Sea Date, May 1, 2024 Banjul, The Gambia

 Sea Date, May 1, 2024

Banjul, The Gambia 

as in The Ohio State University 

Well, wasn't sure what I would do in Banjul. Temperatures were expected to go to 104. The tropical forest hike scares me at that temperature!

At 6 am we were 2 of the few people who took the opportunity to go out on the bow for sail in. Very hazy. Captain explained it is Sahara dust. That is when a passenger on board, a doctor, advised Jim to get the mole on the back of his leg examined.  It was melanoma.

Lots of locals at the end of gangway. Drummers, vendors, guides, drivers, shoppers, gazers- quite active dock. It was only 78 degrees with high humidity but nice breeze. We decided to grab a guide and driver and tour the city. That way if it got too hot we could quickly return to the ship. 

We visited the Albert Market, the Square to view celebrations for world wide Workers Day (May 1), St Mary's  Cathedral -closed, the Museum,  Arch 22, Katchikally Crocodile Pool (a sacred place for fertility rites) and a local bar for Jim's beer and the Mosque. They wanted to take us to the Monkey forest but the temperature was over 100 at that point so I passed. The humidity actually dropped significantly as the temperature rose. Interesting. It became like Arizona hot. Still I thought I had enough of that heat. Sorry to miss the monkeys, baboons, and chimpanzees but the pool on the ship was calling.

Reports that the temperature went to 107.

Pool and Pina Colada.

Room service dinner.

Mark Sampson,  comedian.













    
                                                    World Wide Worker's Day Ce;ebration









    
                                                        Jim recognizes a lot of the ancient farming tools.
                                                            Similar to what he used in Hubbard Springs.
                                                        












    
                                                                    Local library

    
                                                Jim and guide went in there to get local beer.


    
                                              I bought school supplies and gave them to local children.

    
                                                                        Mosque


    
                                                                Immigration Officials


    
                                                  Mark Sampson, around Africa and comedian.





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