The way was not so long, but it seemed to last forever. After flying from Fes to Dakar and driving with 7 different (shared) taxis we finally arrived to Saint Louis, Senegal. Exhausted.
Le Chateau is in the center of the city, in the heart of the verve. There are people everywhere, goats eating trash, sounds of calling for prayer, horses on the street, goddess looking women, cramped shops and busy fishermen. True African chaos spread over the island and narrow peninsula at the Atlantic coast.
Le Chateau, a castle and former Mauritanian government palace, is our harbor. It has a view on the river Senegal with long colorful fishing boats and the noisy street. Young citizens come here every day for dance-jams, video making, photography or just to hang out. It is Saint Louis’ cultural center organizing a variety of events all around the city.
Faly kindly showed us our room with the best bathroom I have ever been too. It’s a real chamber. Mosquito net makes the bed a safe shelter. I hope I will stop having these weird dreams the anti-malaria pills give me.
In the kitchen I met a girl, looking a bit older than me, living in the Chateau for 3 months already learning French. She asked me what are we doing and how long are we staying here and as I replied she started screaming and jumping excitingly: »These guys are here for a month and they are doing circus and theater! This is gonna be so much fun!« She ran to Moussa, her Senegalese boyfriend, and started hugging him. I love Camila from the first moment I met her.
I am slowly starting to speak French, trying to communicate with the new environment, which takes a big amount of my energy. It is very different than anything I know.
The amount of trash lying everywhere is enormous and I realise I live in a bubble of clear blue water and long fields of green. How can the Earth swallow so much plastic?
It is my birthday and it makes me happy I will celebrate it here. We will order a chocolate cake, make a traditional bissap tea and sing when the sounds from the streets will finally be worn out and quiet.
Text: Eva
Photo: Uroš, Eva & Mamadou