labonnevie Posted May 12, 2023 #1076 Share Posted May 12, 2023 On 5/9/2023 at 12:22 PM, shark b8 said: Well……………😎 To paraphrase Crocodile Dundee, "That's not a snake. This is a snake!" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 12, 2023 Author #1077 Share Posted May 12, 2023 When you’re right, you’re right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 12, 2023 Author #1078 Share Posted May 12, 2023 uh oh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 12, 2023 Author #1079 Share Posted May 12, 2023 so, maybe last night’s “buckle up” was a bit hyperbolic, but… We went to to the Akodessawa “fetish market” in Togo, have to think that the euphemism “fetish” is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting in that phrase. Vodun (voodoo) is apparently still alive and well - the marketplace consists mostly of dead animal heads….very recently dead. This is not some touristy, cynically established place for Westerners to take faux-triumphant, touristy, cynical pictures, sadly, it’s a thriving local enterprise. (and remember those adorable 2 little kids a few posts back - we gave them a couple of chocolates? They were just on the other side of the road from this marketplace, 30-40 feet away). The decapitated animal heads (monkeys are apparently especially integral to the cause) go on forever. Imagine, if you will, what recently-dead animal parts, in the thousands, smell like. Yes, as it turns out, you are correct. Maybe x100. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akodessawa_Fetish_Market 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labonnevie Posted May 13, 2023 #1080 Share Posted May 13, 2023 2 hours ago, shark b8 said: so, maybe last night’s “buckle up” was a bit hyperbolic, but… We went to to the Akodessawa “fetish market” in Togo, have to think that the euphemism “fetish” is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting in that phrase. Vodun (voodoo) is apparently still alive and well - the marketplace consists mostly of dead animal heads….very recently dead. This is not some touristy, cynically established place for Westerners to take faux-triumphant, touristy, cynical pictures, sadly, it’s a thriving local enterprise. (and remember those adorable 2 little kids a few posts back - we gave them a couple of chocolates? They were just on the other side of the road from this marketplace, 30-40 feet away). The decapitated animal heads (monkeys are apparently especially integral to the cause) go on forever. Imagine, if you will, what recently-dead animal parts, in the thousands, smell like. Yes, as it turns out, you are correct. Maybe x100. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akodessawa_Fetish_Market I’m pretty sure I can’t thank you for sharing that! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLSD Posted May 13, 2023 #1081 Share Posted May 13, 2023 4 hours ago, shark b8 said: so, maybe last night’s “buckle up” was a bit hyperbolic, but… We went to to the Akodessawa “fetish market” in Togo, have to think that the euphemism “fetish” is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting in that phrase. Vodun (voodoo) is apparently still alive and well - the marketplace consists mostly of dead animal heads….very recently dead. This is not some touristy, cynically established place for Westerners to take faux-triumphant, touristy, cynical pictures, sadly, it’s a thriving local enterprise. (and remember those adorable 2 little kids a few posts back - we gave them a couple of chocolates? They were just on the other side of the road from this marketplace, 30-40 feet away). The decapitated animal heads (monkeys are apparently especially integral to the cause) go on forever. Imagine, if you will, what recently-dead animal parts, in the thousands, smell like. Yes, as it turns out, you are correct. Maybe x100. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akodessawa_Fetish_Market Oh my. You have entertained us mightily all along and I'm glad you have not spared us this. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng75370 Posted May 13, 2023 #1082 Share Posted May 13, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, shark b8 said: so, maybe last night’s “buckle up” was a bit hyperbolic, but… We went to to the Akodessawa “fetish market” in Togo, have to think that the euphemism “fetish” is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting in that phrase. Once again, the very limited emoji choice on CC means many of us remain speechless in expressing our response to this. Deeply appreciate all your efforts in taking us along on this amazing journey! Edited May 13, 2023 by johng75370 Typo 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 13, 2023 Author #1083 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Yeah, the voodoo stuff was….troubling. And eye-opening. That, combined with a quick unrelated convo with some folks back on the home front (we all know some, right?) who are convinced that life in “the West” in the 21st century is just such misery…….well, seems to me those folks might benefit from a few days in Togo or Benin. Possibly re-calibrate. IMG_6825.MOV IMG_6826.MOV 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 13, 2023 Author #1084 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Anyway, on to happier stuff - we arrive in The Gambia tomorrow morning, surely wouldn’t have ever been on my dance card before this trip. Don’t know anything about it, but ready to find out. Also, I’m embarrassed to admit - I was always aware of the presence of a map on the port/aft wall in the Square. But I guess I never looked closer….to see that it changes with the voyage, and that there’s a small pinned-ship thing that tells us where we are. Small thing, just never noticed. