A Dakarois Smorgasbord

When I think of Senegal outside of Dakar, this is the image in my mind.

Car rapides in Les Almadies, Dakar, Senegal

A car rapide in traffick in Ouakam, Dakar, Senegal

The Grand Mosque of Dakar

Mosque by the Sea's beach where fishermen launch each morning

Les Almadies

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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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Take my Breath Away

Sunset along the Corniche -- Dakar, Senegal

Sunset near the Mosque by the Sea in Dakar

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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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A Mosque and a Hovering Monument

The beach at the Mosque by the Sea [La Mosquée de la Divinité]

Ouakam, Dakar, Senegal

 A sheep (mouton!) at the mosque

 Mosque by the Sea and the African Renaissance Monument

 a home along the Corniche, Dakar, Senegal

another view of the mosque's beach

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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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The Launch of the Mame Diara!!

The Mame Diara pirogue, safely returned from her maiden voyage

The pirogue, returning from her maiden voyage

The Mame Diara returns!

The local hang out, waiting for the pirogue to return

The Mame Diara in all her beauty...

Who is Mame Diara in Senegalese culture?

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African Chandelier (An Ode to AWS)

The chandelier at La Calabasse -- Dakar, Senegal

Mosque by the Sea in Dakar, Senegal

The Corniche with the Atlantic Ocean -- Dakar, Senegal

The road to the light house -- Dakar, Senegal

The chandelier at La Calabasse -- Dakar, Senegal

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Wandering the Corniche

The Mosque by the Sea and the African Renaissance Monument -- Dakar, Senegal

A flower in Saly, Senegal

The African Renaissance Monument -- Dakar, Senegal

The monument's design is supposed to be coming out of a volcano...

so I guess this is the woman's foot and the volcano...

The lighthouse from the monument -- Dakar, Senegal

The palm trees lining the Corniche -- Dakar, Senegal

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