I am in AFricKa :)!

My first full day of this 2 month sojourn is officially complete!  And, geez, did it beat expectations!

Few Senegal Fun Facts:
Languages Spoken:  Wolof, French and not enough English 🙂 (oh wow am I having to learn French phrases fast!)
Population in Dakar:  5 million souls
Population in Senegal: 14 Million
Independance Earned in 1960. It is a Republic with a President that is elected every 5 years.
Religion: 90% Muslim, 10% Christian and less than 1% practice animism

My flight landed in Dakar at 4:15am local time.  The business class seat I was assigned actually allowed for some restful sleep and some darn good airplane food (AND when did flight attendants start having passengers actually taste the wine before pouring a full glass???  Not expecting that, I initially thought she didn’t think I looked very thirsty!) so I was wide eyed when the doors were opened. Senegal welcomed me with a rush of hot, humid heat that confirmed I had just landed 6151 miles away from home.  The intense blast reminded me of the sauna in the thermal spa I became a regular at during my parents’ and my cruise to Alaska just a few weeks back.  I would visit it to open my pores before going to relax and read on the heated, ceramic recliners.  Needless to say my pores have been WIDE OPEN ever since I landed here.  Senegal is in its rainy season so although the rain falls in the afternoon and cools everything off, when the sun comes out it basically becomes a steam bath.

After being scolded by a customs officer in a language I didn’t understand for something I wasn’t clear about, I collected my bags to go find my ride to the hotel.  I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw my maiden name on a placard held by a young Senegalese man.  He pointed the path I was to follow in order to get to him behind a wall of baracades.  Seemed easy enough…ah, but once on the path I was overwhelmed by men coming at me in every which direction trying to have me take their taxi, sell me a SIM card, change hotels last minute cuz theirs would be better, etc, etc.  I thought it would cease once I reached my ride…but silly me.  It wasn’t until I was in the car and being driven away that it became quiet…not only cuz the solicitations from the men were over and now directed at other departing tourists, but because my driver didn’t speak English and, well, I don’t speak French.  The silence allowed me to take in all I could of the streets of Dakar as we winded our way to the hotel.  I think we only were on a paved road once 🙂 and some of the potholes we dodged were actually the size of small lakes in Minnesota.  I marveled that although it was 6am, the streets were packed as young people poured out of the clubs and discoteques…..my driver was even solicited by more than one “lady of the night” on our journey to Hotel du Phare.  Thankfully their come hither hissings did not distract him from his task on hand.

Below Photo: My hotel room when I entered it this morning!  Perfect!  I slept blissfully on the big bed (I had 3 to chose from) until noon…only complaint is that the pillows don’t have enough fluff!

My afternoon adventure: Tour of Dakar by motorscooter! BUT don’t tell my parents that I was helmetless on the back of a motorscooter being driven by a 16 year old as his mom, on a seperate scooter, guided us around the coastal city….in the rain!  🙂  At one point I was so drenched it looked like I had just stepped out of the shower with my clothes on!  The below pictures may help give a better perspective of what I saw and experienced today.  Jonathan and Sineta were so incredible.  Sineta is an expat from Florida and Jonathan is her son…I heard such things as “Let’s Bounce” from Sineta when it was time for us to explore a different sight…not exactly Wolof, but at least I could understand (for once!).

Jonathan and Jen

Pirogues – boats used by the fisherman.

They take these little guys out for up to 7 days at a time!

Me with thee Dakar coastline and the Mosque du Divinite in the background.  This mosque is also know as the fisherman’s mosque because right below it is where all those pirogues and their fishermen set sail to go fish.

Sineta getting some of my US$ converted to CFAs (pronounced “cefas”) on the “black market.” Since I have never been a big fan of bank fees this seemed like a great alternative….plus a great rate!

No time to stop and buy fruit, but these lovely fresh fruit stalls can be found on many corners.

The robe the men wear is called “dou dou” (pronounced “doo doo”….seriously).

More street scenes from today…and no, I didn’t drink coconut juice.

We survived!

My first dinner in Africa.  The curry chicken on that plate was INCREDIBLE! The restaurant served only traditional west african fare.  Wine was pretty darn good too…just sucked that they wouldn’t take my Visa :(.

Jet lag is setting in a bit and I must rest for another sensory filled day tomorrow.  I couldn’t be more satisfied with today’s experiences.  Tomorrow I will travel to the island of Goree. I also plan on mustering the courage to use some of the French phrases I tried to burn into my brain today.

Oh, one last note before sign-off, the electricity here in Dakar seems to come and goes as it pleases.  Surprisingly enough it is a quirk that I am enjoying immensely.  I was delighted tonight with a light knock on my door by Fatima, one of the hotel workers who is usually laughing or frustrated at my French,  who handed me a soft burning candle to read by.  My meal experience this evening was also heightened when the lights at the restaurant went out. I was surrounded by darkness but for one dancing flame on the table and that is what I finished my meal by.  It was quite magical especially since I was the only one in the restaurant.

More magic tomorrow…. 🙂