Segou...and we're coming home!

In a few hours we'll be heading for the airport, with a mixture of regret and relief. We've spent the last couple of days in the small-ish town of Segou at the Festival sur le Niger, getting under the skin of Mali in a new way. It shows how far we've come - literally and psychologically - that we thought nothing of driving over 100 miles upriver for a couple of nights.
The Sofitel was very comfortable, but it just felt like we were waiting for our flights home, so much so that we've moved them forwards to tonight (or 3.25am tomorrow morning). We couldn't really afford to stay much longer, but after a couple of nights in Segou, we started to wonder if we hadn't been a bit hasty, as other travellers we met waxed lyrical about the delights of Mali and it's people. Timbuktu may not be an option for a little 2WD like Titch, but the Dogon country and Djenne might be worth coming back for.
The opening night of the festival was as amusing for the comedy of disorganisation beforehand as for the entertainment itself, not to mention the hundreds of new 'friends', and the looks on their faces when they couldn't work out why Sylvia didn't understand either Bambara or French. "I'm from Laaahndan" soon sorted it out.
Anyway, it at least gave us the opportunity to say goodbye to the Saffas: Lisa, Trevor, Jonny and Andre, who are staying for the whole festival; and we're flying back with the Mongol Dragons, Dave and Jim, which might make the 12-hour journey via Casablanca a little more bearable. They made a brave bid to get their Vauxhall Carlton to Timbuktu, but had to turn back at Mopti, where the road takes a turn for the worse.
We've handed over Titch's papers to Sonny from the Mali Rotary Club, and he'll be auctioned off in a few days. He should get a few bidders - we've been getting offers since the moment we first stopped in Bamako, and compared to many cars here he's in stunning condition.
I've put some warm clothes near the top of the suitcase. Apparently it's been a little nippy in dear old England? Tonight in Bamako it must be at least 25C, and there's barely a breeze.