…and a place worth to go!
I finish this article some good 3 months after the visit!
I could have just posted a few lines and pictures as I usually did so far but I had a feeling I should do a bit more than “there I was, this I saw, that I did, etc.”
That wasn’t my first steps into Africa, not even into sub-Saharan Africa, but this is the first time that “open my eyes” on Africa, without preconception or prejudice.
Back in 1991, I spent a few days in Central African Republic, of which, I keep a “mitigated” memory and during the same year also a few weeks in Gambia. There was an easy-going attitude in Gambia and the stay was quite pleasant but in C.A.R. I felt more “tension,” especially toward France for having, first, colonized the place and then… decolonized it! What I disliked probably the most was the “post-colonials” attitude of some of the people who obviously would have a hard time to fit in today’s France and who clung to their “African” life routine with bitter comments on what it had become.
(Click on the pictures to enlarge)
A street “down town”
To have a good feeling about a country the capital is not always the best place to start but Dakar was a rather pleasant discovery. Colonization and decolonization have happened here too, but everyone “moved on!” Senegal is developing. Obviously development is not equally shared, some are terribly poor, but people have a positive attitude and are generally very nice.
A man crossing a street in Ties, 60 km from Dakar—"Horse power" in the town of Tivouane some 30 km further
Free advertising section!
“Taxi Sister” is a company sponsored by the “Ministry for Women, Family and Family Businesses.” Some 10 cars, all driven by women for the same price as a normal taxi fare in town. Other destination price can be negotiated, tipping is welcomed (and deserved.) The little car cannot take a lot of luggage but these are clean, reliable and with aircon. The drivers get an amused cooperation from the “male” taxi men and even from the police force. Taxi Sister are easy to find, since there are the only taxi allowed to park inside the main hotels. The taxi service has yet to get a central phone number for reservation but their most senior driver, Aïcha, can be contacted on a mobile phone if you need a pick-up service from the airport.
The Island of Goree is really interesting. The museum in the old fort makes a clear and fair description of slave trade history. The displays points out that the trade involved both whites and blacks as perpetrator, it gives an expensive description about the fate of millions of victims and a detailed history of the long process of abolition. Goree itself played a marginal role in the trade but the island serves well the memory of the tragedy.
The island has no cars, lives only from tourism, is has several place to eat and is a good place to relax.
I finish this article some good 3 months after the visit!
I could have just posted a few lines and pictures as I usually did so far but I had a feeling I should do a bit more than “there I was, this I saw, that I did, etc.”
That wasn’t my first steps into Africa, not even into sub-Saharan Africa, but this is the first time that “open my eyes” on Africa, without preconception or prejudice.
Back in 1991, I spent a few days in Central African Republic, of which, I keep a “mitigated” memory and during the same year also a few weeks in Gambia. There was an easy-going attitude in Gambia and the stay was quite pleasant but in C.A.R. I felt more “tension,” especially toward France for having, first, colonized the place and then… decolonized it! What I disliked probably the most was the “post-colonials” attitude of some of the people who obviously would have a hard time to fit in today’s France and who clung to their “African” life routine with bitter comments on what it had become.
(Click on the pictures to enlarge)
A street “down town”
To have a good feeling about a country the capital is not always the best place to start but Dakar was a rather pleasant discovery. Colonization and decolonization have happened here too, but everyone “moved on!” Senegal is developing. Obviously development is not equally shared, some are terribly poor, but people have a positive attitude and are generally very nice.A man crossing a street in Ties, 60 km from Dakar—"Horse power" in the town of Tivouane some 30 km further
Free advertising section!“Taxi Sister” is a company sponsored by the “Ministry for Women, Family and Family Businesses.” Some 10 cars, all driven by women for the same price as a normal taxi fare in town. Other destination price can be negotiated, tipping is welcomed (and deserved.) The little car cannot take a lot of luggage but these are clean, reliable and with aircon. The drivers get an amused cooperation from the “male” taxi men and even from the police force. Taxi Sister are easy to find, since there are the only taxi allowed to park inside the main hotels. The taxi service has yet to get a central phone number for reservation but their most senior driver, Aïcha, can be contacted on a mobile phone if you need a pick-up service from the airport.
The Island of Goree is really interesting. The museum in the old fort makes a clear and fair description of slave trade history. The displays points out that the trade involved both whites and blacks as perpetrator, it gives an expensive description about the fate of millions of victims and a detailed history of the long process of abolition. Goree itself played a marginal role in the trade but the island serves well the memory of the tragedy.The island has no cars, lives only from tourism, is has several place to eat and is a good place to relax.
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