Western Division

I slept well in the little cabin I shared with Inés. We had mosquito nets, and it was not too hot at all, despite what we feared. In fact, it was the opposite, and a couple of people in the group were cold at night. The bathroom didn't have much water, and it was cold, so I just took a pseudo-shower.

We got up at 7.30 to have breakfast at 8, but we had to wait for a while for the bread to arrive. We usually had instant coffee, bread, jam, some omelet, and "Chocopain," a creamy chocolate spread with peanut, similar to Nutella but with a different nut. We would end up making endless jokes about it and how we would buy some to bring back home. Of course, it did not happen.

After breakfast, we headed to the Serrekunda (or Serekunda) Market, the biggest in The Gambia. We started by going to a fabric store to get some materials to take to a tailor and make outfits. They were so beautiful and so affordable! Many of them are waxed, which gives them a weird effect, but the coating disappears after washing them.

After that, already happy with our beautiful fabrics, we walked around. Somehow it didn't take me long to get lost. I didn't worry much. I just assumed my group would realize I was missing and would try to find me, but after some time walking in circles, a nice Gambian lady came to me and asked if I was "looking for the white people." I admitted I was, and she walked around with me, asking people along the way until we found them. And that was great because it actually took us some time. I have no idea how I managed to end so far from the rest of the group.

I tried to take some pictures, but many people were unhappy about it. A few days later, I learned that many people believed we would sell the pics back in Europe. Also, as it usually happens when I travel, it took me a minute to remember how to use the camera and change the settings quickly. That's why some of the pics I took are absolutely unusable.

The market was big and had everything: clothing, food, crafts... The weirdest items we found were probably the extremely sexually explicit nightgowns and aprons a woman was selling, with images of people having sex on them. We found it hilarious, and she told us, "they're European, uh?" while pointing at them.
I didn't buy anything besides the fabric, although I later regretted not getting a shirt. I wouldn't say I like bargaining, though, and felt too lazy about it.

This was our first experience with the flirtatious Gambian men who would try to get women to talk and message with them, especially Sara. The one who sold us the fabrics, in particular, kept following her around the market, which was somewhat funny, somewhat weird.Read more