They Call it Stormy Monday

An ominous storm approaching the Les Almadies neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal, during the rainy season

[That's the Monument to the African Renaissance in the background]

The same storm's approach creates a stunning sky line near the Mosque by the Sea

Sorry, one photo of the awesome cloud just wasn't enough!

Then the heavens open up, flooding Dakar. If you're lucky, your car dies in an area like this that isn't thigh deep in water
so when you pop it in neutral to force it to start, you don't end up swimming instead of pushing the car...

The rainy season creates massive flooding. This street is lucky and would be considered minimal flooding.

Then suddenly, as quickly as the storm comes, it leaves rapidly with an amazingly blue sky in its wake

The Grand Mosque in Dakar

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Obama Mania!

Since Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, images of him have appeared on everything imaginable in Senegal.  

Some renditions are better than others. Here's a few examples.  

Some are like this: a not so accurate rendering on the side of a dump truck. 

Bet when he was elected for President, Obama had no idea he'd be enshrined on the side of a dump truck in West Africa.

Or blazed across a duffle bag en route to a Tidjane Muslim Brotherhood celebration in Les Almadies, Dakar, Senegal

Or looking somewhat like a weather man on the side of a golf umbrella

Or a "Yes We Can!" school note book...

And my favorite at the best ice cream shop in Dakar: N'ice Cream's Obama flavor.  Hands down the shop's best flavor.  What is it you ask?  It's a milk chocolate with small vanilla crackers covered in a thin fudge layer.  It is fantastic, amazing, worth trips to the Plateau area just to have a scoop.  But..somehow I suspect that ice cream shops in the United States couldn't get away with the flavor with all of the U.S.'s PC paranoia...

Other things Obama's been seen on: duck taped wallets, underwear, stickers, lots of t-shirts, belts, paintings...the list could go on...

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Take my Breath Away

Sunset along the Corniche -- Dakar, Senegal

Sunset near the Mosque by the Sea in Dakar

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Wandering Around in Les Almadies

A boy walks through Les Almadies, Dakar, Senegal

Hello, Les Almadies goat!

Massage by the Atlantic anyone?

Near Chez Fatou

I love the peacocks wandering around Ngor Tapas

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Lights, Camera...Action?

Who knew there was an active film scene in Dakar? I didn't...

Place de l'Independence, Dakar, Senegal

Waiting for the bus on Place de l'Independence

Shooting the breeze on the Place

Some of the necklaces for sale in Dakar

These necklaces are actually made from coconuts!

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A Gas Station on the Beach?

Senegal is always full of unexpected things in random places, like this gas station in Soumbédioune, Dakar, Senegal

Goats escaping the summer's heat under pirogues in Soumbédioune

The launching area for the fishing pirogues.  I found this really cool visual of the Bay of Soumbédioune. 

Most of these photos are taken from the northwestern beach of the bay

Children on the beach

Pirogues

Something about this payphone amused me endlessly. (Who uses payphones anymore? And even if you wanted to, there's not even a phone!)

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Another Side of Dakar

Someone told me that my lense only shows a certain slice of Dakar, Senegal.

They are right. I take photos of what captures my interest, what I look at and immediately want to immortalize.

Like this beautiful spot off the coast of Dakar in Les Almadies

But that someone was right. There's an entire other side of Dakar, filled with poverty that is unimaginable, trash that is unavoidable,

and infrastructure that is nonexistent--where you have beautiful mansions in Les Almadies (the "ritzy" part of Dakar) 

right next to lots like this where trash is burned, stray dogs huddle, and children play with refuse.

And you see lots like this and are impressed by how clean it is and then wonder how long before a squatter builds a cardboard house like this one

I find myself standing next to (or often in) trash all the time.   Like this trash at the light house in Dakar. 

I'd rather remember the light house like this and show the world Senegal's beauty then focus on where Senegal might be lagging

I'll stand here but I'd rather take this photo at the Mosque by the Sea than this one of trash

So yes, I may provide a specific slice of life in Dakar, but I think the world hasn't seen enough of the beauty Senegal has to offer. 

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Arms Linked in Soumbédioune

One of my favorite things about Senegalese culture? Friends of all ages often link arms when walking together.

Near Soumbédioune, Dakar, Senegal

A monument at Soumbédioune. We couldn't figure out what it was a monument for. Maybe something military related?

Artwork in Soumbédioune

Pirogues at Soumbédioune

Pirogues under construction, well used, and discarded at Soumbédioune

I found this guy so interesting. Here's a better view of him.

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