The old railway station in Dakar has arched windows and large Senegal flags on the front.
The old railway station in Dakar has arched windows and large Senegal flags on the front.

Senegal

ByZayera Khan

My third day in Dakar, I got bus tickets for tomorrow, and went to Yoff beach. Mostly locals, lots of men playing football on the beach. Some children and adults in the ocean. Very few tourists. The water was warm and lovely. I had lunch with locals and got bugged by street vendors trying to sell stuff, but they went away when I declined politely. Also a street dog decided to be my pal and approached me I also observed birds flying to catch fish by the fisher men at the beach. A horse rolling around in the sand with joy. Minus aspects of the beach: some trash and also further up the the beach 2 pipes directly with waste water into the ocean.
Minus aspects of the city, in general there is litter and trash in every street, which I hope the city can clean up at some point.
This evening I watched the football match between Senegal – England and saw first the excitement and then the disappointment of their loss. However interesting to see young & middle aged persons of all genders watching the game both outdoor venues and indoor TVs. For them it is a passion, joy and where emotions are fully expressed.

4th day in SENEGAL. Yes I rode as a passenger on a motorcycle without a helmet in rush hour through Dakar. No the Mauretanian embassy did not give me a visa and told me that their procedure is to get Visa at the border. Yes I ate 2 coconuts for lunch. Yes I bought peanuts from a street vendor and they were delicious, dried in the sun and roasted in sand. Yes I spend 5,5 hours on a bumpy bus ride from Dakar to St.Louis and saw the countryside pass through. Apparently the locals in each village along the highway has build a bump on the road to lower the slapped of cars and vehicles, hence the highway is no longer a highway! Yes I had delicious meal my first night in St.Louis – and made another new friend, besides the cutest kitten that wanted to be adopted. Eventful day but with lots of hours waiting and on the road. In the hotel room now I hear goats, cats, people and the ocean just outside. The goats sound the loudest though. The next morning I located the noise and sounds, at it turned out that the goats were sheep kept in the next building in a very small walled area.

6th day in Senegal.Early start today, excursion to Parc National des oiseaux du Djoudj. A National park for birds near the border to Mauritania. This park is famous for its migratory birds and thousands of pelicans and flamingos. We saw these birds according to our guide: Western grey plantain eater, African Jacana, Whistling ducks, Long-tailed cormorant, Great cormorant, Shuffler ducks, Flamingos, Little beeeater (green), Eagles, African swallow-tailed kite, African Fish eagle, African darter, Purple heron, Yellow-Billed stork, Black crowned crane, White faced whistling ducks, Sacred ibis, Tufted duck, Little ringed plover, Little stilt, Black-winged stilt, RuffPied avocet, Caspian tern, White wagtail, Pied kingfisher, Grey heron, Little egret, Intermediate egret, Squacco heron, Weaversspoonbill.

We also saw cows, horses, donkeys, Warthogs, Jackals and a varan swimming in the water. I have filmed these too. And a long trace of python snake but not the snake itself. The skull was a warthog. Hot day in the sun reaching up to 34 degrees. The mud roads through the park were very bumpy. The boat ride to see the pelicans was nice. Our car a typical Senegalese yellow taxi is not equipped to handle bumpy mud roads .Happy with todays excursion although I did not have good enough lense to record closeups of the birds.

Friday 16th, Saturday 17th. The past 2 days I have just been resting in Dakar, Senegal. I got a running nose which is slowly getting better, probably caught something on the buses.

On Friday I walked from Mermoz to Plateau and saw lot of street life and the Sandaga market.

On Saturday I walked from Mermoz to Les marmelles, since I was curious of this beach but it was very stony and very few people there. So I took a taxi to this point on google map which claimed “the furthest point west of African mainland”. Imagine my disappointment when I am to an old hotel site in construction, demolition. Anyway after some bickering with a guard, I found the location and took a photo. Then another taxi to Yoff beach, and enjoying the strong waves and beach relaxing, see video. I also saw a phenomenon where the waves create a white mist so at a distance it looks very hazy although it is clear. Can you see this in the video?

