So this is me before I kick Megan’s butt for her selectively proofreading my blog to poke fun at my typo. 

The above picture of us showing how siblings care about each other was taken in Lompoul where we stayed the night in the desert with hotel amenities (no really!). We were shown to our tent with comfy beds, mosquito nets- and even attached to our tent was a haystack-style maze that led us to our personal shower, sink and toilet with running water! 

Megan has already given you most of the big details about our stay in the desert, which is one thing you need to do so you can “check the box” on your bucket list. Not someplace I’d like to live, but a cool place to visit. And check out the sights: yes there are cool things to look at even when it’s all just sand. Speaking of sand, there are really cool designs that Mother Nature creates with the wind and different shades of sand. Also the desert has random plants and such growing randomly. I was out walking barefoot because it wasn’t as hot as one may believe, at least this time of year. The sand is so windblown and has worn over so many decades that it has been ground very small and is thus soft on the feet. 

We have to remember how these people live over here. You will be driving in the middle of nowhere where this is nothing for 100 miles and come across this. 

You just keep telling yourself “people live here??”. ….HOWEVER they are happy. Just because they live in relative filth and a grass hut doesn’t mean they aren’t a happy people. I went by so many “towns” and villages and random circles of cement block buildings or 5×5 buildings where people lived. My best way to describe most of these situations is, you know those annoying commercials where you see some obnoxious celebrity telling you to donate $.25 cents a day to save a life? Well it’s like that, but with Benny Hill music, not Sara McLaughlin music.

This is not a random shop. You would swear this style is a chain with the pile of tires and hand painted Michelin Man. These blacksmith style tire places are everywhere! You ever wonder where your old tires go? They go to Africa along with everything else you throw away.

The stuff the people in this country make BY HAND is incredible- and for dirt cheap too. Here are some crazy baskets that seems to be a commonly made item found in all parts of the country. Of course when I said “dirt cheap” you have to haggle your way to that price, even though the original price itself isn’t as expensive as it would be here either. And also they’re all made locally and not in China.

While basket shopping the Rally cars caught up with us and needless to say I was caught up taking pictures of all these super cool cars, trucks and bikes! I want to go play! Of course I don’t have about 100 grand to dump into a car and airfare to make that happen, so I’ll just be happy with being there as they speed by!

Here we have an example of how little power you have and the problems in the “government” side of the country. Here we have our driver being “questioned” and held up til he can get his paperwork for his car sorted out. Most times this is where you’d see some sort of bribe being passed out so you can move along. This was all happening about ¼ mile from our destination of Joal. Oh well, c’est la vie.

Here is another perfect example of “make the most of what you have”. Notice the Mickey Mouse sheet!

 

Here you are seeing the random blasts of beauty that this country has to offer amidst the sea of trash. Because although you can’t see it, this building, which is some sort of a restaurant, is surrounded by trash being eaten by, or played in by goats, kittens, chickens and chickadees.

One of my favorite parts of this country is the cars. Here is a “gem” that we saw while on the road. Notice I said ON the road. Also notice the ONE brake bulb that works, and also the roof lining that has fallen and is blocking the view out of the rear window that is also missing. It’s always fun to guess what kind of deathtrap car you will see or even ride in.

This was taken while in Joal and walking across the long footbridge over to Fadiouth, which is a small island that is about 90% Christian- one of those oddities that this country provides. However one thing that is great is that there didn’t seem to be any religious conflict that I saw. Everyone was willing to help you with anything you needed, even if it’s setting up Christmas decorations when you’re Muslim. The sunsets over here were really nice- when you could see them through the dust. The sun itself made for better pictures, though I like the colors of the sunsets here at home over my ocean.
 

This is a bunch of trash here on the island over the footbridge- but that’s not what I was trying to capture. Those platforms you see are beds that dry fish for all the fisherman who make their livings out here.

Like I said, they are happy. Much happier with the stuff they have than “us”. Here is proof!

Here is a shot from the bow of a pirogue that Megan and I took for a small ride around shell island. The “captain” (guy with the stick) took us on a small side trip to a part not typically traveled to by many tourists. It was so quiet- just us, the birds and the sound of the waves lapping against the hull of our dugout canoe. No wind, no vendors, just the quiet serenity that only the ocean and wilderness can provide. People who don’t know this song are truly missing such an amazing part of life.

