We docked in Kabara (Timbuktu's port) at dusk. Drove into Timbuktu in the dark. Found the cheaper hotel which is actually very nice, despite the guidebooks' warnings. Had a good dinner at a local restaurant with Rachel (Burkina PCV) and Steve. Wandered around town with the soft sand flowing over my feet. Not many people around, and those who are (at least the ones not pestering us) move (almost float) silently ghostlike through the darkness. So far Timbuktu doesn't look like much, but it does have a certain ambiance.