Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

A flight approaches Dakar, Senegal, over the Atlantic Ocean

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Life in Les Almadies

A man cleans himself at a construction site in the Les Almadies neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal.

A woman transports food in Les Almadies.

There is great wealth and great poverty in Dakar, and often they are right beside each other, particularly in housing.
 Often wealthier individuals build walled compounds and soon make shift abodes are built using part of the wall.

A man looks out on morning traffic on the Corniche.

The VDN in Dakar.

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Odds and Ends in Dakar's Plateau

A barbershop in the Plateau neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal

Three boys walk near the train station in Dakar, about to link arms.

Construction near the Malian market in Dakar. The market used to be outside in this area

but was moved inside for this construction to build a road to the Chinese-built National Theater.

I always thought the train that never moved from Soumbédioune and was about 20 years past its prime was random, but

when I realized there are TWO mini-tourist trains in Dakar, one that actually takes people out on tours, it totally made my day.

Here's another Dakar oddity: A traffic light at Carnot and Place de l'Independence. 

 Never saw it used once in two years. In fact, it took me a year to notice it was there...

Lights have gone up downtown but I've never once seen a working traffic light.

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Passing Through Rufisque

Traffic in Rufisque, Senegal. Rufisque has the only real road off the Cap-Vert peninsula where Dakar is located.

No traffic: the trip is 15 minutes through Rufisque. Traffic? Well, anywhere from an hour to four.

Two boys walk through Rufisque.

Rufisque

Hanging out in Rufisque.

A clothing and fabric vender in Rufisque. Notice the large speakers? They play Koranic verses.

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Birds & Volcanic Rocks & the Atlantic Ocean

Birds on the volcanic rocks surrounding the îles de la Madeleine, off the coast of Dakar, Senegal

Volcanic rock formations, weathered flat by the Atlantic Ocean in one of the bays of the larger island

Hello, birds!

I really liked the wings on the birds on the left rock.

The bay's beach.

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The Signs of Senegal

Parking exit sign on the Place de l'Independence, Dakar, Senegal.

The decorations are from Christmas and the World Festival of Black Arts AKA le Festival Mondial des Arts Negres

Children crossing sign in Saint-Louis, Senegal.

A sign in Fadiouth, Senegal forbidding non-authorized vehicles. Strange logic: It was a tiny, sea-shelled path with barely enough room to walk. 

To the left is a pedestrian bridge. I was standing on a pedestrian path when I took the photo. What vehicles?

One of my favorite signs. Ever. Possibly in the history of ever. Who knew an Assembly Point sign could be so intense?

A Senegalese driver told my non-Senegalese friend that this sign meant that it's a dry area so you shouldn't light a match. Because that's a match not an exclamation point (aka caution!). Seriously. And you wonder why West African drivers aren't the best...

Corniche, Dakar, Senegal

Les Almadies area of Dakar.  It reminds me of Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Why?  Because of this famous image from the delightful book.

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A Baobab on an Island

The lagoon of the îles de la Madeleine, off the coast of Dakar, Senegal

The islands are home to many birds. In fact, the smaller island has a strong white coloring to its volcanic rocks due to the birds answering nature's call.

This stunning baobab tree dominates the center of the island.

The center of the island, with its green and flowing, tall grass did call to mind dry, sandy, and dusty West Africa.

Two Senegalese pirogue drivers watch ex-pat sun bathers at the lagoon.

The water is deep enough in the lagoon for snorkeling.

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îles de la Madeleine

The entryway to the îles de la Madeleine, two small islands off the coast of Dakar, Senegal

There are several ship wrecks off the coast of Dakar..I suspect this is the remnants of one on the volcanic rocks on the islands of Madeleine

The only way to the island is via these small pirogues. The islands are uninhabited and nominated to the UNESCO world heritage list.  

Senegal already has the following places on the world heritage list:

-- Goree Island

-- Niokolo-Koba National Park -- UNESCO's description here

-- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary -- UNESCO's description here

-- Saint-Louis

-- Stone circles of Senegambia -- UNESCO's description here

-- Saloum Delta

The bright greenery on the island is such a welcome change from Dakar's dust.

Another angle of the entry way into the island's lagoon.

The islands are four kilometers off Dakar's coast. Here's a view of the Plateau neighborhood of downtown Dakar.

Another view of Dakar from the islands.

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Strolling Through Downtown

The Plateau neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal

The building with the beautiful windows is actually a mosque

A shirt vendor in the Plateau

I really liked the random Zorro van

A jacket vendor near the Place de l'Independence

A football jersey vendor

For some reason this shop makes me smile each time I pass it. Maybe because of the fantastic memories I have of Montana

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