Le Village des Tortues

The village is actually a reserve for injured tortoises and now breds them for increasing the numbers in other parts of Senegal. It is the home of giant African spurred tortoises, the largest species of continental tortoises on earth.  I was surprised at how interesting the park was.

The strangler tree! 

I loved this no smoking sign. The tortoises is saying, 

"come out right now, I know what you are doing in there" 

This tortoises has these bumps because previous malnutrition.  

It has improved since it was brought into the village. 

trip home from St. Louis--baskets and pots

We stopped on the return trip from St.-Louis for more shopping!!! 

Almamy said this town specialized in basket making, but there is also lots of pottery available.

sightseeing in colonial St. Louis

St. Louis was the first French settlement in Africa, founded in 1659 on an island in the Senegal River. St. Louis expanded to the mainland and to the Langue de Barbarie (the sand barrier island where our hotel is located).  The St. Louis International Jazz Festival is famous. 

This is the main square, near one of the bridges which connects the island to the main land. Part of the original bridge, designed by M. Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame, is still in use.

Typical street scene but notice the name of the bar, spoutnik.

I am always facinated by these building that look like they won't be standing up much longer. This building was fully occupied with workshops and stores.

Most of the buildings had these lovely balconies.  It reminds me of New Orleans. Any renovations done here have to be historical accurate. 

Nalla and Marje near a lovely hotel. The island is long and narrow and you could generally see the water   in both directions. 

Another typical street scene, I took several pictures, but posted this one.  The man is putting up his hand to say--don't take my picture--I thought it was a religious thing but it seems more like a knee jerk reaction to picture taking.

The gate to the French consulate--below is the dead mouse just outside the gate.  Our guide joked, the mouse died while waiting for his visa. 

The dock area used for shipping--one of the old cranes is left standing with a plaque about the importance of the port of St.-Louis. 

Northern tip of the island, looking across to Mauritania. 

Courtyard of the Maison des Soeurs, originally housing an orphanage, then admistrative offices. Now undergoing renovation.  Building similar to the slave house on Ile de Goree, designed by the same architect. 

The colorful pirogues and the fabrics, see below, are so beautiful but surrounded by trash or rubble.

The fabric photo is a close up of the one below--where you see the surrounding of make shift stands, crumbling building, and littered with trash. 

Built as a Catholic church, now used as a mosque.  The only mosque with clock tower and bell. When it was converted to a mosque, they had to agree to only ring the bell for the call to pray--not the traditional voice. 

Colonial governor of the St. Louis

Hotel at the southern tip of the island.

Bird Sanctuary

Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj

Park was created in 1971, and designated a Unesco World Heritage Site 10 years later. Recognized as one of the world's 10 most important waterfowl sanctuaries.

Up to 15,000 of the great white pelicans gather on the breeding island.

Gift shop wall at the hotel next to the park. Each doorway at the hotel had a different bird painted on it.

Children at Play

We walked around the neighborhood, near the fish processing area. While most adults don't like to be photographed, the children seem to love it.  I love watching how the children seem to always engaged in play with the toys they create.

The boy was taking turns with friends driving each other around in this broken wheeled suitcase. 

They scratched a board on the cement bench and used white and black stone to make this game--it wasn't checkers but something similar.

Of course, the kids do a lot of work as well as play.

Notice his Obama shirt!

A ball offers endless play.

These boys have an actual boat--check out of the rest of the photos of boats boys have made by filling large bags with styrofoam pieces or yellow plastic jugs.  They paddle with their hands or a board.