthday

We went to Le Campement for Bintou’s birthday. Drissa and I tried to chaperone to the best of our ability.

hashbamako

Verdant rainy season landscapes minutes outside of Bamako.

dubrovnikcroatia

The final destination of my Istanbul-Bosnia-Croatia trip was Dubrovnik, a small town in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. My good friend Katrina got married here. Not a bad spot for a wedding!

dubrovnikcroatia2

My friend Shaud (with the drone) has some great pictures and videos from here. The wedding itself was held in Fort Lovrijenac, which is the “Red Keep” from Game of Thrones. Here is a video he took flying away from the fort with a view of the city: https://instagram.com/p/7bivrSvTni/

3 Comments

  1. Benjamin

    Love these. Where is The Songhoy? I’m going to be living there in January. 7 posts a year is weak. Is 1 a month too much to ask for?

    Bintou looks amazing. Wish I could say the same for the Brownies. Unfortunately they’ll be receiving the annual beating from the Broncos in a couple weeks.

    Much Love,
    Benjamin

    Reply
    • phil

      I don’t know man. I think Josh McCown is going to light you guys up.

      Reply
  2. rebecca

    Really bringing out the wanderlust!

    Reply

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