Work and Pleasure

A trip mainly for work, but I threw in some pleasure too. We started off working at the residence of the President of Mauritania; no photos attached, top secret. We visited the city, very desert-like I'd say, made up mostly of dirt roads and detached houses; along the streets you find everything, from butchers working out in the open to people selling fried bananas, fried meat, watches, mobile phones, everything. A lot, a lot of poverty. Be careful, because once you reach the kasbah, the so-called market, where everything and everyone is crammed together, you'll find yourself surrounded by every kind of trader, also because European faces are very few. The food in the few hotels there are is French-inspired, since Mauritania is a former French colony; you eat divine fish, never seen such shapes and sizes back home. Interesting is the fish market, still old-fashioned, on the beach.

The ocean is beautiful and dangerous, it literally pulls you in deep, there's always a lot of wind, and especially in the desert you should cover your eyes and mouth well. Since we did excursions into the desert, it's better to ask around in the city for guides who will get jeeps themselves for modest sums. What matters to the locals is the photos you take with them, you make them feel important and honoured, but the visitors should be the honoured ones, because in the midst of so much poverty they are by far more welcoming in opening their homes to you than we are.... happy travels.