Tindouf airport, Tindouf, Algeria

Tindouf airport - military influenced town, small airport, slightly confusing staff, but not more than usually Arabic. Waiting is imperative.

Isabelle Mayoult - freelance journalist, lives in Beirut, family of peasants turned into teachers as 3rd republic emerged, great-great-grandfather change name to Mayault, political science graduate at Science Po Lille, worked also for Mediapart, works with Rick Roels, was on trip to Sahara for Sahrawi story and social issues in general, runs Mashallah News covering Arab world, reading Don Quijote and writing short stories, such as We are not a grain of dust, as she was hanging out with Algerian friends in her childhood. One day she will install 50% of women to power on all levels and see what happens. Let's wait and see. 

Tourette syndrome is something Isabelle does not have. Period.

Smara Refugee Camp, Tindouf, Algeria

Smara - one of the Sahrawi refugee camps with troubled history and no bright outlook at the moment. Hosting Sahara Marathon for 12 years in a row already. A great experience. No infrastructure, but full of kindness and great people. Totally recommended. Run, desert and humility.

Martin Costa - retired teacher and advertiser, Wild Track agency owner and representative of human rights observation in Western Sahara, living in Buenos Aires, born and raised in San Isidro, grandmother from Germany, family came from Greece in 1774, university teacher for 20 years - history of ideas and philosophy, worked for Lautrec agency (now Euro RSCG), also 1 year in Sao Paolo, Brazil, 2 grown up kids, did/does squash, kayak, mountain bike, running - just finished 21km Sahara Marathon, reading Utopia by Thomas Moore, not religious, but close to Hinduism thinking and practice, travels a lot, was 4 times in India, will one day leave Argentina and a hotel in Ranthambore, biggest tiger reserve. Roarr for many more years!

Sand, camels and smiles. Not much else.