Hotel Al Baraka

Swim at the restaurant

by SirRichard

If you go have lunch to the Lagoon 1 restaurant, you can take a swim and sunbath while you wait for the food (or after the dessert). The restaurant is located at a pier in the Corniche, and you can swim there.

Write to Friends and Family

by kaloz

I send a lot of postcards and I have a scheme to make them special. Each card is written in the language of the country visited. Here in Dakar, Senegal my post cards were in French. Since I do not speak all the languages of my travels, I get help from the local newspaper. Foreign newspapers are fairly easy to read, even if you do not speak the language. You may not get every word, but the ideas can be understood. I write out the headlines on my cards and get many reactions, "What did it say?" is most common.

In Dakar I found a US Mail letter tray in the market where I purchased my paper, postcards, and stamps.

Dakar - Ile de la Goree

by dunearn20

"A day off - take the boat"

The island of Goree is close to Dakar, you reach it by boat.
It used to be the transshipment point for slaves. They were caught and bought around Senegal and then brought here to be shipped to America. On the photo is Dakar visible in the background.

"House of slaves"

This is the house of the biggest slave merchant on the island, thousands of people went through here. A door on the backside went directly towards the sea on board of a ship - the "door of no return". Now a interesting museum of this horrible chapter in african, european and american history.

"door of no return"

There is no return once you pass this door

Memories as a child

by chess_machine

Dakar is a city I may imagine mostly, as I went there with my parents when I was around five.

Few memories then, but deep ones.

Images from the markets, the animation of the streets, the poor villages we visited, so much in contrast with the easy life we had at the hotel.

My main memory is from Ile de Gorée, where slaves where parked before going to the Americas. Remember seeing a ball and chain near a wall and not really understanding what it meant. The place was just so beautiful with the blue sky and the lovely bay.

Pollywog to Shellback

by kaloz

"King Neptune"

If you have never crossed the Equator on a sailing vessel, you must first ask permission of the king of the seas, Neptune. You enter as a suplicant, a pollywog, and hpe to enter the Royal and Ancient Order of the Shellback and forever be granted the right to sail the seas.

"The Pollywogs"

Those who are not initiated will be gathered up and held for trial to see if they are worthy to join the ranks of the shellbacks. A trial will be held and punishments meted out for those found wanting.

"The Court"

After their crimes have been read, a court of their piers must pass judgement upon them, either finding their discretions not servere enough for punishment, or finding them to be in need of humiliation and cleansing.

"Getting Slimed"

If found in need of humiliation, a pollywog may have to go to the doctor for some special ointments, in this case a bright blue ointment, which is spread liberally upon the supplicant, even the face and hair.

"Ritual Cleansing"

Having been duly humiliated and rubbed with the blue salve, the pollywog is subjected to a drop in the tank of sea water to wash away any transgressions.

"Kiss the Fish"

All suplicants (pollywogs) must then show devotion to King Neptune by kissing the sacrificial fish. One of Neptune's lowliest creatures. Only by this ritual act can the pollywog enter the Royal and Ancient Order of the Shellback.

"Crossing the Equator"

Having granted his permission, now all may cross the equator safely. The Equator does not have much visual appeal, so I had to photoshop it in, but be assured that this is the actual equator, Zero latitude. The ships whistle is sounded just before crossing, and is when I was ready with the snap.

"King Neptune Ball"

After the ceremonies, it is time to party at a royal ball held in honor or King Neptune. Kaloz was escorted by three Brasilian beauties, the luckiest man at the ball.