In the evening I went back to Sandaga market to get my hats (which I had left for reparations) but unfortunately these were not made. As I visited a tailor in the market I had preciously seen young men working as tailors but now I actually saw a very young boy sitting and sewing over a sewing machine. The boy cannot have been older than 10 years. He almost looked like a zombie laborer, just tiredness and joyless.I have noticed child labor on the streets but this is on a different level. Now I have seen child labor in the clothing factories in Sandaga as well. Hence I did not buy any products at the artisanal fabrique Sandaga. In Dakar I also noticed 2 persons cleaning the highway and garbage collectors. But there are still places in the city where garbage is almost like a surreal art installation – yes I am joking – (see photo). Dakar as a city has exploded in population the past years, my new friend Mussa told me that due to Covid many persons from villages have moved to the city to make a living. This also shows on the bad traffic, a lot of antic busses and very old taxis putter out black smoke from the exhaustion pipes (diesel?). As in the western countries, there are stronger restrictions on car related pollution, here the air in the city is bad especially in traffic, due to the exhaust and fumes from cars.I don’t think I have inhaled so many fumes previously as the past days in Dakar! The evening ended on a night note as a new acquaintance invited me to an event with musicians Ablaye Cissoko and Nathalie Vairac. Finally I got to see a cultural event in Senegal!

Sunday 18th December I took a shared taxi from Dakar to Saly. Finally vacation mode in Saly & nice clean beaches, 32 degrees Celsius with a nice ocean breeze. Yes this is more of a tourist resort but at least the beaches are taken care of. Hanging out at the beach, swimming in the ocean. Here the water was calm even for me to swim ca 1 km. Watched the end of football World Cup. Had dinner at a restaurant, not of my liking but my new friend Saly recommended this place. I got to borrow his apartment and got an idea of his daily life here. Let’s put it this way, we live very differently (see photos).

When traveling I am happy with a clean bed, mosquito net and the possibility to take a shower. That‘a enough for me. I don’t mind the coach roaches or lizards. I can manage noise as well with ear plugs. If the place is very dirty, then I will clean it up; otherwise dirt can be ignored too.When I am at home, I am pedantic, things have to be order, orderly and in its location. My dwelling is clean and organized. I have lots of green plants. My kitchen is filled with food and tidy. My rules and habits makes me comfortable and at ease. My friends who visit ME may have noticed these things. However it is very interesting how many of these factors I can let go of when traveling since it is temporary. I am only in 1 location for a very short time. I am curious if anyone else change their habits or let for of their “needs & habits” when traveling?

Monday 18th December I hiked 16 kilometers to Somone (lagoon area that is flooded with the tide and has birds, mangroves), as I posted yesterday I had a good time at Chez Rasta and made new acquaintances. I also swam in the river when the tide came back, it was fun to float inland’s but impossible to swim against the stream.I had to walk back and realized in time the strong currents.

Another note; I am very glad to be living in Sweden and Stockholm; with a life situation where I have clean water, waste management, pollution controls and most of all I do not have to spend hours commuting in any direction. Being on the road and traveling, I am reminded of the commuting many people undertake in their daily lives with the hassle and stress it causes. I am very privileged to have fairly short distances to work, during the past years I have as many of us working 80% of my time at home and 20% at the office. In 2023, I will be spending more time at the office and my daily commute will be 20 kilometers x 2. I can do the commute by public transportation or by electric bicycle. The distance is too far to walk and too costly for a car, at least in my opinion.

Tuesday 20th December I went to Joal and the shell island of Fadiouth, the whole island is a a huge pile of shells built over centuries.. Very interesting to hear about an island as many others in this region where people build and expanded the islands of mud with sea shells of various kind. Sea food and shells they harvest and reused the waste. The island of Fadiouth has both Catholics and Muslims living together, albeit 70% are Christian. The cemetery which which was originally a trash island for the sea shells eventually became a burial ground. The Catholics are buried in coffins, the Muslims as dictates only in a white cloth, body on the side facing towards Mecca. What a beautiful burial ground, with sea shells and mangrove fields around.I recorded the guide who is a necessity when visiting the island who shares more history, further on. Btw the taxis I took today were also bush taxis, since no other option is available (I do not want to rent a taxi only for myself, for several reasons: money and environment). The taxi door barely closed I also had a wonderful encounter with street vendor selling water melons. Enjoyed the water melons, chatted and took photos with them too!In the afternoon I returned back to Saly but had a bad experience at the beach, where I first waited for a sun bed but did not get one at all. Then the second spot the service was very poor and accusatory. So I found a spot on the beach for myself, and got a seller to watch my stuff while I went for a swim!T he highlight was to feed street food, grilled fish solder and served by a Nigerian lady. At least I got nice company at th beach for literally no money at all; despite the rudeness of the “fancy” restaurants by the beach.#joal-fadiouth #saly

Wednesday 21st December I had a chill day, the mission of the day was to find a laundromat but they do not exist!Only washing, pressing services is what I found. Weirdly that there are more cars washes in the cities that laundromats. Does everyone wash by hand if they cannot afford a washing machine in their homes?! So I ended up doing hand wash myself for the necessities. First lunch invitation, a traditional Thieboudienne which is rice with vegetables and fish. Then I walked for a while on the beach and saw the sunset enjoying a bouye drink. Bouye is a drink made of baobab fruit, very tasty and I have been enjoying one almost everyday, besides the coconut water. As I have been walking on many beaches, I have noticed that in the late afternoons and evenings the beaches are crowded by boys and young men who exercise and play football on the beach. However I have rarely seen any women doing such activities here. Where are the girls and women? Don’t they do or care for sports? Seems like football is dominated here by men and men only, at least from my observations on the beaches of several cities.

