Getting Stylish in Kabrousse, Senegal

it's important to support the local economy.  I convinced JJ that he should have some clothing made for him, and then I decided to, as well.   JJ is very tall and lanky, and he could use a properly sized pair of pants in addition to his do-all hiking pant/short combo.
First, the customer must buy fabric to bring to the tailor.  Luckily, the fabric shop was two shops away from the tailor.  A beautiful, warm woman was the proprietress;  she was youngish, slender, dressed in a slim fitting, ankle length floral patterned dress.  She clearly demonstrated that a woman can be spectacularly sexy while being fully covered!!

The Sacred Spring

JJ and I had no idea what a puit was.  Saliou told me I needed to bring a scarf to cover my head.  We were going to bathe there.  It was past Cap Skirring and for 5000 cfa, the driver would take us there, wait for us and take us back.  We walked through savannah like forest,  blonde grasses with an occasional baobob arriving at an enclosed area around what appeared to be a sinkhole or shaft filled with dark/algae water.  This was the puit discovered by a sacred man 300 years ago.  Many people go there, including tourists.  Saliou and our driver both drank the water (with no ill effect!) but JJ and I declined. I had covered my head.  I wasn't sure whether we were going into the spring (that's what it is, in fact), but the drive collected four buckets of water, as well as filling several litre bottles to bring home
We each took a bucket and went to simple shower stalls made of cement to bathe ourselves.  Yay, I could remove my clothing!  It was very refreshing, indeed, and we were instructed to not wash for 24 hours to get the full effect.
I chatted with three Senegalese in front of a simple mosque while Saliou went in to pray and we returned to Cap Skirring for lunch.

An afternoon in Cap Skirring

It was hot.  Very hot.  JJ, Saliou and I headed over to get money, food, lunch, sandals, for Saliou to find one of his clients and whatever else may have suited our fancy.  It was hot, very hot, but very dry.  JJ and I learned about Chewing Sticks, the African toothbrush.  It's actually quite a good idea and explains why Africans have such white teeth.  You chew the end until the end is fibrous and  use that to brush your teeth, and stimulate the gums.  JJ had noticed that many people had sticks in their mouths, but they were clearly not cigarettes.  I bought four of these for 100 cfa.

JJ was wearing these impossibly heavy hiking boot and we searched for sandals to fit his size 13 feet.  The initial price was 13.000 cfa with a counter offer from Saliou of 2.000 cfa.  I had to keep from laughing. Saliou puts his offer out there, the vendor sputters in disbelief, Saliou has a take it or leave it demeanor and remains silent, studies his phone and looks around.  They settle on 3.000 cfa and shake hands.  The vendor offers tea and we all settle in for a bit under the shade.

Lunch.  JJ has a beer.  I admit to sneaking a little, just like at home.  It's been super  fun to hang out with him.  We ate in the same restaurant in Cap Skirring three days in a row.  A nice plate of rice with fish, 1000 cfa.  It's very hot.  

friends

JJ Frost joined us in our travels to Kabrousse.  A tall Alaskan, long lanky in stature, a ready smile and a colleague of Dave Lawrence in the domain of permafrost studies.
We also met up with Christine Leveille, a spunky French woman who has travelled alone all over the world. Quite an amazing person, having started her own business after a career in IT.  The people you  meet in such far flung places are sure to be interesting.