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[17] Gorée Island -- December 29, 2003
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Photograph by Luke Klein

Luke: The view of Dakar from the ferry
Luke: Gorée, just a short ferry ride from Dakar, is a great place to relax. It was a bit overcast on the day we visited; on a sunny day the beach is packed with people.

Photograph by Luke Klein

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas
Luke: Oumar, our friend from Dakar, joined us for our trip to Gorée. That's Oumar to my right.
 

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas
  
Dave: Gorée Island was the last stopping point for some slaves on their way to America. Recent findings by historians have cast doubt on the island's previously understood role as a major node in the slave trade, but its emotional impact is still the same. George W. Bush paid a visit some months before us.

Photograph by David Scholnick

Photograph by David Scholnick
  
Luke: The Catholic church on Gorée (Church of St. Charles Borromeo -- 1830). About one third of the island's inhabitants of the island are Catholic (with the rest Muslim), a far higher proportion than elsewhere in Senegal.

Photograph by Luke Klein

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas
Aaron: The plaque says something like:
In remembrance of the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to this church and of the memorable words that he spoke on February 22, 1992: "From this African sanctuary of black suffering, we implore the forgiveness of heaven."
 

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by Luke Klein
 Luke: The colors on Gorée are stunning.
 

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas
 Dave: One great thing about Gorée: no cars.
Luke: We visited the Maison des Esclaves, where African slaves were once kept in appallingly cruel conditions. Again, with Oumar.

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by David Scholnick
  
Luke: Here Oumar is standing in the 'Door of No Return' at the Maison des Esclaves.

Photograph by Luke Klein

Photograph by Luke Klein
Luke: Daniel in the 'Door of No Return'
 

Photograph by David Scholnick

Photograph by David Scholnick
 
 

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by David Scholnick
 
Dave: There were no bad pictures in Gorée.

Photograph by David Scholnick

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas
 

Luke: In colonial times, Gorée was used as a military position by the French. The island is dotted with rusting military installations. (You can see that a chunk was cut from the mouth of this cannon so that it cannot be fired.) People have turned many of these installations into houses. Daniel and I climbed down inside this cannon (below where he is standing) and were surprised to find that we had entered someone's home.

Dave: ...Daniel assured the man that he was 'not a crook'.

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by David Scholnick
 
 

Photograph by David Scholnick

Photograph by David Scholnick
  
 

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by David Scholnick

Dave: Relaxing as usual, with a cold Gazelle.

Luke: Yes. There are five gazelles in the picture. Count carefully.
 

Photograph by Aaron Javsicas

Photograph by David Scholnick
  
Luke: The famous Senegalese performer Djiby Guissé (of the group Les Frères Guissé) was on the ferry with us on our return trip to Dakar. Somebody had a guitar and asked Guissé to perform a song. The young people on the ferry went crazy and sang along as he performed several songs. He was remarkably at ease amid this cheering throng.

Photograph by Luke Klein
Luke: Oumar (right) was excited for us to pose with Djiby Guissé (center) when we returned to Dakar. Guissé invited us to his upcoming concert, but it was on the night of our departure. Dave thought we were starting an '80s revival band.
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