Stranded in Senegal
As the proverb goes, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”
I was stranded in Senegal after there were issues with my flight and I had to stay for two days longer than the period anticipated for my workshop. With limited money and resources, I had to relocate from the official upscale hotel paid for by the organisation sponsoring the workshop. I moved into a struggling-to-survive, barely-completed guest house. This was in a bid to economise.
Subsequently, downgrading from my original hotel to the guest house was not without its challenges. The guest house was still under construction, with constant noise. When I asked for hot water to make some tea, the housekeeper rudely asked me to come downstairs and get it myself. She said, “Mais vous ne pouvez pas descendre vous-même?” meaning “But can’t you come down yourself?” At the end of the day, I was just grateful for somewhere to sleep.
So did I cry and pout and generally make myself miserable? No sir! I decided to use those two extra days to catch up on sightseeing and make the most out of the situation.
Save for a taxi driver who vented all his frustration on me when I had to pay him and I only had a note in a larger denomination, all went well. When I explained to him that that note was all I had, he angrily exclaimed that I should have asked him whether he had change before picking the taxi. “Mais il faut demander aah, mais il faut demander aah!” (But you have to ask aah) he kept on shouting as he left me in the taxi to go and look for change.
On the whole I had a great time in Senegal. The people at the market places were very friendly and there was a lot to see and learn. I visited Gorée Island (Île de Gorée) and caught up with history. Although I started with oranges which later became lemons, I made lemonade. I even made two more subsequent trips to Senegal. Here is to memories from Dakar and Gorée Island.
My original hotel
At a nearby bar
Life at sea
African Renaissance Monument (le Monument de la Renaissance Africaine)
Gorée Island (Île de Gorée)
The Statue of Liberation from Slavery, Gorée Island (La Statue de la Libération de l’Esclavage, Île de Gorée)
It would be great to hear about your experiences from Senegal if you have been there or your comments in general even if you haven’t been there. You may post your comments by clicking on the chat icon beneath the heading.
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