At Sobo Bade.
The trip
Below is a very rough sketch of my recollection of our
Senegal itinerary. Some of the exact events may be recorded
in the wrong days or missed and places may be confused. But
it does provide a broad indication of the trip.
Saturday 17/12: TGV Train
Brussels-Paris Nord RER and Orlyval to Paris Orly,
Paris-Dakar after a long delay. The temperature change from
snow in Brussels to high 30's C (80's F) pretty
stark!
Sunday 18/12: Arrival. 12 on trip
accompanied by Daniel. Met by GB with a van that just
fitted the group with no room to spare. Into Dakar. A few
hour's sleep in hotel and then on the road for St.
Louis, the ex-colonial capital. Visted the Lac
Rose, the end point of the Paris-Dakar rally, on the
way. Stayed at Hotel
Mermoz at the end of the Langue
de Barbarie for three nights - passing through the
crowded fishing quarter (see some great photos
elsewhere) on each outing.
Monday 19/12: Visted the town of
St. Louis (official site)
and travelled by horse drawn car.
Tuesday 20/12: Visited the
Parc
du Djoudj and saw the major colony of white pelicans as
well as numerous other birds.
Wednesday 21/12: A long road
trip. On the way a very special local lunch (cost 2 euros
50 for 14). Stopped at Touba
to visit the mosque there - the second most important place
for pilgrims next to Mecca. Then on to Kaolack
where our hotel, the Auberge Diollof In, was in the process
of reconstruction, like much else!
Daniel not best pleased.
Thursday 22/12: Off to Tambacounda.
Many potholes on road and overloaded trucks coming in the
other direction from Mali. Stayed in the Hotel Nijji, also
being renovated, but less intrusively than the auberge.
Late night Patrice twists her knee.
Friday 23/12: Found a local
chemist at 8 a.m. which sold their only pair of pretty
dusty crutches, along with cortisone, for a disabled
Patrice. We still have the cortisone since the severe
white-robed doctor in the local clinic pronounced it too
dangerous. Half an hour late the party headed for Kedougou,
staying in the Campement Diao for three nights.
Saturday 24/12: Visited a
Christian Bedik village in mountains (for
Emma's blog for another trip there). Patrice and
Fleuvine meanwhile entertained many local children down in
the valley with yo-yos and they, in their turn, were
entertained by Baobab pods.
Sunday 25/12: Took the
"Bonne Chance" bus (a more luxurious
version) on a dirt road to hike to a waterfall
near Dindifelo (
see for photos from area). Mutual decision not to walk
the 9kms into Guinea. Despite the inaccessibility of the
place much market activity. Patrice bought some local
fabric back in Kedougou and had a dress made by next
evening at 6 p.m.. It was delivered promptly as promised -
an unusual event in Africa!
Monday 26/12: Retraced steps to
Dar Salam. Visited
Niokolo-Koba National Park. Some were unsure whether
burning to clear scrub, and give tourists a better view,
encouraged animals. Dancing with locals at night at
Campement Dar Salam.
Tuesday 27/12: From Dar Salem
long drive to Mar
Lodj in Siné Salom crossing to the island in
boat. Stayed at the 'Nouvelle Vague'. Many
mangroves (see a surfer's
site for more).
Wednesday 28/12: Taken around the
island visiting three villages in a calleche (horse drawn
cart).
Thursday 29/12: We drive via
Joal Fadiouth (a shell island reached by long
footbridge) and M'Bourg
to an incredible Gaudisque hotel 'Sobo Bade' in
Toubab Dialao.
Friday 30/12: Head back to Dakar.
Visit Ile de
Gorée - the departing point for many slaves long
ago (see the impressive Unesco
site). Major art purchase with spare CFAs (local
money).
Saturday 31/12: Arrive Paris 7
a.m.. Back to winter!
Go to
Senegal 2005 pictures from others
page
Return to main Senegal page
Or go
to data for the index to Lenn*n
entries.
Alternatively, go to my
railwayana.com pages
for Irish railway data
Or even, go to my railwayana auction
price pages
