Small stories from a big world

  Today is 'Face Day'. In the cabinet decision of Friday 13 May, there was an important paragraph: face masks are no longer compulsory. Unlike many other countries, in Rwanda we still had to wear face masks both outside and inside. Until Friday the 13th of May, that is. They are still recommended inside though, but it is not compulsory anymore.  For the first time since I moved here, which is over a year now, I can see the faces of the people who I pass on the street. Like today, on the way to the swimming pool. The face of the woman who walks down the street and loudly praises her fruit and vegetables in a basket on her head. For the first time, that voice has a face. The smile of the children playing with a homemade ball on the corner. The dogged expression of the man cycling a colourfully dressed woman to her destination. She is not very thin and the road goes uphill. The face of the pump attendant who tries to calculate how much change I should get. The faces of the beauti...

It was a small message on twitter . Rein Taaramäe, an Estonian rider with Intermarché, was on altitude training in Rwanda. He prepared himself here for the Tour of Italy. As part of that, he changed bikes. He tried out a local bike. In the video you can see how he sprints with the other cyclist, who uses Rein's bike for the occasion. Rein soon gives up, he loses with flying colours. If you pause the film, you can take a closer look at the borrowed bicycle. Yes, it has gears. But it also has an extra construction. A sort of extended carrier has been created with a cushion on it. Indeed, it is a bicycle taxi. The driver can take two or even three people on the back. In a country full of hills, this is heavy work, very heavy work. Cyclist Rein, also without passengers, losses from the taxi rider. Who has the best legs here? The film puts the concept of top-class sport into perspective. The taxi bike in the film has gears, but most bicycles used here for transporting people and g...