Last weekend Kathryn and I checked into the Atlantic Hotel for a couple of days of sunshine, swimming, and shopping. We have been planning to stay at a resort pretty much since the first week, but only got around to it during Kathryn’s last week in country. Even with all that anticipation, it was strange to experience The Gambia as a tourist. I felt the urge to tell every hotel worker and shopkeeper I met that I’m not actually a tourist-- I’m just pretending for fun! I’m not sure what inspired this desire, but both Kathryn and I gave into it whenever the opportunity presented itself, even if it was somewhat awkward.
It was so nice to have some of the tourist luxuries for a weekend though. At the hotel I took the first hot shower I’ve had in two months and I was able to swim to my heart’s content. I ate bacon for breakfast, which may sound like a small feat, but in an Islamic country its like finding buried treasure. It was a very great weekend.
On the way home from we stopped to buy some gifts for friends and family back home at the Bakau Craft Market. At the craft market craftsmen carving hippos and masks from blocks of mahogany and weavers working at their looms sit under the shade next to their shops. Sometimes they get up to sell you their goods, and sometimes their uncle or niece will take care of that part for them. I drooled antique war masks from Mali and huge xylophone like instruments and a million other treasures that were too big or too expensive or too bizarre to buy. I ended up with a bunch of gifts, a beautiful batik wall hanging for my apartment next year, and even a few dollars left in my pocket after some serious bargaining.
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