Here on the way out of Joal, you see an example of some of the progress being made in Senegal. This area may seem like a dump to some, but if you look past the rugged exterior- you see what makes this place what it is and the people who live here. There really is something to love about every place you visit in every town, village and city. This is a school recently built where everyone hopes to grow. The people who we stayed with in Joal all worked as teachers here.

Something you don’t see many in places- all of these trucks are worth BIG bucks. They are here working hard to make all parts of this country grow to become a contributing part of the workforce.

This is just a passing shot at what looks like a 7-Eleven or whatever it is. But to me this building is a perfect description of Senegal. It can clean up nice, and is built by hand- but if you look around behind or from a different angle you can see how exactly everything works/is built. Not always something you want to see.

Don’t get me wrong though. They do make some incredible things by hand and with no major industry to be spoken of, especially not on these little side shops.

Not to worry though- you may not have major industry, or a Starbucks on every corner- but you can find your random “Cyber Cafes”.

Sights like these are pretty common in Senegal, trash in washout basin/canals, and children playing with trash and having fun while doing it. They make it work.

On a side street you can see plenty of shops with handmade shoes, clothes, watches, or the dreaded tasty café touba.

Just another group of cows looking to fuel up.

Did I mention how the cars here all looked like they were put together out of a pile of random parts from random cars of random years, makes and models? Well here is your proof.

You will occasionally see random busts of incredible artistry speckled throughout the country.

I’ve been told that the symbols of Senegal are the baobab tree and the lion. I think that’s a lie. It’s REALLY a Car Rapide and a flying garbage bag. These buses are amazing things; this isn’t a very good shot of one, but you get the idea.

 
Here is a view of what I have nicknamed “Orange County” since it’s the “rich” area of Senegal. This photo was taken from up on high near the lighthouse.

Later that night we- Megan and friends- went out to a really nice place to catch sunset and get some drinks.

On my last full day, we decided to head over Gorée Island, just off the coast. We left relatively early to avoid any crowds and of course the sun. We were lucky enough to catch a gorgeous sunrise on our way to the ferry.

Early morning sun on the fountain just outside of the American Embassy.

Something you don’t see too often, closed shops. We are there early, but still most of the people here have gone to Touba for the Magal, which I guess is comparable to Mecca where a mass exodus happens so people can go pray.

Turns out I am spoiled compared to the old building which was more of a rundown barn. This was my view from the boat to the ticket building and whatever else it held.

There are quite a few very talented artists on the island- whether it be painting, sand art, or creating sculptures from cell phones or other discarded refuse.

There is a lot to see on the island, there is a lot of history to be told. Not by me. You’ll just have to settle for me showing you these pictures!

This is the door of no return in the slave house based here on the island. I’m sure you can figure out why.

There are some cool things to be noticed on the island, some less noticeable than others. Here while being shown a nondescript mosque I noticed down in the rocks near the cliffs a cannon and part of a mount- obscured by years of rust and decay.

All in all I was taken on a great whirlwind trip of West Africa. As far as seeing a wide cross-section of Senegal I think Megan nailed that. We saw and did everything from ride a camel to sharing a true Senegalese meal with great people. We went from being targeted as an ATM by every vendor to seeing how knowing the culture and language and manners will get you everywhere. We ate some places with everyone else and with terrible service but also in high class places that make it seem like we were in a five star place in the heart of Paris.

I can’t even begin to say thank you to Megan for everything she has shown me and the experiences she has allowed me to tag along and experience with her. I don’t know if there was much else we could have seen. In that short span except for those random every day ones, which I think I was still able to get a few really good ones [Editors note: I have no idea what this sentence means, but hey, I’m not half-watching a Bruins game while typing…].

So all in all Megan’s description of this as the America Appreciation Vacation was pretty accurate, although it’s always eye-opening when traveling the world to any country. As you travel, you learn that the more you travel, and the more you experience- you realize the less you know.

It’s a paradox though. Those people who do travel and realize this are the ones who know the most, and they have the best life experiences (FYI, I’m not including myself in this list). Megan IS one of those people, and not those who, regardless of nationality, sit around and judge the world from their couch and car without getting out and truly experiencing the world as one knows it. It’s like how astronauts say that once you leave the earth and see it from space you just think to yourself, “Why?… Why do people fight over this beautiful planet?” (or something to that effect). It’s true though, as a world we need to get out and experience as much as we can and learn as much as possible. We only get one shot at this life, so don’t waste it. Yes, I need to follow my own advice.