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Daily Archives: April 19, 2012

Senegal 10th April – Certificate of No Impediment, Goree Island and Senegalese Art and Presents from Pap

1 We all went by taxi into noisy, crowded and hectic Dakar to the British Consulate for Daniel to pick up his ‘Certificate of No Impediment’ so that he and Ami can have their Civil Wedding on Wednesday. It wasn’t ready! Ten minutes later, the Consulate called to say that it now was!!

2 We met Ami’s lovely parents in town for a ferry trip to Ile la Goree, a beautiful place with a shocking and disturbing history, it being a transit point for slaves to Europe in the 1800’s. It’s a Unesco World Heritage Site and a museum of tremendous importance. The baobab trees had lovely art work for sale attached to them.

3. Pap came into supper with his arms full of traditional outfits for us all and asked that we wear them at dinner that night. Pap, so lovely and thoughtful, also bought presents for KJ and M, our other daughters who couldn’t be with us in Senegal.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on April 19, 2012 in art, family, Senegal, senses, travel, Wedding

Tags: British Consulate, Certificate of no impediment, Dakar, Europe, Goree Island, history, Ile de la Goree, museum, Senegal, slave trade, traditional boubou, travel, Unesco World Hetitage Site

Spring Trees, Reading Group and Sunny Corner

19 Apr

1 Driving to Penryn this morning for singing with The Suitcases, it was a delight to see the trees all greening up with that beautiful vibrant lime green of new unfurling leaves.

2. Brilliant reading group session as there was so much to say about ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We all found it to be a fascinating and unputdownable read that we also found very disturbing though touched with a sardonic humour.

3. We drove along the lane at Sunny Corner this afternoon on our way back from the Garden Centre. Mum and Dad lived along there for many years in a cottage they named ‘Chimneypots’ and it was a real journey down memory lane!

Sunny Corner, Cusgarne

Senegal 9th April – Resting, Senegalese Hospitality and Skyping Home

19 Apr

1. After a hectic few days, some resting time. I love the multi-coloured water containers, not kettles as I first thought as they could not stand heat underneath. I’ve brought two home to use for watering window boxes etc!

Multi-coloured kettle

2. Meals are served in one very big dish for all to share. Should anyone arrive while the family are eating, they will always be invited to join in the meal. Senegalese hospitality is all-embracing.

Rice and beans with fried fish

3. We Skyped home to KJ and family and Jake said ‘ Bonjour’ to Ndeye Marie and ‘You are my cousin!” That was a beautiful moment that was appreciated by all.