Through the Desert into the Tropics

I don't know what to say about Dakar, it is a place unlike any other that I have been. I can't understand a single word of the local language, the public transportation system is very bad, and the people are extremely welcoming and friendly.
We immediately got down business and after an early breakfast Luke and I made our way to the Mali Embassy to get a Visa for Luke. We had not walked more than 200 feet from our hotel when we met our new friend and guide Tasmil. Tasmil is about a 6'3 28 year old self-proclaimed Rastafarian who knows pretty much everyone and everything in Dakar. Tasmil made helped us with all of our errands and showed us his fathers factory. By factory I mean a small overcrowded room with kids and adults fast at work making traditional African clothing. His other "factory" was a wood shop where they made absolutely stunning statues and masks. From here we walked back to our hotel and on our walk back we were greeted by welcoming shouts and smiles. People would run across the street to shake our hands and introduce themselves. They have this cool handshake where you grasp hands like a normal shake except instead of shaking hands you bring your hand up with the back of your hand to touch each others forehead. It is supposed to be a mutual sign of respect...either that or they were just getting a kick out of messing with some foreigners.

After we finished our errands we headed down to a small reclusive beach that Tasmil showed us. It was awesome to run off some energy and stretch our legs after being cooped up on buses and planes for the past day. Within a few minutes of being on the beach some curious locals came to join us. Eventually one man came down and although he could not speak a word of English, through sign language we realized that he wanted to wrestle. Unfortunately for him he asked Tate to wrestle and got demolished but no matter the outcome he always had a smile on his face. We came to learn he was from the Gambia and supported his wife and two kids by washing cars.

We ended our day by walking out on a long rocky pier to see some fisherman, an ancient cannon that has been around since around the 1600's, and watch the sunset, romantic huh? It was a great way to start our trip through Senegal, and if all goes smoothly we will have our car in the next day or two and we can start driving south! I am off to the port right now, wish me luck.