Afrikisurf – A surf trip to West Africa

It’s been a while since the last post.. Surfed a bit every now and then, but nothing great due to many missed days (because of the car-trouble, too much wind, sickness, sidetrips..) but it’s been alright. Staying in N’Gor village since the beginning and rented different places, all overpriced compared to what locals pay. And it can be superloud here, so far three people died in the neighbourhood since we are here and this means endless ceremonies with singing, talking, cooking and noise throughout the night, every time for three days. Haven’t done much but enjoying holidays with my girlfriend Astrid; she came to see me for some two weeks which was fantastic! Unfortunately both of us got sick a lot, never-ending stomach-troubles for two entire weeks, both of us. It was so nice to discover all the things with Astrid, it’s the first time for her in Africa and she got used to wait, to be in tight taxis or to eat whatever there is (whick led to the stomach problems..). We had the funniest rides ever, one cabdriver almost ruined his car because he was mad with me as he didn’t knew where we wanted to go and I had no clue either. So he got nervous, asked around but never seemed to understand what people told him, pulled over where there was no way and the whole car shook and jumped around.. Anyway, went to see a few things (she also spent more than one day with us at the customs, very exciting no?) and did a great trip by ferry down into the Casamance. Learned a few things about travelling again; by now I am used having my own car and all that, without that it is a whole different thing. Had to get tickets, only pullman-seats available which was a trip to hell for a whole night.We tried to sleep in the gangways or other places but we were not allowed. And on deck it was very windy and wet, so no option. The seats were right in front of a TV, airconditioned and not enough clothes (stupid me..), noise and a sore body after the first hour. Arrived in Ziguinchor the next morning, tired as hell. Straight to Cap Skirring where we took whatever room they showed us and got mad on it later on as for this price you should get the whole hotel.. Anyway, the following day we moved to a friends place out in the bush and right at the sea with kind of a private beach as there is no one else, and this was the time to relax for us, finally. Spent some lovely days down there, ate huge dishes of shrimps and fish and just enjoyed not doing much except a little walk here, or a swim in warm water, just in boardies. It is already a whole lot different down in the Casamance, people are very nice and there is a lot of fruits and tropical stuff around. It’s green and a lot warmer (but still colder as last year, it seems to be way colder all in all). On the way back we managed to get two places in a cabin and slept like babies, what a great night on the ferry compared to the other one! So if you plan to take the ferry, book in advance and take food and drinks on it, it is superexpensive.

Now we are back in Dakar, in N’Gor Village again. Astrid just left back to Vienna, back to the cold and fog. For me it’s time to team up with Marc again and move together with my good friend Pascal (traveled together on the last trip) who arrived a week ago. Will rent a place together at the far end of the village, right at the sea and away from the noise. Hope to get some surf the next days; today we will go to the customs again and try to sort out the car-disaster. Once this is done we have to get some visas and then head towards Bamako, Mali in about ten days or so..