ABOUT GOREE ISLAND: The island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation. -UNESCO World Heritage Centre http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/26 On the boat ride to the island with Shahar and Azu. The city of Dakar, Senegal The island of Goree Monument celebrating freedom Strolling the streets of the island Architecture of the island Cannons Incredible sand art, using sand from all over Africa. The gray sand is from The Gambia. Goree Island Coast Lunch break! An after lunch swim
Blisters on our feet. Whale sightings in the ocean. Learning the uses of all kinds of plants. Dodging cow dung. Story time after dinner with our tour guide, Jimmy. Puppies. The incredible sense of humor of the girls I hiked with and all the inside jokes that accumulated along the way. The billions of stars at night. All the bread we ate. The most barbaric way to eat a peanut butter sandwich. Sunburns and tan lines. The pain in my achilles. The relief and sense of accomplishment at the end of each day. Falling asleep before 8pm.