A large metal baobab tree sculpture stands in the round hall of a museum in Dakar.
A tall round hall with a glass ceiling and a tree sculpture in a Dakar museum.
A carved and painted wooden figure stands in a glass case in a Dakar museum.
A wooden mask with many small carved figures on top stands in a Dakar museum.
Three old ritual costumes hang on a white wall in a Dakar museum.
A golden seated statue stands in a glass case in a museum in Dakar.
A figure with a dark face, shells and fibers stands in a Dakar museum.
A museum panel shows a map of Africa as the place where humans began.
A museum chart shows the line of human evolution over millions of years.
A museum panel shows a map of early human sites in East Africa.
A small label names an ancestor statue from Nigeria in a Dakar museum.
A tall ancestor statue covered in cowrie shells stands in a museum hall in Dakar.
A street vendor sells brown fruits from a wooden cart in Dakar.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie with two young women in a cafe in Dakar.
A bucket of cooked beans stands among bags and boxes at a market in Dakar.
Red and white kola nuts lie on a cloth at a market stall in Dakar.
Colorful printed dresses hang on a rack at a market in Dakar.
Bright tulle skirts in many colors hang over a market stall in Dakar.
A man in green walks past stalls with baskets and pots on a street in Dakar.
Zayera Khan smiles and holds an ice cream on a stick in Dakar.
A glass bowl of creamy rice dessert stands on a wooden table.
A plate of meat stew with brown rice stands on a colorful table.
A plate of fish yassa with onions, rice and lime stands on a table.

Parc National des oiseaux du Djoudj
Back in Senegal after ca 1 week in Mauritania

