Where are we today? Banjul, the Gambia

-
This morning, the air in Banjul and over the water was so smoky that you couldn’t see the horizon. Unfortunately, the residents of the city suffer health problems from the .poor air quality. The view from our balcony of three black ships against the pale gray of the smog and sea was dramatic.

Dave and I and friends from the boat took a shuttle to the sprawling Albert Market section of town. 






This is Alisha, who operates a booth. 
The stalls down this alley were devoted to food.  We had to turn back, as the odors of fish and other items sitting in heat, combined with the smoky air, made it hard for a couple of people to breathe.

This woman sold fabric, among other things. 

Even after having been to the market, I am not sure how it lays out.  The center seems to be a large colonial building and a main thoroughfare lined with local shops. These are not upscale outfits, but are specialized stores selling the necessities of life, such as appliances or clothing. 

Our driver took us further into the market to a network of dirt alleys and brick passages with stalls. Some stalls there offer mounds and mounds of faded, used clothing that has somehow ended up in The Gambia. Others sell used junk. Others sell crafts, handmade jewelry, colorful clothing, and fabrics. Of course, there are lots of booths for produce and fish.

 The Albert Market is a melange of sights and smells. It is moments of beauty amidst heartbreaking poverty. (A 2015 survey revealed that nearly fifty per cent of Gambians in urban areas and 70 per cent in rural areas live below the poverty line.) 

Tonight, we leave the continent and sail west to Cape Verde. 

Love to all! 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where are we today? Nashville!

-
We leave in three weeks and three days! We are getting our first taste of adventure in that we are hanging loose with our itinerary.  As it stands now, we are scheduled to cruise all the way down the Amazon to Manaus and back again.  Of course, there is a massive drought going on there, and the river is at its lowest point in over 100 years.  A ship our cruise vessel's size and make had to turn back from its leg in the Amazon in December. The rainy season is coming soon, but likely won't raise the water level much before we get there.  If we can't do the Amazon, we will go somewhere else, but I feel for the people who make their livelihoods from the river and the rain forests. Also due to low water levels, the Panama Canal authorities are limiting the number of ships that can be on the canal at one time.  So, the line to enter and pass through the locks is longer than normal. The other sketchy stretch includes ports in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, around Yemen , the Gulf
Read more

Where are we today? Leaving Ft. Lauderdale on the open sea

-
Image
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. People protect what they love.” Jacques Cousteau as quoted in Blue Mind by Wallace Nichols After a full day of embarking, getting to know the boat, making friends, dining, wondering about all of the different and interesting people on board from really young to aged, and unpacking (and unpacking and unpacking), we are at sea! It will take three nights and days to reach our first stop — Tobago. 
Read more

Where are we today? Ft. Lauderdale

-
Image
We step on the boat tomorrow! It’s been a full day of travel. In true Nashville airport fashion, our breakfast was accompanied by a country blues singer.  I got to meet some fun people waiting for the plane, and I enjoyed hearing one woman’s story and her views of what is happening on the world. Our departure time was in constant flux, but we ended up leaving only 45 minutes late.  We arrived in time for a beautiful sunset. We attended a dinner with all the folks who booked the world cruise through our travel agent. Now, we are yawning. 
Read more