Christmas in Dakar

 Inside the Christmas Tree on the Place de l'Independence -- Dakar, Senegal

[sponsored by Orange for the World Festival of Black Arts AKA

le Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres]

 The tree on the Place de l'Independence -- Plateau

 Christmas Tree street vendor -- Plateau, Dakar, Senegal

 The Tree!

 The Place de l'Independence decorated

 Avenue du Président Léopold Sédar Senghor -- Plateau, Dakar

 Place de l'Independence

Rue de la République -- Plateau, Dakar

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Ndary Lo's Studio

Men reaching for heaven by Ndary Lo -- Ndary Lo's Studio, Rufiqsue, Senegal

Ndary Lo as seen from his studio's courtyard

 Different pieces of art in Ndary Lo's studio

 this head was made of wood..it was so amazing

Man reaching for heaven by Ndary Lo

The sandals were worn by his father on his pilgrimage to Mecca

and are the focal point of his studio

More information on the fabulous Ndary Lo

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Mermoz and Ouakam

 spiders at the lighthouse in Mermoz, Dakar, Senegal

sunset at the light house, Mermoz

the view of downtown Dakar from the lighthouse, Mermoz

 flowers at the Mosque by the Sea (La Mosquée de la Divinité), Ouakam, Dakar, Senegal

 downtown from the Mosque by the Sea, Ouakam

flowers at the Mosque by the Sea, Ouakam

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An Amazing Sunset

 the most amazing sunset I've seen -- from the middle of Lac Rose, Senegal

 Lac Rose

 a pirogue and salt -- Lac Rose

 the dunes at Lac Rose

 

salt collection on Lac Rose

a restaurant on Lac Rose

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A Lac Rose Excursion

 Dusk falling on a pirogue on Lack Rose -- Senegal

 Mauritanian style tent -- the abode for the night -- Lac Rose, Senegal

 Dusk falling -- Lac Rose

the first hints of what turned into a spectacular sunset on Lac Rose

 

the Atlantic Ocean -- Lac Rose

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Keur Moussa Monastery

 Keur Moussa Benedictine Monastery, near Lac Rose on the road to Kayar, Senegal

The monastery is famous for its Gregorian-style chants in Latin, French, and Wolof

 Keur Moussa, after the Sunday Mass and chant

 The stunning ceiling and alter at Keur Moussa

 The cementary for the brothers, next to the monastery

 

beautiful!

One of the few places I have seen in Senegal (advertisements included) 

depicting Africans and not individuals of African ethnicity with lighter skin

What do the brothers sound like?

Keur Moussa's site

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Alpha Dio's Studio

 The outside of Alpha Dio's studio, covered in his stunning mosaics and paintings

Senegal

 A painting in progress -- Alpha Dio's studio

 The studio was like an explosion of color in the middle of nowhere, Senegal

The entrance to Alpha Dio's studio

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The Doors of Ngor Island

The entrance to a house on Ngor Island, Dakar, Senegal

 The house beside Chez Carla, Ngor Island

 Ngor Island

 Ngor Island

Ngor Island

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Tabaski (non)Traffic

Normally, Dakar's traffic is horrendous.  

Bumper to bumper, no hope in sight, crazy dodging animals, 

swerve around broken taxis, driving up curbs,

say a prayer that the men crossing the street aren't in some real life game of Frogger.

Then Tabaski happens.  And Dakar becomes a ghost town. Take a look:

 Plateau : Rue Jules Ferry

 La Corniche, near Université Cheikh Anta Diop

 Leaving Les Alamedies

 Lighthouse Road, Marmelles

 Ouakem Road

La Corniche

What is Tabaski?

 (AKA Eid al-Adha AKA Greater Eid AKA Feast of Sacrifice)

Insight into Senegalese culture (worth the read):   
In Senegal, a Sheep is a Man's Best Friend

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