Palm trees line the small harbor and beach of Goree Island.
A round stone fort stands on the rocky coast of Goree Island.
A glass panel with a map of Africa hangs on a wall in a Goree Island museum.
A museum board shows texts and old pictures about the Portuguese on Goree Island.
A museum board shows old pictures of statues and ships on Goree Island.
A museum board shows a decree and old portraits on Goree Island.
A museum board shows texts and portraits about the French on Goree Island.
A painting shows a man in a long blue coat with a stick on Goree Island.
A museum board shows old ships, maps and portraits on Goree Island.
A museum board shows texts and pictures about the English on Goree Island.
A museum board shows texts and pictures about the Dutch on Goree Island.
A museum board shows old pictures of the slave trade on Goree Island.
A museum board shows a text and a map about Islam in Senegal.
An old map shows European trade on the west coast of Africa.
A painted wall map shows old empires of West Africa in a Goree Island museum.
A metal plaque lists the history of maps of Goree Island.
A text panel about the capture of enslaved people hangs in a Goree Island museum.
A text panel about the sea crossing of enslaved people hangs in a museum on Goree Island.
A text panel about the end of slavery hangs in a museum on Goree Island.
An old engraving shows a woman in profile with the words Moi libre aussi.
A narrow alley with stone walls leads through the old town of Goree Island.
A large baobab tree stands in a sandy square next to a red house on Goree Island.
A blue wooden shutter covers a window in an old wall on Goree Island.
A baobab tree grows next to red and brown houses on Goree Island.
Sheep rest in the shade next to an old house on a sandy street on Goree Island.
Dark basalt cliffs drop into the sea on the coast of Goree Island.
A view from the hill on Goree Island shows houses, palms and the sea.
A brown rooster stands on a stone next to wooden shacks on Goree Island.
An old orange facade with wooden shutters is falling apart on Goree Island.
A black and white cat rests in a broken window of a ruin on Goree Island.
A crow sits on the wall of a ruined stone house on Goree Island.
People walk on a sandy street between orange houses on Goree Island.
Yellow and orange colonial houses with balconies stand on Goree Island.
Goree Island lies low on the sea, seen from the ferry.
Cranes stand in the port of Dakar, seen from the ferry to Goree Island.
Ships lie at the quay in the port of Dakar.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie with passengers on the ferry to Goree Island.
A plate with a filled crepe, salad and tomato on Goree Island.
A plate of yassa with onions, rice and lime on Goree Island.
Old blue wooden doors open to a narrow stair on Goree Island.
A ruined house with an arch is full of old objects and art on Goree Island.
Old tools and objects hang on the walls of a roofless ruin on Goree Island.
A roofless ruin with objects on the walls and an old door on Goree Island.
People gather in the courtyard of an old fort on Goree Island for an event.
Models walk on a lit stage at a night fashion show on Goree Island.
Models in bold clothes walk in front of the audience on Goree Island.
People watch a fashion show under palm trees at sunset on Goree Island.
A model in a pink dress walks past the audience on Goree Island.
Painted buses and a yellow taxi stand at a bus station in Dakar.
A painted blue and yellow minibus stands on a street in Dakar.
A painted minibus with an open back door stands in Dakar.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie with fans and Senegal flags during the World Cup in Dakar.
Low tide and white clouds over Yoff beach in Dakar.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie with two women on Yoff beach in Dakar.
A hand holds a plastic cup of orange fruit on the beach in Dakar.
Beach huts with straw roofs stand on the sand of Yoff beach in Dakar.
A street dog licks the face of Zayera Khan in a selfie on Yoff beach.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie on Yoff beach with a vendor behind her.
A stream of waste water runs across the sand into the sea at Yoff beach.
Dark water flows in a channel across the beach toward the sea in Dakar.
Horses and carts stand on the sand near houses on Yoff beach.
Carts and people stand on the wide sandy beach in front of buildings in Dakar.
People walk on the long sandy Yoff beach in Dakar.
Goats walk on Yoff beach near the waves in Dakar.
Fishing nets and gear lie on the shore at a fishing area in Dakar.
Fishing boats lie on the shore behind a wall in Dakar.
Zayera Khan in sunglasses takes a selfie on a bus in Senegal.
An old bus with blue seats stands empty in Senegal.
A dead fish lies on the wet sand of a beach in Dakar.
Bare feet rest in the sand of a beach near the sea in Dakar.
A phone weather app shows sunny weather on the North Atlantic coast.
A smiling girl in a red hoodie stands on a street in Saint-Louis.
Laundry hangs on lines over old logs in a yard in Saint-Louis.
A white and black sheep rests next to a blue wall in Saint-Louis.
A spotted sheep stands in a doorway of a house in Saint-Louis.
A turquoise arch door opens from an orange room to a terrace in Saint-Louis.
A turquoise arch door frames a palm tree and a terrace in Saint-Louis.
A stone bust of a man with glasses stands in an orange room.
Red roofs and the Senegal River are seen from a rooftop in Saint-Louis.
A rooftop terrace looks out over the wide Senegal River in Saint-Louis.
Palm trees and houses fill the view from a rooftop in Saint-Louis.
Flat roofs and houses fill the city view from a rooftop in Saint-Louis.
A black panel with the name Joana Choumali and her portrait in a photo museum.
Orange bougainvillea flowers grow in front of blue shutters in Saint-Louis.
