Dakar, Senegal
Very third-world-feeling, but insanely expensive!
Ngor Island off the coast of Dakar. It was supposed to be the surfing hotspot... hm.
Gorée Island. This is the portal of basically all the West African slave trade.
The 'Door of no Return'
If a slave was unacceptable/unsellable, they were pushed out of this door into the ocean. Otherwise, this is where the ships docked to load the slaves on. Either way, you weren't coming back. Intense.
The magnitude of human trafficking.
Local cuisine, of course. Some Yassa chicken: marinated in lemon juice, cooked in an onion mushroom concoction.
Capetown, South Africa
This has now topped my list as my favorite destination. And, being on reserve and not packed for this trip, this was an exciting transition. Dakar was 90 degrees...Capetown 50. First stop was Woolworth's department store for jeans, shirts, and a jacket. It felt like a gameshow! Bargain hunting for things I like in strange sizes with a 30-min timer before leaving for dinner with the crew. I won!
Dinner at Karibu South African Restaurant at The Wharf
Ostrich Carpaccio! Absolutely fantastic!
Left: Waterblommetjie (lamb stew with waterblommetjie , an aquatic plant that tastes like artichokes) Right: Chakalaka! (tastes like spicy baked beans)
Table Mountain in the center of Capetown. Huge plateau. Huge.
A group of us rented cars and drove down (about 2 hours) to Cape Point and The Cape of Good Hope.
The Cape of Good Hope (from standing on Cape Point where the lighthouse is)
Midway climbing up the Cape (with Cape Point in the background)
Top of the Cape of Good Hope
Because the last picture doesn't convey the altitude
Wild Ostriches! Makes me hungry...
And wild Baboons!
How do you sum up 10 days in Africa? So many thoughts, emotions, ideas, desires, plans and retrospects come from this trip. At least, too many for this space! What an experience.
Some notes for the future:
>If you fall asleep under a palm tree for an hour, the equatorial sun moves a little faster than we're used to.. when you wake up you will no longer be in the soothing shade. And you will be burned.
>Bug spray that is 30% Deet will eat through your clothes. It might just be worth it.
>The spots where Deet was sprayed on are burned the worst. I don't know if that was worth it.
>Flies on the islands love Fanta. I mean, love it like they'll never get to buzz around again. Just avoid it next time.
>Africans don't burn, so you can forget about finding some Aloe at the local pharmacy. Now you're burned and peeling. But with no mosquito bites!
Finally back in the States after a week and a half. And Jeanne Danielle calls, she has a trip to Moscow the next day, and it's her birthday! Now what kind of adventure-seeking traveler would I be if I spent my days off at home!? So, after not even 24 hrs at home, I headed to Moscow!
Red Square and the Kremlin Palace
St Basil's at the Kremlin!
We shopped the markets for souvenir nesting dolls, faux-fur hats, and of course gas masks (?). Followed by a delicious dinner of Goulash soup, spinach casserole, deer burger, and apple strudel, but we were too famished to take a photo before we demolished it...
Cupcakes for dessert! Happy Birthday Jeanne! Though it got a bit roughed up on its travels from Alabama...
I have now been to North/Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. 6/7. Antarctica... maybe we'll get there one day.
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