Senegal West Africa

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We visited Foundiougne Senegal to see our son, Aaron, a volunteer in the Peace Corps. This was our first trip to West Africa and what an experience! We stayed in the Billboa campamount and had a private bath with a shower. The beds were hard but we slept well. The food they provided was great. It is truly amazing what they can do with such little resources. We took trips to Kaolack, the only ATM in the area and this is a cash society. We also took a piroque trip down the Foundgioune river to where it empties into the Atlantic. The mouth of the river is approximately 3 to 4 miles wide and reminded us of the Columbia River. This was a very memorable trip, especially when we think back about the lack of safety precuations. Life jackets are a luxury and if you can swim why would you need one! The trips in the car were so interesting, some roads were dirt some were blacktop, and sometimes the dirt was better than the blacktop, no pot holes in the dirt. Then the kids would run out with bags of dirt to fill the pot holes in the blacktop and narrowly be missed by the on coming traffic! It also did not matter if you were on the left, center, or right side of the road. What mattered was which area had the least hazards! You did not drive at night since head and tail lights are a luxury and when a car/truck/bus broke down it stayed in the road. In the mornings you would see cars wedged under busses/trucks because they did not see them.

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Photos

First Sight
This was our first time we saw Aaron in Africa. We were on the ferry waiting to get off when there he was emerging from the crowd. It was a great day.

Aaronchild
These are the children of Abrahama and Daba Dieng who was such a good friend of Aarons while in Senegal.

African Sunset
Sunset over the Foundigoune river

Greeting the Ferry
The sellers would gather for the afternoon bus from Dakar to sell thier goods to the weary travellers.

Cruizing African Style
On the river headed to the Atlantic. Felix the piroque captain Aaron and friend sleeping. Notice the charcoal burner so we can heat tea and the gas drum in front of the motor. Where else would you get in a boat with an open flame and a drum of gas. DUH

Island of Merloge
We stayed here on our Piroque trip from Foundgioune to the Atlantic. This was a great trip. The grilled barricuda was fantastic.

Merloge Campamount
Where we stayed on the island.

Atlantic Ocean Beach
Mary walking the Atlantic Beach on the coast of Africa.

Aaron and Friend
Aarons friend who was our guide and interpreter on our trip.

Hammock on the river
This was a regular activity in the hot afternoons. There was always a breeze off the river and so relaxing.

Relaxing
Another lazy afternoon.

Driver
This was the driver Aaron hired to pick us up in Dakar and take us the 70 miles to his village. This is a 6 passenger Puegot wagon and when the local travels they can put up to 12 in this car.

Home
This was Aarons 2 room concrete hut with a thached roof. It is hard to believe he lived here for 2 years but he said it was great compared to other volunteers.

Cell Phone
Even in Africa the cell phone is everywhere. There are no land lines.

Bano
The door on the left is the shower or should I say bucket and hose. The door on the right is the one holer.

Ferry dock
This ferry took you across the Foundigoune river and made the trip to Dakar shorter by 50 miles.

Walking
This was a typical road/street within the village that you would walk from one side of the village to the other.