A plant grows between a pink wall and blue shutters in Saint-Louis.
Tall blue doors with shutters stand at the end of a white corridor.
A museum panel tells about the photographer Mama Casset in Saint-Louis.
A text panel about the artist Siaka Soppo Traore hangs in a museum in Saint-Louis.
A black panel tells the life story of Mama Casset in a Saint-Louis museum.
A black panel tells the life story of photographer Meissa Gaye in Saint-Louis.
A courtyard with pink walls, blue shutters and plants in Saint-Louis.
A framed portrait shows a woman with face paint and an orange scarf.
A black panel shows a poem by Camara Laye in a museum in Saint-Louis.
A black panel shows the poem Afrique by David Diop in Saint-Louis.
A large metal sculpture of a hyena stands on a red carpet in a gallery.
A clay sculpture with many small faces stands next to a text panel.
A tall clay sculpture with animal figures stands in a gallery in Saint-Louis.
A clay sculpture with a bird on top stands next to a text panel.
A big metal animal sculpture stands on a red carpet in a gallery.
A metal sculpture of a figure with wings stands in a gallery in Saint-Louis.
A metal sculpture shaped like a long dress stands in front of a brick wall.
Metal sculptures of figures stand in the corner of a gallery.
A metal sculpture of a king on a throne stands in a gallery.
A metal sculpture of a seated woman with an umbrella stands in a gallery.
Panels show the names and photos of four Senegalese photographers.
Six black text panels hang on a white wall in a museum in Saint-Louis.
Black panels with short life stories hang on a wall in Saint-Louis.
Yellow panels with portraits hang on a black wall in a museum room.
A display shows a portrait and covers of the AWA magazine from 1964.
A museum panel about Lamine Gueye and women in Senegal hangs on a brick wall.
A black panel describes the photo series Duet by Malick Welli.
A black panel shows a long poem in a photo museum in Saint-Louis.
A black panel describes a photo series by Laeila Adjovi in Saint-Louis.
A black panel with the title Songes du present hangs in a museum.
An old black and white portrait shows a smiling woman with jewelry.
A text panel describes an exhibition of photos from 1930 to 1950.
A black and white portrait shows a young girl with her head on her hands.
A grid of old portraits shows women with traditional hairstyles.
An old wooden door stands in a pink wall in Saint-Louis.
A street vendor roasts peanuts in a pan of hot sand.
A quiet street with colonial houses and blue shutters in Saint-Louis.
Old houses with balconies line a narrow street in Saint-Louis.
Many painted pirogues lie in the river harbor in Saint-Louis.
A pink colonial house with a long balcony stands on a street in Saint-Louis.
A long straight street runs between old houses in Saint-Louis.
Yellow taxis park in front of an old yellow house in Saint-Louis.
Sand fills the open door of an old red building in Saint-Louis.
Two wooden shutters sit in a worn pink wall in Saint-Louis.
Old houses stand on a street corner in the island town of Saint-Louis.
Roofs and the river with boats are seen from a terrace in Saint-Louis.
A terrace looks over houses and the river in Saint-Louis.
Roofs and a tower stand under a clear sky in Saint-Louis.
Sheep rest in a small walled yard seen from above in Saint-Louis.
A plate of vegetable and meat curry with rice in Saint-Louis.
A plate of shrimp in sauce with rice in Saint-Louis.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie in a waiting room in Senegal.
The sun sets over dry savanna with baobab trees in Senegal.
Passengers sit in a coach bus with luggage racks in Senegal.
Coach buses wait under a long roof at a bus station in Senegal.
A printed passenger list lies on a wooden table.
A phone map shows Saint-Louis and the Senegal River coast.
A phone weather app shows sun and wind data on the North Atlantic coast.
A phone weather app shows a sunny forecast of 30 degrees.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie on a wide beach with waves near Saint-Louis.
Birds stand on the wet sand of a quiet beach near Saint-Louis.
A wide empty beach leads to trees and dunes near Saint-Louis.
A shallow tide pool lies on a long beach near Saint-Louis.
Small waves wash onto a sandy beach with shells near Saint-Louis.
Footprints cross the sand of a beach with trees behind near Saint-Louis.
A dog lies on an empty beach in front of green trees.
The sun shines over a long beach with many tracks in the sand.
A long empty beach runs along the ocean under a deep blue sky.
Birds stand on a pale salt flat in Djoudj National Bird Park.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie on a salt flat in Djoudj National Bird Park.
Birds rest far away on a dry grey mudflat in Djoudj.
A phone weather app shows 33 degrees in Djoudj National Bird Park.
Many white birds rest on the water near green trees in Djoudj.
A bird sits on top of a large bush in the water in Djoudj.
Green bushes grow on the shore of a calm lake in Djoudj.
A phone map shows the lakes and channels of Djoudj National Bird Park.
Hundreds of great white pelicans crowd together on the water in Djoudj.
A row of white pelicans swims on the lake in Djoudj.
Pelicans take off from the water in Djoudj National Bird Park.
A wide brown lake stretches to a low green shore in Djoudj.
A pelican flies over a large flock on the lake in Djoudj.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie in a boat with the guide on the lake in Djoudj.
White water lilies grow in front of reeds and bushes in Djoudj.
Many white water lilies bloom on the lake in Djoudj.
Birds sit in trees above water lilies in Djoudj National Bird Park.
A phone weather app shows a high UV index in Djoudj.
Acacia trees with birds stand behind water lilies in Djoudj.
Lily pads and flowers float on the brown water in Djoudj.
