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.