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| Our route |
The 1 January we landed early morning in Dakar at the new airport Blaise Diagne International Airport. It was very nice building, not so tight as the old one in Dakar.
Our taxi hotel sent to pick up us there was a little delayed, but that was no surprise. I booked the hotel as near as possible but anyway it took about half hour especially because after paved road it became be only piste so it was not possible to drive faster of course.
Hotel was new, not big at all with a couple of rooms only so it was nice, located in Guereo. I not like big hotels. It was nice view over the beach and the sea.
It was nice driving, I like to drive so I enjoyed it. It was around 120 km along the coast and we arrived to Djiffer afternoon. It took a little time before I found the hotel, due our lack of French it was not so easy to ask, but at finish we were lucky and one old man he could speak English a little, strange. But he told that he was living before in England so he learnt there a little. But now he is back home and is happier than there in England where he stayed a couple of years only. Were missing home so as soon as it was possible he moved back.
One big ship was there, I think they repaired it
On the way back we found many sea-mew and one and other pelican relaxing on one small island.
Before we arrived to Gambia we stayed one night near the border, out of Nioro du Rip, it was so nice part there. I could think to stay there a couple of days and do some safari there. Wonderful nature there, near Senegambian stone circles, but unfortunately we had no time to go and see. Next time I will plan something there.
And of course it was going really smooth and it could be much better if there after the bridge were not a police which harassed me, lying that I not stopped when I should stop.
I tried to explain him that there were never any police sign, no police either. But the policeman insisted and wanted take my driving license which I denied of course so he said to me to drive back to the police and pay a fine to him. I did it, but was really angry, it almost cooked in me.
After crossing the border to Senegal or rather now to Casamance, it felt so free, incredible. I don't like the Gambia and the police there. Every time there is a problem with them. If they don't bother me, they want get at least one pen or something to give them. But I never give them something in any case. Oh.
So we arrived in Abene and stayed there and rested, especially my friend who was a little tired after all the rides. But every day I still took him on an excursion around, to the harbor and fishing village there, or to the lagoon.
Another day we went to Ziguinchor just like that, I wanted to go to the border there with Guinea Bissau and take some information about, in case we would next take "a turn" there, I am pretty much craving for several years now, but so far it was not done.
It was nice landscape,
with more tight forest and even the road. I arrived until the border but there I wanted not take pictures due police there. It was one little chaotic village Mpak, but clean on some way.
More we didn't there, relax and I was going to the beach but not swimming, wave did not possible to swim, but it was nice there looking over the sea. Not so much life were there, I mean not much people, as usual actually. That I like, not to be and crowd me among many people.
Then came the day we must go back. I chose the same road across the Senegambia bridge, but decided to cross the border in Seleti and drive on the South road in Gambia to Soma. It was a good decision, the road was good, initially not so empty but later free and no police. Here and there any check point but not bothered police in any case. ☺
But before to go back home we stayed 4 nights in Popenguine in one wonderful place on the beach. The hotel was very small and nice, just a few meter from the sea. We had a room with wonderfull view there, I said then that there could not be a better ending to our journey than this. But then I did not know what was waiting for us last night before we would fly home.
Every morning came two women with full baskets of clothes, shawls, necklaces, etc. came to this little booth, and hang all clothes and other things neat and tidy on the ground under the roof there. Unfortunately, there were not many tourists who bought something. Neither do I though I saw where a dress I liked. However, it was not long and I wanted a long dress, so I not bought nothing.
And every night these two women gathered all together and laid in baskets and went home. To come next morning again and ...
It was the last day when we would leave the car and go to our last stopover I have found near the airport, in Sindia it was.
It was a really pleasant surprise. Even though I knew it would be just a bungalow and thought it was nothing further, but it also fit well in terms of price as we would stay there just a few hours before we were going to the airport. Our flight went at 2.00AM, but instead of sitting all night at the airport, especially when my friend can't walk that much, I thought it would be OK.
But it turned out that it was more OK than I thought.
It was a very special place and I liked both the place and our hosts too a lot. It was located in the baobab area outside Sindia, on Accès Accro-Baobab.
The hosts were very nice people and had a little 3 year old boy Samba who was a happy kid.
The stay was a bit unique. Don't expect any luxury that you get at a luxury hotel, but you will get another and more valuable luxury.
So it was our trip this time. I like Senegal and Casamance very much and as it will be possible I will go there more times and maybe, maybe take a little tour into Guinea-Bissau. It would be interesting.
