A Victoria Falls Christmas (Part Deux)

A Christmas in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, at the height of rainy season is quite lovely!

There was soooooo much water and mist, it was insane! I was drenched through my poncho!

So different than during the dry season.

And what says Christmas day more than Zimbabwean youth posing like Usain Bolt.

(Seriously, it's apparently the thing to do, pose like Bolt. 

Everyone was doing it. Literally. To the point of absurdity.)

Isn't a Christmas Day wonder of the world just beautiful?

A Christmas day afternoon tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Too bad this didn't come out better (the joys of a waterproof point and shoot camera!) but isn't it adorable?

Santa made a visit, Zim style, on Christmas morning!

And what can be a better sign of Christmas traffic than a Zim hanging out the front door of a bus

while going circa 100 kilometers/hour?!

And, this, this, this may be my favorite photo I've taken in Africa. EVER.

It captures so much of traveling on the continent: an old truck; an old truck overflowing with random stuff;

an old truck overflowing with random stuff with people popping out of every nook and cranny;

and the cherry on top: the people fast asleep at 120 km/hour.

And scene.

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A Victoria Falls Christmas

Lucky me: I got to spend Christmas near one of the seven natural wonders of the world: Victoria Falls!

And Christmas Eve rang in this stunning sunset (I may have a thing for sunsets...)

A glass of Bordeaux and this view from the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge = an excellent evening.

Victoria Falls, as seen from the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Check out how different this looks than when I visited it in the dry season.

So much more water this time!

Was so excited to see Christmas decorations up at all the lodges.

Very different than my Christmas in Dakar!

Amazing how much more water there is the rainy season (more rainy season photos to come!)

Merry (late!) Christmas!!

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Tumi & the Volume

Tumi and the Volume perform at the 2012 Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA)

in Harare Gardens, Harare, Zimbabwe.

The band comes from South Africa.

Check out one of their songs (and how Harare goes crazy at the shout out to Zimbabwe):

This guy announced every main stage concert.  Apparently he's been doing it forever. I kind of just wanted to find out how much that hat weighed...

And since I am obsessed with Christmas lights, I couldn't help but take this photo of one of the HIFA tents.

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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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Babacar's Recycled Art -- Tin Can Style!

Recycled Art: Tin can art by Babacar and his brothers


Even the trucks are loaded up ridiculously high--just like the actual ones on the road
that I find myself saying a prayer every time I pass that they won't topple over on me


Amazingly creative, isn't it?  Especially when you realize that it was once soda cans


I admit: I have a fanta, coca-cola, and a tomato can tray


recycling at its finest: nothing is wasted
that kettle on the floor can be found in every Senegalese household


Santa Claus!  Behind him is a sous-verre painting
(Or Senegalese glass painting)


Babacar came from Mali and opened up a little studio near Soumbédioune
He's been so successful supplying boutiques around Dakar that
he's just opened up this little shop next door
I suspect my patronage over the years has played a part :)


car rapides, VW Beetles, scooters, planes!

15 December 2013 update:
I've just learned that Babacar has his own website showcasing his lovely art.
Check it out here!
It even has photos of his new studio, completed just prior to my departure from Dakar.
(Thanks, Matthias, for letting me know!)

18 July 2012 update:
Babacar's been featured on a segment by the BBC!
So excited that this hidden gem of Dakar is getting his due--
Check his interview out here.

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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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