Friday and Saturday of last week we traveled to two of the most beautiful beaches nearby Dakar. Friday we took a trip to Goree Island. Goree Island is not only a site of historical importance for the African Diaspora but also now has turned into a dreamy vacation resort for the French and other Europeans. Goree is only a twenty minute ferry ride from Dakar.
During the time of slave trade, Goree function as a major slave port for West Africa. African slaves were brought to Goree Island before they were taken to North America. We visited a museum called La Maison des Esclaves, which held slaves until they boarded ships. The part of the museum that had the greatest impact on me was the room that held small children. The entrance to the room was smaller than all the other doorways in the building, and the room only had a few small, thin windows looking out to the ocean.
I had such a mixture of emotions while on Goree; it is an important historical site; however, if a white tourist is even just standing on the beach, you will be swarmed with vendors who are attempting to sell you things. Even Saturday, we couldn't avoid the vendors at a more rural beach two hours south of Dakar in Mbor. While you enjoy the warm African sun, the sound of the waves, and a nice book, you can also choose from a variety of souvenirs, from necklaces to glass painting to woven baskets.
Even though we were only at Mbor for a few hours, we were reassured with the fact that we will be returning there at the culmination of the program for the presentations of our independent study projects. I can hardly wait!
No comments:
Post a Comment