White lily buds rise from the water in Djoudj.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie with two travelers on a boat in Djoudj.
A dark bird sits in green shrubs by the water in Djoudj.
An African fish eagle sits in a green tree in Djoudj National Bird Park.
Green trees and reeds grow along the water in Djoudj.
A large green tree grows at the edge of the lake in Djoudj.
A line of trees stands on the far shore of the lake in Djoudj.
Tall green reeds grow at the edge of the water in Djoudj.
A low reed bed lies in the middle of the lake in Djoudj.
Dry shrubs grow at the water edge in Djoudj National Bird Park.
A single bush grows out of the brown lake water in Djoudj.
Cormorants sit on a small bush island in the lake in Djoudj.
A single white pelican swims on the lake in Djoudj.
A warthog skull lies on the dry ground in Djoudj.
The shadow of a person taking a picture falls on dry ground in Djoudj.
Birds sit in a tree, seen through binoculars in Djoudj.
Green floating plants cover the water in the shade in Djoudj.
Water lilies and floating plants fill a lake in Djoudj.
Flamingos walk in shallow water between bushes in Djoudj.
White birds stand far away in the lake behind a bush in Djoudj.
A wooden sign stands on the shore of a lake in Djoudj National Bird Park.
A bird sits on a dead tree at the lake in Djoudj.
Rows of white pelicans rest on the blue water in Djoudj.
Green grass grows along the shore of a wide lake in Djoudj.
A dirt path with a wooden fence runs along the lake in Djoudj.
Flamingos fly low over the blue lake in Djoudj.
Flamingos land on the water next to white birds in Djoudj.
A small observation hide stands at the end of a dirt track in Djoudj.
Flamingos fly over the open water in Djoudj National Bird Park.
A green bird hide stands on a dike next to the lake in Djoudj.
Flamingos and other birds stand on a sandbank in Djoudj.
Green algae line the shore of a wide lake in Djoudj.
Warthogs walk across dry savanna with acacia trees in Djoudj.
Warthogs walk on sandy ground, seen from a car window in Djoudj.
An animal walks in tall dry grass on the savanna in Djoudj.
A dirt track runs across a flat dry plain in Djoudj.
Birds rest along the far shore of a lake in Djoudj.
A dead tree with a few green leaves stands at the lake in Djoudj.
A long pink flock of flamingos stands on the lake in Djoudj.
Birds fly over a large flock of pink flamingos in Djoudj.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie at the edge of a wetland in Djoudj.
Pink flamingos stand behind dead branches in the lake in Djoudj.
Small mud islands rise from the shallow water in Djoudj.
Birds fly over dry grassland with trees in Djoudj.
Animal tracks show in grey dried mud in Djoudj.
A warthog walks in front of green grass at the shore in Djoudj.
Flamingos and other birds stand in shallow water in Djoudj.
A curved red shore runs along a calm lake in Djoudj.
A large flock of ducks rests on a small bush island in Djoudj.
An empty beach with footprints runs along the ocean in northern Senegal.
Small wading birds stand in the shallow water in Djoudj.
Small islands lie in a shallow lake in Djoudj.
Ducks rest on a mud bank in front of tall grass in Djoudj.
An open lake stretches under a blue sky in Djoudj.
Birds stand in the shallow water in front of grass in Djoudj.
Cattle stand in front of a taxi on a dirt road near Djoudj.
Zebu cattle with long horns stand next to the car near Djoudj.
A brown horse walks on a dry plain near Djoudj.
A driver and a guide sit in the front of a yellow taxi near Djoudj.
Three kittens walk on a path next to green grass in Dakar.
The sun sets behind palm trees under colorful clouds in Dakar.
Goats walk on Yoff beach in the evening light in Dakar.
A horse cart and goats move on the wet sand of Yoff beach.
Young men play football on Yoff beach in the evening.
A heron walks on the sand near straw parasols on a beach in Dakar.
Several cats sit on a path between green grass in Dakar.
Two cats sit on the sand of a beach in Dakar.
A metal sculpture shaped like Africa stands near the sea at sunset in Dakar.
The sun sets behind empty buildings at an old hotel site in Dakar.
An overturned truck lies on a demolition site by the sea in Dakar.
Zayera Khan in a white cap takes a selfie on a beach in Dakar.
Legs rest on the sand of a beach with boats in the sea.
A sandy beach with a palm tree and boats on the sea.
The dashboard of an old shared taxi faces a busy street in Senegal.
A passenger sits in the front of an old shared taxi in Senegal.
A white dog sleeps on the sand of a beach by the waves.
Baobab trees stand along the road under a pink evening sky.
Baobab trees pass by the window of a moving car at dusk.
The sun sets over a road with baobab trees in Senegal.
A truck drives on a road with a baobab tree at sunset in Senegal.
A metal sculpture made of small discs is shaped like the map of Africa.
A path leads to the Africa sculpture at dusk in Dakar.
A hand rests on the sand while a person stands by the sea.
Bare feet rest in the sand in front of the calm sea.
A calm sandy beach with small boats on the water in Senegal.
Zayera Khan in a white hat takes a selfie inside a bush taxi.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie with a local man at a market stall.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie next to bags on a crowded boat.
A red dirt road runs through dry land in Senegal.
A flat red plain lies under a blue sky in Senegal.
A road with trees is seen through the windshield of a bush taxi.
The sun sets over the ocean and a quiet beach in Saly.
A drink and a bowl of peanuts stand on a table at sunset on the beach in Saly.
The sun sets over the sea behind flowering bushes in Saly.
Bougainvillea grows on the coast as the sun sets in Saly.
The sun shines over waves and dark rocks in Saly.
