In the morning, Clemont sets off to the market fifteen kilometers away to sell medicine from China. “Does it work?” I ask him. “A little!” he replies, making the expression that business is business. I continue towards the capital Ouagadougou in company of a Burkinabe that is heading the same way. Never before have I met a local whom cycles with me so far – moreover quite fast. We reach ‘Ouaga’ by five or so, and Lina is still around. She will be flying to Senegal the following morning, so we have a last beer together at a nearby drinking hole.

We stay at Foundation Charles Dufour – one of the cheaper hostels in town: 3,000 CFA per night for a bed in the dormitory. The institution was founded by a French soldier with the same name, who recognized the need of help to the town’s many street kids. He started off by helping eight kids – current manager Adama one of them. The main building of the youth hostel now lies in what used to be Charles Dufour’s private home. A cramped dormitory, a couple of double rooms, a kitchen and a cozy, small inner yard.