The Other Spot

Timbuktu is a city in Mali, West Africa. A mythical place for its architectural beauty and its rich history. Near the river Niger, it was in centuries past the point of entry to the Sahara Desert, where they met the Tuareg camel caravans. Central point of the east-west routes, north and south of these caravans. Today you can make traveling tourist expeditions these mythical journeys.

“Gold From the south, north and salt money white man’s country, but fairy tales and the word of God are found in Timbuktu,” said an ancient proverb.

For centuries it was forbidden access to it for people who do not belong to Islam, and that’s why he won so many legends about its splendor. The first European to enter it was called a Scottish explorer Alexander Gordon Laing, but he paid with his life for having seen the Forbidden City. Shortly after arriving incognito, was forced to leave, and died on the way back. Next to go was the Frenchman René Caillé, who was fortunate enough to return and tell of their adventure.

What was, and is there today, reveals that both people?

One of the most attractive places for tourism is the wall of 5 km long, built in the 14th century. Also, their mosques are great, the main one Djigareiber (the Great), which was built in 1350 by the architect of Granada Ishaq es Saheli at the request of Emperor Kankan Moussa. Only in this mosque is allowed entry to tourists who are not Muslims.

Another beauty is magnificent mosques Sankore, which also functions as an Islamic university. The third largest is Sidi Yahya, also part of the University of Timbuktu.

All these great buildings in Timbuktu are worthy of being called a wonder of humanity, UNESCO believes so, that’s inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, to protect against desertification that plagues the area. The sand brought to the city by the dry desert wind destroys vegetation and water, and is piercing the historic structures in town.