New Petit Fute Guide to Guinea & Guinea Bissau

I've just picked up my ordered copy which was published on 10th November. I've paid 16euros for it and am really dismayed; it's not the cost of it but the principal of publishing a travel guide.

The information is very basic, maps are appalling and there is NO mention of connections between the two countries they may as well be at opposite sides of Africa ... Guinea Bissau gets 22 pages of which 2+ are maps with very little on the interior of the country (2 pages) and about 8 pages relating to the islands.

As far as I can see the author has been there on an organised trip and visited a couple of towns, written up hotel descriptions and left again ... but made sure that every bar & nightclub in each town had a visit too ... not really what I want to know.

Very pleased to say that the information gathered from knowledgeable Thorn Tree posters that is posted below on this blog is far more interesting to my mind that the book!!!

Headspin Hospital Visit

Just been to hospital in Toulouse for my new Yellow Fever shot and have been warned by the doctor there ... she told me that the Chikungunya virus is now in Senegal and they are advising travellers to take all precautions against mosquitoes. The leaflet that they've given me says that I should keep an eye out for fever and make immediate contact with any description of medical help. Chikungunya virus info from Wikipedia.

I've not heard of it in W.Africa before, it was prevalent earlier this year in La Renunion ... it seemed to me in Toulouse that this was quite a new thing that they'd heard about. I've subsequently heard that 5 French tourists from Bordeaux arrived home from Senegal with it earlier this month!

Been given another Lariam prescription - it's never done anything to me but give me longer sleeping hours, so I'll be safe there; catch up on a few I've missed this year! However I was really sad to learn that the doctor I met had lost a member of her family (in Guinea) almost a year today to malaria, that's the second person I know (of) who's died this year from malaria without taking any type of precautions. An amazing Polish woman Kinga sadly also died on 9th June this year www. kingafreespirit.pl she has an amazing website of her trips.

Personally I feel that when you're off on trips like this you should be asked for a passport, ticket & malarial medication - we have to produce our Yellow Fever certificates crossing borders so why not malaria??

Learnt another 'old wives tale' today about keeping mosquitoes away - my neighbour was waiting for me and overheard two people talking about 'savon d'alep' which I found in a nearby pharmacy it also apparently acts as a shampoo; an ideal travelling soap bar!

First departure

Having spoken to Gianni to make last minute preparations the night before last; he told me that he's catching the bus today from Turin down to Morocco. There's a COMANAV ferry from Genova to Tangiers which is (to my mind) an easier way to get there but Gianni's not big on boats!!

This poses a big question: will he be willing to get the fishing/ferry boat from Cacine (G.Bissau) to Kamsar (Guinea) with me? Or will we cross the border by road??? I'm still unclear as to whether there is a boat that still runs!

Meanwhile I've finally ordered the new Petit Fute guide to Guinea & Guinea Bissau having read my Routard guide on Senegal/Gambia cover to cover. Petit Fute finally published their guide on November 10th, so it's the most up to date guide around. In French - at least we'll both be able to read it.

Wednesday next week I'll get my fourth yellow fever vaccination will be done - unbelievable that I've already had 30 years cover ....!