Our ship docked this morning around 7 am. As we headed into port we passed Ile De Goree, a major slave center until the suppression of the slave trade in the early 19th century. More than 40 million people were eventually shipped to the Americas from Goree and similar ports. One of the tours went to the island where today today there is a Historical Museum recalling its slave history.
We went on the tour of the city. The weather was comfortable ( it is winter here). The bus ride was comfortable. But the sights were unsettling. This is a third world country with an unemployment rate around 50%. The city had high rise buildings and lots of nice cars. But at each stop for a photo opportunity we were besieged by people trying to sell goods or begging for money. The last stop was the artisan marketplace. Rude stalls were pushed together with very dark and narrow walkways of uneven ground. Venders would each entreat the tourists to look at the wares. Picture taking was difficult because of the tight quarters. We had barely gone into the area when we decided that it was too uncomfortable to proceed. We turned around and went back to the bus. Culture shock. Brazil was similarly needy, but these people who were very attractive, seemed much more desperate.
At one o'clock the lines to board the ship were long. We were tardy in leaving the port - after 2 pm.
dennis
We went on the tour of the city. The weather was comfortable ( it is winter here). The bus ride was comfortable. But the sights were unsettling. This is a third world country with an unemployment rate around 50%. The city had high rise buildings and lots of nice cars. But at each stop for a photo opportunity we were besieged by people trying to sell goods or begging for money. The last stop was the artisan marketplace. Rude stalls were pushed together with very dark and narrow walkways of uneven ground. Venders would each entreat the tourists to look at the wares. Picture taking was difficult because of the tight quarters. We had barely gone into the area when we decided that it was too uncomfortable to proceed. We turned around and went back to the bus. Culture shock. Brazil was similarly needy, but these people who were very attractive, seemed much more desperate.
At one o'clock the lines to board the ship were long. We were tardy in leaving the port - after 2 pm.
dennis
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