The two day trip to Senegal (Day 2 afternoon) - Lac Rose - The 24th of May 2015

Soon after having droped Layla at her Hotel Aly and I headed towards the Lac Rose, which I hadn't initially considered visiting, as I felt I wouldn't have time but that I am glad I did because I was absolutely mesmerised the moment we approached this immense lake - Lake Retba, named for its waters. The pink tinged colour is due to the presence of Dunaliella Salina algae, which produce a red pigment which in turns absorbs the light thus providing that particular colour I was told to be more visible during the dry season.

 

 

The lake is known for its salt content and salt is said to be exported across the region due to the onworking activity of about 3,000 colectors, men and women from all over Western Africa, who work 6 to 7 hours a day (Sunday included).

 

 

I came across several men collecting the salt and women carrying  it onto land. I saw them placing it in numbered piles that occupied quite a large extension, while men shoved it into plastic bags placed near those piles to be later transported in vans.

 

 

It was quite a sight. I couldn't keep my eyes away form that pinkish coloured extension of water, which despite the hard work involved provides a living for many.

(To be continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two day visit to Senegal (Day 2 early afternoon) - Dakar - The Parliament, the Art Museum and the markets - The 24th of May 2015

We were driven to the Parliament and the Art Museum, which we saw from the outside before we headed  to two markets, one of which a covered one and the other out in the open.

Firstly I must confess I wish the Museum had been open because I believe it would have provided me with an insight as to what contemporary and hopefully old Senegalese Art is about.

In regards to the markets, I found the old covered market exquisitively beautiful with its wooden framed dome and the outside Arab looking decorative motifs (... or so it looked) and the one behind the old train station a rather interesting one. I was given the possibility to try sap, I had never seen nor tasted before - slightly acid, but rather tasty, as well as touch carite butter, one is so commonly used to in Europe, though in a completely different format.