The Gambia.

Today was Banjul, The Gambia. It is actually the smallest country on Africa's continental mainland, with a population a bit less than 2 million.

Well it was very much the same as yesterday in Senegal. A third-world country with wide spread poverty. I couldn't put myself through what I did yesterday by visiting a village with deprivation at its highest. I get the feeling that we (and I mean westerners in general) are treating it like a Zoo, walking around there home, taking pictures and pointing at these people. The kids, obviously are oblivious to it, but the adults, I'm sure, are not. So, it was a real experience yesterday, but not one I'm willing to repeat, unless I am going to work there with them, through some charitable organization or the like, which is something I would like to dedicate myself to doing.

Anyway, we just walked around town, which was pretty much deserted, as you can see above. Believe it or not, this is the main high street in Banjul, which is the capital of Republic of The Gambia. One explanation given was it's Saturday, so everybody's watching, or playing, football. One thing I did know before, and am really getting a picture of now, is how football-mad Africans really are. Most European country's are and the far east most certainly is, (yes you Yanks are slowly getting it), but Africans are just crazy about it. Almost every other male wears a football jersey of some kind. Kids are kicking something around, simulating there idols, at every opportunity.

After our rather extended walk, we ended up sitting by the beach, at a hotel resort, and had a couple of beers and a sandwich. A little swim and some relaxation, not to mention just cleaning all the dust that plagues the city, off our bodies. We would have liked to have sat in a local cafe of some kind, but it really isn't possible here.

A few more sea days now before we reach Ghana later in the week.

(I was going to play about with this, maybe add a bit of colour, or possibly go B&W with it, but I decided to just leave it alone. Let you see it, exactly as I saw it.)