This slideshow requires JavaScript.
I am not quite sure what led me to the decision to end my travels in Burkina Faso. I knew very little about the place, only that the name of the capital city, Ouagadougou, had fascinated me since the first time I heard it. In the few days I spent there, I was impressed by the sophistication of the infrastructure (major roads were great in the areas I went), the organization of the bus system (they ran on time, required a ticket, did not overload, and had air conditioning), and the extremely welcoming attitude of the people I met. More than one person told me that there are systems in place to monitor corruption in Burkina Faso, and I saw some evidence that they were working: hospitals with ambulances that had fuel, public services being completed without any thought of a bribe… Maybe some of the continent’s bigger, richer countries may be able to learn something from Burkina Faso- though I’m certain reality is more complicated than what I was able to see as a tourist.
I only had time to spend exploring the town of Bobo-Dioulasso and taking a motorcycle to see some of the sights of the Southwest: the Sindou peaks and waterfalls. My guide, upon hearing that I was a Peace Corps Volunteer making my way home, took me out to eat Ivoirian street food, brought me to a musical performance in Banfora, and insisted that I stay for free with his brother and sister in law, who fed me large quantities of tô (doughy stuff you dip into sauce, not unlike some of the meals in Uganda). By the time I boarded the plane in Ouagadougou, I had grown to appreciate this place and found myself hoping to return.