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 13, 2023 Author #1085 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Also, heard from the house/dog-sitters - all is well, and they sent along this, which made me chuckle. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1086 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Banjul is the capital of the Gambia, and…..no way to spin this….is pretty depressing, I’m afraid. Circumstances seemed to be the most dire we’ve encountered on this trip. IMG_6837.MOV 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1087 Share Posted May 14, 2023 The guide did his best to deliver “Highlights of Banjul” (the name of the tour), but his was not an easy job. An even tougher one would be on the sign, near the top of this lamppost. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1088 Share Posted May 14, 2023 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1089 Share Posted May 14, 2023 You can’t see it, but there are families of goats living in these anbandoned automotive carcasses. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1090 Share Posted May 14, 2023 The bus ride to the “Crocodile Farm”….and I take no pleasure in having to say this…..smelled like Death. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1091 Share Posted May 14, 2023 We’re about to sail away, toward Senegal. Noticed a “different” sort of tour bus, unloading cruisers at the gangway in a novel way. And I leave it to you, to judge the musical accompaniment. IMG_6836.MOV 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1092 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Ah well. If one is lucky, even after a pretty sobering day, there can be that little thing that helps to “turn that frown upside-down”. 😉 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1093 Share Posted May 14, 2023 “All aboard” today was 5:30p, which typically means sailing 1/2 hour later, or at least within the hour. It’s now after 7:30p, the gangway is still down, and several uniformed Seabourn personnel are pacing and waiting. Hmmm. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
florisdekort Posted May 14, 2023 #1094 Share Posted May 14, 2023 3 minutes ago, shark b8 said: “All aboard” today was 5:30p, which typically means sailing 1/2 hour later, or at least within the hour. It’s now after 7:30p, the gangway is still down, and several uniformed Seabourn personnel are pacing and waiting. Hmmm. We still miss one tour bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
florisdekort Posted May 14, 2023 #1095 Share Posted May 14, 2023 1 minute ago, florisdekort said: We still miss one tour bus. It just arrived at 7:42 pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincslady Posted May 14, 2023 #1096 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Your west African photos are rather depressing; we spent about three months in northern Nigeria in the sixties, and although there was some poverty, everything was cleaner and more 'cared for' looking than these towns. I have a feeling that life has actually got worse in that part of the world in recent years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1097 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Yep, minutes after I posted, 2 private vehicles, a minivan, and then a full-size tour bus pulled up & discharged cruisers. Much welcoming and all, so……all is well. Carry on. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
15Day+ Posted May 14, 2023 #1098 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Our Venture cruise is scheduled to visit Banjul next March and after reading your description of "Highlights of Banjul" I think we'll give this tour a miss. We would be interested in hearing from anyone who went on the "The Gambia Adventure Drive" (with those open-air trucks) or the "Makasutu Culture Forest Adventure"… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1099 Share Posted May 14, 2023 1 hour ago, lincslady said: …we spent about three months in northern Nigeria in the sixties….I have a feeling that life has actually got worse in that part of the world in recent years. These are tough calls, of course - you were here when we weren’t, and vice versa. But it would be hard to pretend that things are going well, casual, personal observation is hard to dismiss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 14, 2023 Author #1100 Share Posted May 14, 2023 39 minutes ago, 15Day+ said: …..your description of "Highlights of Banjul" I think we'll give this tour a miss. We would be interested in hearing from anyone who went on the "The Gambia Adventure Drive" (with those open-air trucks) or the "Makasutu Culture Forest Adventure"… I’m hesitant for anyone to base their future plans on any impressions that we had, but as far as today was concerned, I just tried to be honest. That said, I’d also be interested to hear from any cruisers who had alternative experiences. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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