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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 14 Oct 2002
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Sahara Documentary starting tonight on BBC1
Not much use for those outside the UK, and probably a bit late, but just a quick reminder that Michael Palin's documentary on the Sahara starts tonight at 7pm on BBC1.
Geoff
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  #2  
Old 14 Oct 2002
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IMHO...!)
Good programme, well researched, nicely filmed, very people-orientated but rather low on off-roading content.
I admire Palin for embarking on that frightful Zouerat train journey, 25 hours of rattling discomfort. The Chinguetti coverage was rather brief and we got little of the great cultural heritage of that remote Moorish town.
I was sorry there were no serious dune crossings, desert nomads, wild camels (only one or two dead ‘uns) or any real portrait of desert life, as experienced by both travellers and natives.
Entertaining it was, thank you Michael, but desert travel it wasn’t.


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[This message has been edited by kitmax (edited 13 October 2002).]
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  #3  
Old 14 Oct 2002
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What border crossing to Mori did he use? Is it a possibility for the resto of us? or did he visit places that the Moroccons would rather not have us go?
Malcolm
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  #4  
Old 14 Oct 2002
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Is anyone else a bit confused about the programme? I watched it last night, and wasn't sure about the trip to Smara - Michael Palin and his crew seemed to give the impression that it was in Algeria - immediately after the visit, he said that he'd just crossed back into Western Sahara from DZ. Unless someone's moved the borders, isn't it IN Western Sahara?

Did anyone else pick up on that, or am I just being dumb??

Other than that, not a bad show for mainstream TV.
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  #5  
Old 15 Oct 2002
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Didnt see it but sounds like they may have used Bir Mogrein crossing which is not poss for us since 20 years, but is for locals and those with good connections I guess.

CS
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Old 15 Oct 2002
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Anyone video it and if so can I borrow it please......

Email me direct

Ta.



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Old 16 Oct 2002
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I videoed it, was interesting but already have to lend it out to others.
I am sure it will be on video for Christmas

I think the border crossings used are not for normal people.

Rob
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Old 17 Oct 2002
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Certain locations were filmed in a different order than an overlander would normally reach them. Part of this was to be in key places on market day, or during a tribal festival, etc.

When we met up with the crew they had cut short a major destination - Dakar I think- to be in Djenne for Tabaski. They did Bamako to Tomboctou, and then I think they returned to Dakar a couple weeks later to finish there.

I'm sure some of the border crossings were airports, and some were the opposite side of the country from what you'd expect.
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  #9  
Old 22 Oct 2002
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I think the video is out in the shops to buy about now (at least this is what I think it said on the Amazon site).......

....hopefully there'll be a bit more in the way of dunes etc. next Sunday or the Sunday after!
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Old 22 Oct 2002
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Saw the Michael Palin video Sahara in Sainsbury's on Sunday, priced at £14.99
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Old 21 Feb 2006
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Quote:
Originally posted by Chris Scott:
Didnt see it but sounds like they may have used Bir Mogrein crossing which is not poss for us since 20 years, but is for locals and those with good connections I guess.

CS
Yes it was in the Bir Mogrein area - they were told by the Polisario reps that they were the first Westerners to use this crossing for many years. I got this info from the website of Palin's Sahara Travels or whatever it's called. Too bad for the rest of us who dont have the influence the BBC has. An interesting programme though.
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Old 21 Feb 2006
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I did a very similar route (with the exception of Algeria) in a month. It took MP o year as he was doing his trip piece by piece, flyng back home, then resuming for a while, etc. This is not quite other people's idea of seeing the world, but that's how films are made. I haven't seen the video but have read his book. I am not sure if he really enjoyed the experience or if it was for him one of the "things you must do before you die".


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Old 22 Feb 2006
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You can get a boxed set of all his travels on DVD from amazon. It is an excelent set and will keep you out of trouble for hours. Himalaya I enjoyed especially, alhtough he tended to look as though it might have been a trip too far!

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  #14  
Old 23 Mar 2006
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Sorry people but Palin did not cross that border. He flew back to London. Then flew London to Algiers and went overland giving the IMPRESSION that he had crossed the border.

[This message has been edited by Bazil (edited 23 March 2006).]
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