Senegal-Dakar and Lac Rose

I've made it back to Africa-west coast this time. First stop-Senegal! As usual I started with a food tour and literally everything I tasted was delicious. Starting with beignets, which are slightly sweet, but very good. Then Fataya(like an empanada) it's filled with meat or fish and a spicy sauce. Gnamakoudji- a ginger drink. Bissap Juice-habiscus juice, really sweet, but refreshing. Bouye Juice- made from the fruit of the baobab tree- not my favorite. Dibi which is lamb served with mustard and peppers, Theiboudienne- the signature dish of Senegal. Which is white fish over rice with tomatoes, and peppers-absolutely delicious! We also had rice and beans which was slightly spicy, but very good. I got to try the coffee drink which was fabulous! Slightly spicy and sweet, but very, very good. Called Cafe Touba. It's made with pepper and cloves. This is something I know I will get again before I leave! And finally a fruit called Maad, a slightly sweet fruit with a pit in the middle, so you have to be careful not to chip a tooth. I didn't know and bit into it...just to find out it was a hard pit and you just suck on it, but don't swallow. Regardless, it was good and no injuries for me-lol!

Later in the week I went on a tour to Lac Rose/Lake Retba(Pink Lake). The shallow lake is made up of salt deposits and it's supposed to be good for your skin. It was very serene on the lake and I enjoyed a canoe ride. But the fun part was the quad ride on the beach. And I finally rode a camel! Overall I had a fabulous excursion. Enjoy the pics!

Above is my first night in Dakar at dinner right on the ocean, plus all the food from the food tour I took the second day here. Below is the area that I took the tour and also Little Ngor island(you have to take the ferry over)

Right above is a tribute to all the people who lost their lives trying to cross the ocean to Europe. Look closely at the numbers- I was floored. I didn't think people were still doing this in these small boats. Thousands each year- so sad.

There were a lot of kids on the beach-school had just gotten out! Next- Lac Rose!

A delicious lunch was also included in my tour package at a hotel right on Rose Lake. This may have been the best tour I've taken- no I take that back. Making coffee in TZ was my favorite, but this was a close second. I never knew riding quads was so much fun!!! Anyway, I have more plans for this week, so stay tuned for the next set of pictures.