A narrow path leads to the sea under bougainvillea flowers in Saly.
Tree shadows and leaves lie on dry ground in Saly.
Stones and leaves lie on the ground in the shade in Saly.
A fresh coconut stands on a glass of coconut water on a table.
A plate of grilled fish with onions stands on a table on the sand.
Fish cook on a small grill on the sand of the beach in Saly.
Passengers sit in an old bush taxi on the way to Joal-Fadiouth.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie with a watermelon vendor at his stall in Joal.
Zayera Khan holds a slice of watermelon on a street in Joal.
People walk in the lagoon at low tide near Joal-Fadiouth.
A view over the shell cemetery and lagoon in Fadiouth.
Graves and baobab trees cover the shell island cemetery of Fadiouth.
A baobab tree stands among graves with the lagoon behind in Fadiouth.
Bougainvillea flowers grow among graves in the cemetery of Fadiouth.
Boats lie off a beach with litter on the sand in Joal.
Graves with signs stand between baobabs in the cemetery of Fadiouth.
A grave with blue and white tiles stands near the lagoon in Fadiouth.
The sun shines over fishing boats near the beach in Joal.
Pirogues lie at anchor in the water off the beach in Joal.
A bare baobab tree stands on ground made of shells in Fadiouth.
Trees and white graves stand on the shell ground in Fadiouth.
A wooden bridge leads past baobab trees in Fadiouth.
A long bridge with signs leads to the shell island of Fadiouth.
A white statue of the Virgin Mary stands under a shelter in Fadiouth.
A large tree gives shade to a square on the shell island of Fadiouth.
Dried fish lie on a black tray on the shell ground in Fadiouth.
Rows of dried fish lie on a rack next to a wall in Fadiouth.
A church tower with a cross stands against the sun in Fadiouth.
Small white shells cover the ground of the island of Fadiouth.
People shop at stalls in the shade of a tree in Fadiouth.
A mudflat lies in front of the long bridge to Fadiouth.
People walk on the wooden bridge over the lagoon to Fadiouth.
Wooden posts stand on a sandbank in the lagoon at Fadiouth.
The calm lagoon water reaches to green mangroves near Fadiouth.
Plastic and other litter lie on the sand of the beach in Joal.
A painted pirogue lies off a beach with litter in Joal.
Dead fish and a rope lie on the dark sand in Joal.
Painted pirogues lie on the beach next to a dog in Joal.
Dogs search the beach while boats float on the sea in Joal.
Colorful pirogues lie on the beach under smoke in Joal.
Three colorful pirogues with flags lie at the shore in Joal.
Women in colorful clothes sit in the back of a bush taxi.
A couple stands on the beach and looks at the sunset in Saly.
An orange sun sets over the calm sea in Saly.
Zayera Khan takes a selfie on the beach at the Somone lagoon.
The low sun shines over the sea and the beach at Somone.
The Somone lagoon lies calm at dusk with trees on the shore.
Zayera Khan sits and laughs with a local man at Chez Rasta in Somone.
A painted ceiling with bright colors decorates a beach bar in Somone.
A bowl of fruit salad and a drink stand on a green table in Somone.
A skewer with salad stands on a wooden board on a table in Somone.
A colorful beach bar table looks out over the lagoon in Somone.
Waves roll onto a long sandy beach under a blue sky near Somone.
Many mangrove roots grow in the sand at the Somone lagoon.
Arched mangrove roots stand on the sand at the Somone lagoon.
A donkey stands on the sand at night in Somone.
Mangrove trees with long roots grow on the shore of the Somone lagoon.
Green mangroves grow along shallow water in the Somone lagoon.
Birds rest on a sandbank in front of mangroves at Somone.
Rocks lie in shallow water under white clouds at the Somone lagoon.
A phone weather app shows 33 degrees in Mbour.
Sea urchins, oysters and shrimp cook on a grill in Saly.
Two baobab trees stand on dry land under a blue sky near Saly.
Goats rest on the sand of a yard with concrete blocks near Saly.
Pigs walk along a sandy road next to bushes near Saly.
White zebu cattle walk on a sandy road near Saly.
Cattle walk on a sandy road in the bright sun near Saly.
A wide sandy field lies in front of houses near Saly.
White cattle walk across a sandy field near Saly.
Razor wire runs along the top of a block wall in Saly.
A bird of prey sits on top of a wooden pole in Saly.
An excavator stands behind a wall with razor wire in Saly.
A chicken burger and fries stand on a plate in a restaurant in Saly.
A lizard climbs the trunk of a palm tree in Saly.
A swimmer is in the calm sea off the sandy beach in Saly.
A wide sandy beach runs along the calm sea in Saly.
Bare feet rest in the sand in the shade on the beach in Saly.
A palm tree spreads its leaves against the blue sky in Saly.
A dove walks on the sand in the shade in Saly.
Sun loungers and parasols stand under palm trees on the beach in Saly.
Grilled meat with potato gratin and tomato lies on a plate in Saly.
A shadow of a person falls on the sand near the waves.
A small sandy bay with rocks and calm blue water on the coast of Dakar.
Zayera Khan in a white hat takes a selfie on the rocky coast of Dakar.
A wooden structure stands on the sand by the rocky coast in Dakar.
A wooden signpost with arrows stands on the coast in Dakar.
The Mosque of the Divinity stands next to the ocean in Ouakam, Dakar.
The two minarets of the Mosque of the Divinity rise above the coast in Dakar.
The coast of Ouakam with the mosque and a cliff in Dakar.
Litter lies on a hill above the sea and a cliff in Dakar.
A car drives on a street with trees in Dakar.
The sun sets behind palm trees over the sea in Dakar.
A tall brown drink with a straw stands on a mosaic table.
A large tree trunk stands under a street lamp at night in Dakar.
The moon shines on the water next to a boat at night in Senegal.
A blue car has a decal of a religious leader on its back window.

