Blogs from Saint-Louis Region, Senegal, Africa - page 2

Hello my wonderful and loyal readers!! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to write another blog- but it's been a long 3 weeks here in Senegal. I arrived late December, in the evening. When the plane stopped, and the pilot came over the PA system saying 'the traffic controllers have stopped us in the middle of no where, and I have no idea why. You should be met by a bus when they can find us', it was confirmed in my mind: I am back in Africa. Once we were on and off the bus, I entered the arrival hall- not so different to that in Uganda. It was there that I realised no one here speaks english. Like, no one. Here it is either french or a traditional language. Two women in their ... read more

Dear Friends and Family I have finally done something blog worthy. I have broken my sedentary behavior and left the confines of saint Louis for the even quieter conditions of Podor. Me and three other intrepid travellers decided that we needed to escape the monotony of Saint-Louis, which has become rather repetitive. Even in the small former colonial capital we wanted to escape the constant din of city life for something quieter and more relaxing. Podor is a sleepy town/city in one of the most northern reaches of Sénégal. Its draw and claim to fame is the French fort that rests beside the recently refurbished waterside. Thus Saturday morning I met my fellow adventurers at the main transit station, I myself was rather sleep deprived, as I thought that going to the local night club to ... read more

Dear Family and Friends Thank you for all the warm holiday wishes. This week I would like to recount the epic tale of Jan’s Operation Turkey Dinner Senegal 2010. This small chapter of my life that involved a grand heroic quest for a turkey began quite a while back. On one of my many random escapades into the country side I had seen a live squawking turkey with my very own eyes. The knowledge that they existed brought me hope yet no closer to my goal, as I still had no idea how to find or eat one in Saint Louis. As my last blog may have indicated I have been having a hankering for some taste of home and comfort to supplement family with a equally lonely group of strangers in a foreign land such ... read more

Into Senegal, we quickly noticed that there is more money here, though it is still poor Africa, there are more sturdy concrete homes and shops. The people are lovely – both adults and mass groups of children alike waved hectically as we drove past. There are so many children! The Senegalese people as a race are extremely impressive. The women are, by majority, tall, slim, beautiful and with perfect dark skin, high cheekbones and dazzling white smiles. The men are very similar, strikingly handsome and ‘smooth looking’, the smiles can’t help but make you smile back. They’re an impressive people. We made it out to Zebrabar, an oasis of a place right on the riverside, though we now took refuge from direct sunlight in the back of the truck as Martin had turned a nice shade ... read more

Dear Family and Friends Since my last update my life has been an utter whirlwind, a massive maelstrom running through my life. So to update you on my activities I have had my first encounter, a prelude, firing of cannons off the bow if you will, with this continents micro organism. Up until last week, my stomach was an iron cask, stalwartly and stoically resisting all that the street food of Senegal had to offer. I had been drinking tap water from the first day of arrival, eating fruit unwashed, little or no concern for hygiene, and no fear of exotic foods. Thus despite the odd stomach ache my intestines took it all with out complaint like a man. Unfortunately, my digestion tract finally caved in the face of the enemy. Apparently eating a greasy, disputably ... read more