Since it was Valentine's Day, I bought a new dress and Rog got pick out where we ate which was in a 5* hotel close by. It was a good peak into the reason why we've met so many Europeans here. It's quite close for them (4-6 hr flight), warm & sunny and much less expensive even at the nicer hotels & restaurants. It's like Americans going to resorts in Mexico. They aren't coming to the real Gambia—they are able to stay in a nice place & avoid their cold months. Our hotel would probably be a 3* and it's the nicest we've stayed in so far…for $50. Overall we've paid about $30. Meals range from $7-15. Considering the largest Dalasi bill is a 200…worth $3.25….we have to carry a hefty wad with us! We continue to hear the call to prayer and have seen many men stop to remove their sandals, wash their feet, put on a long tunics and then roll out a mat to knell and pray. As we pass by the many mosque, we see lots of shoes outside. Women also come to pray knelling behind the men.
Banjul, the capital, deserved a day so off we went. We arrived at the ferry terminal that crosses The Gambia River. As we sat & waited, we visited with a Canadian couple who have visited 135 countries…usually on tours or cruise ships. They had a driver & a nice car and offered to let us join them in the car which would be loaded onto the ferry. The weather was getting increasingly windier & a filled with dust. We decided we'd skip the ferry ride all together as the visibility was so poor. So we headed to the Gambian National Museum. Displays were old, dusty but interesting. I especially got a chuckle out of the voting barrel with 2 colors of marbles which is still used today. Supposedly they'll use paper ballots in 2026. Maybe. We walked to get a close up look of Arch 22 erected in honor of their Independence from England on March 22, 1965. That was all we could find to see in Banjul. Sad. We hailed a taxi for a ride back to our hotel and that's when the best part of our day began.
Here's Roger's description:
-A Resourceful cab driver
Returning from Banjul, we hailed a taxi for the twenty minute ride. Our uneventful journey was interrupted when the cab slowed and he pointed to the battery light with concern. "It won't charge", was all he said.
Pulling over he opened the hood and started pulling at the belt. It soon came out…frayed but not yet broken.
From a box under the hood he pulled out another belt (used but serviceable) and soon had it installed for a temporary fix!
Getting back inside he attempted to start the car, but now too little battery power is the problem.
Never fear, he says he has another.
Opening the trunk he banged around for a bit, and again tried to start the car. Maybe there was another battery in the trunk that can be used to assist the one under the hood? He turned the key again. Success!
He then pulled a plastic jug out of his trunk and filled the radiator…then thoroughly washed his hands with soap…picking up a bit of sand to help scrub them clean. Rinsing well he was again ready to complete our ride!
Watching him problem solve was worth more than the cost of the taxi ride ( $5 ). And while all this was going on, a group of about 8-10 teenage boys came walking along the roadside (on their way home from school?) They stopped to forage tiny fruits that had fallen from a tree beside the road. Several minutes were spent searching for the tiny fruits that were hidden under leaves or in the grass. They soon walked away with a handful for a snack. They said they were very nice and offered some to us but we did not try them.
You never know what the days will bring!
