Cycling to school

I bought a bike from a teacher who was leaving Dakar. It was in my apartment when I arrive, but the front tire had a flat. I borrowed a pump, but discovered the tire had a slow leak, so every day, both going and coming, I had to add air. When my shipment arrived, with extra bike tubes, I finally had it fixed. The ride is not very long, but I have to get off and on the bike several times, all those handicapped curb cuts in USA are very handy. The ride is along the cornish--the most modern, best paved road I've seen here. It was built for some special occasion, but I forget what it was.
Top right photo includes the sidewalk I ride on. Blank walls invite graffiti any where in the world. I do not know the reason for the barbed wire on the fence. Almost all the fences had some type of menacing material at the top. In the photo, top right, you can see how lovely this ride is. In the photo on the left, you'll see the top of Mosquee de Ouakam, which is where I begin my ride along the Cornish--after weaving through some back streets and cutting across a walking area. A few other staff ride, but most comment on how brave I am.

Before I was using my bike, I walked this route to the school--takes about 1/2 hour--and I would be dripping with sweat when I arrived. My first weekend in Dakar, as I was walking to the school, there was an incredible motorcade on the road. Must have been some very high offical--there was an escort of motorcycle police, big SUVs with lights flashing and sirens blarring, and then finally an extra long stretch limo with black glass, followed by more escorts.