My first time in Africa. The Gambia is a finger shaped country-formerly British, which is 60 miles wide and 350 miles long. It is bisected by the wide Gambia River which is their life force. The 1 million people have no natural resources, are the 4th poorest nation in the world. Although English is the national language, they speak to each other in one of 8 tribal dialects primarily Wollof and Mandika. We learned "Wow" is "yes" and "didit" is no. We were also warned not to say "can I take your photo". Why? Because "photo" means a man´s private parts! That said you still have to ask because they do believe in animus and feel you are stealing their souls with each "photo".
The women wear gorgeous full length "boubous" with a matching headdress. They carry their babies wrapped to their back and carry whatever they need on their heads. The men wear either trousers with a colorful tunic or a full length tunic and a fez. The children wear similar things except for the kids we saw in uniforms.
We took a tour with about 20 other passengers on a converted open air army truck. Our guide was Abdullah and we had 2 guards for the 14 on our truck. Gambia is desperately poor and though not violent, the children and some men will crowd right into you in a swarm. It was a little uncomfortable until I learned not to be so polite and just said no or didit loudly or "don,t touch me". We rode along the coast- only 3-4 hotels, none higher than2-3 stories- to a fishing village. There were hundreds of people there involved in emptying 25 foot long open air boats of their catches- barracudas, snapper, etc. The boys swim out beyond the waves and carry back baskets of fish on their heads. The crowd parts as they run up to the scales. The fish are then sold. The small ones dried and salted in large barns heated by the wood gathered outside. This is the country's primary business besides peanuts.
There were so many children today because the Gambian president and that of Sierra Leone were due to pass by on the road and they were duty bound to line the way with flags and cheers. We missed them by a few minutes. The rode we drove on for 40 miles is the only paved road in the country. We shared it with donkey carts and goats and not too much else. Only 2 to 3 traffic lights in the Gambia.
Following the fishing village we went off road to Lamin Lodge. This entailed a bumpy dirty road occasionally with branches so low the fruit dropped into our laps. I got a lime , Klaus next to me got a mango! Bert just came in. I am posting this from Tenerife in the Canaries and we are due back at the ship. Will finish the story next time I can find an internet. Love to read your comments, makes me a little homesick, Love to everyone!
1 comment:
If only 20 went on the tour what did the rest of the ship do? It sounds like a great trip. Those are places I wouldlove to see. I canhear the Samba music in my head. How was the African Music? I download a lot of it but would love to hear what they really listen to. Probably Madonna.
Spring has finally arrived here. It is 70 and sunny today and I do not really have to work. There is a ton I should do, but I think I'll take an actual day off for once. I have that memorial in Charlestown on Saturday and three of my friends are going with me afterwards to take Dad to Friendly's. They are all photographers (Donna and Asia were at my XMAS party) and want photograph Dad. As far as I know nobody has gone to see him. Not as of last Wednesday anyhow.
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