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Gambia

Tuesday, November 22, 2023 after sailing for 2 days at sea we arrived at Banjul, Gambia. A busy port and even busier city and countryside. Banjul is the countries commercial and transportation center.

Two nights ago after dinner and leaving the Cape Verde Islands, we were instructed by the Captain of the ship we were entering a high risk area for Piracy, off Senegal and other West African countries. We will be in permanent contact with an International Task Force including the U.S. and the U.K. Naval Forces assigned to protect merchant vessels from pirate attack by a United Nations mandate. We were instructed to use only essential light within the cabins and to close all curtains in the cabin windows and balconies no lights or open curtains. . NOW THIS IS MY KIND OF TRIP!!!!

Our transportation for the day. Definitely air conditioned. I never saw so many hats fly off in the first 10 minutes of travel.

We had local Gambian entertainment at the dock as we were leaving for the day to explore Gambia.

A few pop up markets arriving for set up when we return from the days journeys. When we returned there must be at least 40 or more waiting for us to buy something.

Traveling from the ship where we docked was quite an adventure along the road into the city.

The country's shape and size are the result of a colonial deal between Britain and France, who divided the region along the Gambia River, which runs through the country.As you can see first hand life in Gambia is not an easy life.

We pass by some of the local fishing boats that go out for the day.

We see the local jail as we pass by.

Definitely not a place anyone would want to spend a lot of time.

A welcoming sign as we pass under it.

As we get closer to the city of Banjul we see more fishing boats.

Students on their way to classes.

Definitely a lot of poverty here.

Banjul , officially the City of Banjul, is the capital and fourth largest city of The Gambia. Traffic in the morning hours seems to be everywhere... walkways, side roads to main roads.

Banjul is home to an estimated 400,000 residents, making it Gambia's largest and most densely populated metropolitan area. There does not seem to be traffic lights. Guess that is easier on maintenance.

A traffic police woman directing the congested traffic and doing a good job too.

Pottery for sale alongside the traffic highway.

Children walking to school as adults are walking to work.

Notice a nursery with pots under the sign advertising sports results above. All you need is a phone.

You name it and you can buy it along the dusty roads.

Here we have a major part of the city. Notice the roads are not too paved. Remember the open air vehicle we are traveling in. Definitely an interesting visit.

Even some live stock mixed in with the traffic along the highway as we have no idea where we are headed at this point in time.

Here we are about to enter a round about of unpaved road, in the city, with kids going to school, animals along side the highway, traffic going in all directions.

Life in the capital city of Banjul.

Lots of used car locations in the outskirts of the city.

This may be the dumping grounds for cars that cannot be sold anywhere else doe to flooding or who knows.

Welcome to traffic in Banjul. Amazing

Everyone see is trying to make a living. There is no free money or welfare here.

The Tanji Village Museum is The Gambia's first privately operated museum, and was set up in 1997 by Mr. Abdoulie Bayo, a former curator at the National Museum in Banjul.

Here we are at a tourist attraction that has been set up to be more akin to an African hamlet - a 'living museum' of sorts. The center piece of the various exhibits is a reconstruction of a traditional Mandinka compound, depicting how they lived over 100 years ago. Here we see a demonstration of how they used a loom.

Saw this in a tree and thought it was quite unique art at the museum.

Gambia is known as the smiling coast of Africa, for its friendly people, diverse culture, and sunny climate. It is also a popular tourist destination, with sandy beaches, wildlife parks, and historical sites. We next stopped at a local home and family that makes an alcohol drink and gave us some other demonstrations of the life in Gambia.

I think the best part of this stop was having the chance to take photos and share the photo with the kids. When they see themselves their faces light up with smiles. You have made a friend.

Now who could turn down a smile like this?

When I showed the group photo to them they all were smiling huge. Made their day.

This little guy was posing waiting for me

A local delivery on a motorcycle. It is incredible what they can haul on one motor bike.

A delivery truck

Another group from our ship in an air conditioned bus/truck like we were riding in.

The nursery school that we stopped to visit.

These are the buildings we visited.

Free Public Transportation via the back of a truck.

Demonstration of ironing. Notice there is no electricity.

A young mother sharing her new borne with the ladies int he group.

The well for the school

Mother and her new born

Kids being kids.

The clothes can be so colorful.

The schools Vision Statement

One of the teachers

Looking into a classroom

I went in a classroom, spoke first with the teacher, if I could come in. I ended up disrupting the class.

Ironically the class was in English. Of course the kids were fascinated with the stranger at the back of the classroom.

Now they were speaking English words for me.

The teacher was very good in keeping the students speaking the English words.

I like to go into schools and classrooms and sit at the back of the room and observe.

everal other teachers came into the room when they saw me in the classroom. One asked me if I was married. Nope I am single. She could not understand why. Next thing I know she says, "Marry Me.. I have 2 children." Fastest romance on record...ha!

Homework on the wall

Some parents coming for their students.

Most of our group had gone into a classroom with the Principal of the school. I choose to go in a classroom alone. I was the lucky one. I had my own classroom.

Kids started pouring out of classrooms everywhere to see the strangers at the end of the class day.

Each of these photos is of a different group of students waving goodbye.

The Principal of the school waving goodbye to us along with the students.

These are high school students.

These are some small businesses just down the street from the school as we left the village.

Notice the clothing colors on the couple talking.

The local 7-11 I think.

Here we have someone taking a photos of the tourists.

Local Fruits and Vegetables for sale

Small local business up and down this one side of the street.

Name of the street

Fish and Meat market.. How about that natural refrigeration... the air.

Restaurant on the beach where we had lunch. Beautiful location.

View from the outdoor dining room where we had lunch. There were actually some tourists in the water too.

Beach was absolutely flat to walk out a long distance into the water.

Looking back at the bar and restaurant where we had a good lunch.

These guys were wanting to take you out fishing

One of the local fisherman that would not take NO for an answer. We finally just talked about his country and how beautiful the beaches are where he lives.

The area leaving the restaurant.

Local bus transportation into Banjul

Another local bus waiting for passengers.

Open market for locals

Afternoon traffic back to the dock area

Students returning from school headed home for the day

Our local Gambian music bon voyage musicians.

Early evening aboard the Regent Seven Seas Voyager with a rain storm approaching maybe.

Looks like a little rain maybe

Nope it passed by us. Nice sunset on the Atlantic Ocean off of West Africa headed for Ghana our next stop on our Lisbon to Cape town , South Africa cruise vacation of 29 days.

Next stop Ghana.

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