From here to Timbuktu.....
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
Atlantic City, New Jersey
May 26, 2008 3:29pm CST
Ever wonder where the above saying originated from? Well I have, so I decided to look into it and anlighten my mylot fam with this little bit of trivia:
Timbuktu means a place that is far away- many think it is an imaginary place- just a word some made up to make the saying. In actuality- it is a real city on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in Africa. They are mainly involved in trading because Timbuktu is on a large river, the Niger. This river carries goods to the desert dwellers. At the same time, it carries south their main trade item: salt.
Just a little triva I thought I would share.
***I found this information in a book collection I have lying around from my sisters childhood days "Questions kids ask written by various contributors.
To those who have small children who are at the curious age- I highly recommend this series :)
4 responses
@shamsta19 (3224)
• United States
28 May 08
Aside from being a trading post Timbuktu was a city of learning. Scholars learned and taught at schools there in ancient times. I believe this is where Imhotep was taught and opened a hospital there (Imhotep was a reknowned scientist during the times of the great Egyptian Empires. He Was in the service of Pharoah Zoser).
Just a little more history for you...
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
28 May 08
Thank you soo much for that bit of knowledge you just dropped on us shamsta! I am a huge history (well finding the truth behind it) buff and love learning new things. You have earned best response 
1 person likes this
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
31 May 08
Well you are more than welcome to drop some of it me anytime- I love learning new things!
1 person likes this
@shamsta19 (3224)
• United States
31 May 08
Thanks for the BR! Huge History buff myself got tons of knowledge in the noggin. Holla at me anytime.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58438)
• Philippines
26 May 08
hi www.
thanks for the info. its true that you do learn something new everyday. hopefully you'll keep posting bits of information such as this.
cheers!!!
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
29 May 08
You are soo right about learning something new everyday. I have actually made it a habit of trying to learn at least 2 new things a day.....thats why I believe the internet is the best thing since sliced bread!!!
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
26 May 08
Thank you very much for sharing the results of your research. I know this name Timbuktu, but didn't quite know exactly where it is. Even the name is not heard too often. Ok, I will pass on your recommendation to parents with small children.
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
29 May 08
your very welcome green!
I love sharing bits of info as I find them out. Which is probably why I LOVE mylot so much- because it gives me a place to do just that.
The books are awesome. It is a series and there are many of them. Even at my age now- I am finding out new things in them- such as the topic of this very discussion...lol
@bournecaindelta (2477)
• India
26 May 08
And I thought Timbuktu was in Myanmar..lol.. I know that its a very far place and is used as a figure of speech to express a far away distance that's impossible to travel, but I never knew it was in Africa.. 
bourne
bourne@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
29 May 08
Hey, I'm with you bourne- I thought it was just a saying all this time- didn't even realize it could have been a real place (feel pretty dumb admitting that..lol).