Blogs from Dakar, Cape Verde Peninsula, Senegal, Africa - page 10

Chekaraou Family The Motorcycle - (Entry restored post server crash) Keagan has been waiting for this ride since before we left the USA!So, Djibril and I decided to buy a motorcycle; against my better judgement because of the accident thing and traffic. We got one that is sort of a hybrid between a scooter and a motorcycle. Anyway, once we chose it we had to go and buy an insurance policy before the dealership could release it to us. So, we go visit one company and after much discussion, we discover than motorcycle insurance does not cover any damage to a motorcycle....uuhhhh...and the point is...? Yes, that is right! You buy insurance to cover what is called your 'civil responsibility'. Meaning, if you hurt or kill someone, then the insurance covers their medical expenses. If you ... read more

Horseback Riding Lessons Africa » Senegal » Dakar By UwargidaJuly 24th 2007Chekaraou Family The children started horseback riding lessons last week. I was amazed at how well they all did. Even Leila who busted the front of her head the first week and the top of it the second! She was a trooper though! She told the teacher she couldn't trot because the helmet hurt her head. You can still see the residuals of the shiner she got between the eyes. She wouldn't let me take a photo of it before, but she looked like something out of Star Trek! Kaijah is in heaven. It is all she can do to wait between lessons. She loves being on that horse! Keagan, again...no fear so it terri... read more

Yes, my baby is four! I can't even believe it! We celebrated with fine dining at Pizza Passy and steak hachee sandwiches up the road from our house followed by a day at Magic Land, an amusement park here in Dakar. It was a nice time. Keagan had fun riding the bull, which Kaijah had to try and of course, got hurt. Leila wanted to as well, and when we refused because we didn’t want her to get hurt, she pitched a fit and stormed off pouting. We finally got the guy to let her pose on the one-horned bull for a photo. Similarly, you can see how her attitude goes from ‘glad to mad’ while riding in the bumper cars. Man, that girl can throw a fit; daddy’s girl! Ammar was here from Atlanta ... read more

Stepping out from Leopold Senghor airport in mid afternoon is like diving in a stock-pot in which stew of piranha is being prepared: if you survive the high temperature, then the taxi drivers/piranhas will eat you alive! Had I been on my own -a white man apparently at lost- I could have understood the furious onslaught from the eager taxi drivers, but that this could happen when accompanied by a local went beyond my darker fears. Hamsa, met in the short Praia-Dakar flight, negotiated in wolof with the crowd of taxi drivers while keeping an eye on the baggage and protecting me with an arm from the most audacious attackers. A scene of unparalleled mercantile fury to which I couldn’t wait to withdraw from. Maybe in an attempt to compensate the country little edifying image ... read more

Hey all, We have a skype phone number but I kept getting emails from the blog to remove it, so if you want to call, my mom and Tammy (Brady) have the number. If you are in Austin, or have free long distance, the call is free. I can receive calls on my computer. We are five hours ahead of Texas and four ahead of Toronto and ATL. You can also leave voice mails if you don't reach us and can tell us when you will call back. ... read more