Very easy day, almost no crossings. We started with a tour of the World Heritage site, the fortified old city of Ouadana. What the photos of other travelers did not prepare me for was its size. The city is large and seemingly bristling.
At 11:00 we left the shelter. From Ouadan to Chinguetti we drove along the route of the Paris-Dakar rally. Again the yellow desert without end and edge. The beauty! Who needs these roads!
On the way we stopped at the village where our guide was born. Lie with the locals on the carpets, drank tea. They gave the kids balloons. In a word, we felt like in Ethiopia.
From time to time we see traces of ultramarathon runners, who were seen in Atar two days ago. First we stumbled upon a car that had lost the race leader, then we met a runner who was asking for water on the side of the road.
In Chinguetti, we had a chat with the librarian (including about the force-feeding of girls with a basin and a rod), looked at the old city, part of the same World Heritage site. Although Shenguetti is more popular (the seventh holy city of Islam, and Mauritania was called the "Land of Chinguetti" for many centuries), the old city of Ouadana is much better preserved. And in Chinguetti, the oldest city is completely covered with sand, the ancient one half, and the new city will sooner or later fall asleep.
Sunset was spent on the highest dune in the area. Today I did not envy myself. Maybe tomorrow. If I don't miss the train.