Images: April 2013

Cruising continues on board MSC Sinfonia. ANZAC day came and went with a relaxing day on board. At breakfast we were treated with a visit from a very large pod of Dolphins, that we spotted and had every one in the dinning room rush to the large port hole windows to view, as the

I don't care if your Black or white

pod kept pace with the ship. The pod included lots of baby dolphins.

Late in the afternoon about 20 large birds that, Tom the pom confirmed were Gannets, kept pace with the ship for hours. A thin tall woman asked me how my throwing arm was, she had a hand full of cold meat to feed these big birds, I said no good and that these birds liked fish not ham and she replied that they were like Sea Gulls and eat any thing.

Our visit to Dakar didn't really go to plan as we left the ship a group of taxi's wanted our business, but when I asked how much for a one hour tour of the city, they told me 120 euro, we just laughed and kept walking.

Out side the port entry gates we had several taxi drivers calling us, but a man about 30 ish be friend ed us telling us it was a easy walk to the city so we headed off on foot to have a look around. This man would not leave us alone, however, he did point out, things like the market, a supermarket, money exchange etc. we decided to give him the slip and headed into the supermarket, but, guess what he was right with us step by step all the way.

He took us to a internet when we spoke about checking our mail and after a two hour period on the net he was still waiting for us outside, he was not going no where. he said his shop was in the next street so we decided that a visit to the shop would end it, no he still stuck with us. we offered him 2000 of their money USD2 for his services but no he wanted 5000. We ended up in another money exchange office with a armed security guard, who locked him outside. The woman inside realised what was happening and she had the guard speak with him but, he was still not going any where, he came in the shop and she and she gave him a mouth full, but no, he would not go he wanted 5000 ( he was going to give 3000 back) in the end we carried on up the street with not only him in tow but now six of them all trying to sell anything and every thing. We decided on giving him a extra 1000 a total of 3usd for his service and he agreed to that and was gone in a flash. Now to deal with the others, a girl with a large basket of dolls on her head was happy when Teresa purchased two dolls at 1000 each, she wanted 3 for 10000 first off. She then took over as our guide, I told her no money, she said okay, and still kept us company, she took us to the markets, we wanted to see the fresh flower market, but this market was meat and fish.

We ended back at the supermarket with now a larger group of vendors, they would try selling to me but my rejections would have them try Teresa, her rejections would have them back to me, they were just desperate and annoying people. They left us alone to shop in the supermarket, once we emerged it was on again this time a new lot with watches, sun glasses and hand bags. all the way back to the ship.

We left Dakar feeling that we only saw a small part of the city and our day was just one of being hassled. The party at our dinner table also had a very different day. and were full of stories about their day on shore.