Arrived safely in Senegal

I was not one bit disappointed as our plane made a bumpy landing on the other side of the world. We stepped off the plane into a comfortably cool middle of the night. The plane stopped on the bumpy tarmack and we made our way to the bus which took us to the terminal. We were immediately greeting by enthusiastic Senegalese men with nametags wanting to help with our bags. I so wanted to take pictures of the others who were wrapped in blankets and actually sleeping on the conveyor belt. This, I discovered, enabled them to wake up when the action started. We came through immigrations and customs without any problems - but as Darwin noted, we felt strangely guilty as we waited for our passports to be stamped....maybe I had done something that would raise suspicion. My recent life flashed before my eyes as the officer scowled at our passports...I guess he did not uncover anything unusual. Marilyn greeted us from across the road as we finally exited the = Senegal International Airport.

It took us 90 minutes to drive the 35 miles to Thies. Although we were on the 'autobaun' the highway was filled with traps and tricky driving, cement embutments which jutted onthe the road, speed bumps, numberous buses with people clamboring to get inside with large bundles, women carrying their burdens on their heads, and men riding on the outside to call out the their destination. There was also an occasional horse pulled cart which we passed anywhere from 20 to 50 miles per hour.

I loved it.