Kolda Day 2

We are in for a treat. Fanta told us we were going to take a boat trip down the Casamance River. This proved to be much more fun than it sounds. I was amazed by the 8-10 feet tall termite mounds that sprouted all along our route. I convinced everyone to stop and let me admire them from a bit closer. Like the people here, hard work and tenacity are part of daily live. Extremely large, complicated and beautiful structures are everywhere made from diligent hard work. I am in constant amazement on how much is completed with so little.

On the way to the launch point we stopped to see local farmers harvesting cashews. I had no idea that the end product we eat is just a small piece of a large fruit.

As we drove the rest of the way..the trip took about three hours. I got to see some of the smaller rural villages. These were without electricity (unless they had a solar cell) and made up of a melange of mud and waddle thatched roof huts or locally constructed cinder black construction.

When we arrived at he river, we had a nice lunch and got to see the natural beauty that surrounded us all day. I was mesmerized by the men fishing in the river. In the heat (110 degrees when it was cool..usually about 120 degrees) they constantly hauled up and threw heavy nets to catch their fish to eat and sell in the markets.

Eventually, we headed down to the river ourselves. Waiting for us was a pirogue--which is a motorized dugout canoe. Fanta's husband and his friend Inspector Balde were also along to enjoy the ride as well as baby Jaka.

We got stuck a few times on sand bars, and I happily took the opportunity to jump in and help push us back to deeper water. I can now say I have swam in an African river! At the end of the ride someone...(no names mentioned) was happy to be on dry land again. A long but happy day ended with a long ride home and a coolish..bed.