I arrived in after midnight and my friend had already ordered a taxi for me to the city center. The taxi took ca 1 hour and very expensive ride where I paid 40 euros (25 000 cfa).

Summarizing the first days in Dakar, Senegal: 1 hour queue at the bank, to get cash, Mmore than 1 hour in traffic rush hour, taking taxi to city center from Mermoz to Plateau, 30 minutes queue to get a SIM card at Sonatel, I got myself an orange sim-card. Fresh coconuts, ice cream, yassa with fish. Crowded markets and very busy due to Friday afternoon, people at the mosques and shopping for the weekend. Fun to meet up and make new friends. While enjoying the mild winds; it makes the heat more pleasant and the city vibrant. Although the traffic is annoying and inefficient, people seem fairly relaxed and chill. I like that people were traditional clothes in their daily lives regardless of status and activity, colorful, beautiful and graceful. Wolof is mixed with French and I have been practicing my beginners French. So far I have seen very few other tourists and foreigners. Good night from Dakar.

Second day in Dakar, I visited Goree island which was a major site of slavery trade until abolition. The Portuguese, Dutch, French, English were all contributors to the slave trade and active on this island. Life presently on the island consists of local people selling stuff to tourists and some restaurants. Just people trying to make a living. Unfortunately the museums had only information in French and very little information is displayed in any other languages. People from Dakar also go to the island as an excursion, relaxation and just chilling too.The buildings on the island are worn out and falling apart, decay is everywhere. We stayed a while longer on the island as Fashion week Dakar also had an event there tonight. Very big contrast and interesting to observe and see parts of the fashion show. History and culture colliding, redefined in so many ways. Ownership, freedom, human rights and the impact of trade and politics – all these topics can be discussed and should be addressed even in our present days.

From my perspective; the concept of slavery – created by humans – is a concept that should never have existed, should never have been allowed or acccepted no matter what the reasons, at any point in time. The existence of slavery in human history – is a history of exploitation, oppression and tools of warfare and trade. How could any ethical human being enslave another human being? How could trade have been the most important factor to such cruelty and suffering? #slavery #history #africa

5th day in Senegal. Today we explored the old island of St.Louis. It smells fishy everywhere!Lots of old buildings, many falling apart and in decay. People are nice, helpful and friendly. Only young children who are begging were mischievous. Visited the Museum of Photography which had different exhibitions in 7 different houses, politics, art, sculptures, photography historic and contemporary. Interesting to see the houses and the variety of artists and art produced in Senegal.I have posted photos separately from some of the pieces I saw.I spend the afternoon on the beach, Plage Hydrobase. Wonderful waves, ocean sounds and 30 degrees bright sunlight. Very few persons on the beach. Some animals but otherwise empty and very peaceful.- minus aspect: the trash and rubbish on this island and also visible on the beach. Overall I am happy with the day, calm and restful. Now when going to bed we have a religious activity ongoing since this hotel is next to a mosque.