Dakar During the Day

After a few hours of sleep, we got up around 11am.  Our hotel (Hotel Farid) has a Lebanese restaurant in it (actually across the street currently due to construction), we are too late for breakfast today, but just in time for lunch.  Great lunch - chicken skewers. 

Our only adventure for the day will be to Isle de Goree, the island where they shipped slaves off to Europe and the US.  It is about a 10 minute walk from our hotel, we know the general direction. 

We get to the general area of the docks and ask a security guard where it is.  Actually Kim asks him in French where the boat is.  He looks at her and smirks - you mean where do you board the ferry? (in French)  Kim didn't know what the word for ferry was so she learned a new word and we where on our way!

Get to the ferry terminal and pay.  Then a nice local comes by to offer his services as a guide.  We have an hour to kill at the terminal and don't really want to listen to someone that whole time.  So we sit and wait.  It is about 30C here, so sitting out of the sun is a must. 

On the ferry ride, the same guy comes over to us, do you want a guide now?  No we say.  He says ok, but you'll end up getting one.

We get off the ferry after the short 20 minute ride to more offers to guide us.  We start to walk around and one of the guides finally convinces us.  He says he lives on the island and he can do this or live on the street - good point.  So he tours us around the island with us "tipping" him at the end.

We see several of the forts that were built on the island over the years by the various occupiers (Dutch, French and English).  We visit the Slave House which is where the slaves were housed before they were sent off (for Amazing Race fans, this was in one of the episodes). 

Then we head back to the mainland.  We head back to our hotel, coming across a young man who starts complimenting me on my shoes.  Then walking along with us, he compliments be on my nice pants.  Then there are a few more guys in close and my friend grabs at my pant leg.  And I mean grabbing the fabric in his hand like he is going to pull off my pants!  Kim and I both go to smack his hand away and the immediately cross the street.  Do a little reconciliation of the pocket contents - everything is there.  Got the heart racing though!  Don't know if this aggressive local was doing that to get a kick out of tourists or he was trying to pick our pockets - he was successful on the former and unsuccessful on the later!  He also didn't follow us or anything when we crossed the road.  Perhaps with our hyper sensitive awareness to potential pick pockets, we did the right thing and thwarted his attempt!

Back at the hotel we called the man from SEM (the micro banking organization) and set up a time to meet on Saturday.  We are very excited to chat with him about his views of Senegal and what works in aid and what doesn't.

For dinner we went to a Lonely Planet top recommended restaurant which was at the end of our block.  Tried some Senegalese specialties, Kim had rice with fish and vegetables and I had meat, vegetables and cous cous.  Both very good - all for C$20.

Then we attempted to contact the airport.  Finally got through and they said try tomorrow since there is only one flight per day, it wouldn't be in yet.  Hopefully tomorrow we can track it down!

The time change has my sleep screwed up, after 2 hours of sleeping it is now just after midnight and I am wide awake!  Good time to post!

gm