Tanzania and Zanzibar

Three people smiling under a thatched roof.

March 2005 Tanzania Check out the Tanzania and Zanzibar. I’m a lucky guy. Anzie has a Peace Corps conference scheduled in Tanzania, East Africa, and I get to go along. Not only did I get to visit exotic-sounding places like Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar, but we went on safari through the Serengeti, got up…

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The Festival of Tabaski

Cows grazing in a rural field near urban buildings.

January 2005 Tabaski The Paris-Dakar rally ended in Dakar last Sunday. Well … not exactly Paris- Dakar. The race started in Barcelona. It ended in Lac Rose, about 30 miles North of Dakar. But, what else could they call it? The Barcelona-Lac Rose Rally just doesn’t have the same “exoticity” (new word). Sometimes it starts…

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St Louis and the Famous Djoudj Bird Sanctuary

A pelican swimming near a stone embankment on a sunny day.

December 2005 St. Louis Re-Visited Giant warthogs, crocodiles, red monkeys … Hey, this is supposed to be a bird refuge!! Welcome to Djoudj, the third largest bird refuge in the world. Home to a few thousand white pelicans, just about every known variety of cormorant, heron and egret, along with eagles (I swear the “fishing…

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Year in Review 2004 and Our Second Christmas

2024 calendar showcasing all months with dates in a clean layout.

December 20, 2004 Our Second Christmas Another Christmas is racing toward us like an oncoming train. Another year is almost over. Where’d the time go? You have traveled through this year with us, through our many travel journals. Here’s a review of the highlights of a full and enriching year. January: February: March: April: May:…

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Gambia Revisited

View from a boat deck overlooking calm water and green shore.

September 2005 Gambia Revisited Meet Charbel. He’s a 3rd generation Lebanese Gambian. He’s tall for a Lebanese with a slender build. I find him to be an easy guy to know. He possesses a laid-back, humorous personality which belies his high pressure work ethic. He owns a multitude of businesses in Gambia and Senegal ranging…

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Gambia – The Country the World Forgot

Two people standing in front of dense green foliage with palm trees.

September 2004 Gambia — The Country the World Forgot Gambia is such an interesting country. Look at a map and you’ll see that the country looks like a smiling, or grimacing, mouth on the face of Senegal. It is surrounded on three sides by Senegal. It extends along each side of the Gambia River, which…

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Getting There

A car waits at a railroad crossing with lowered gates and a stop sign.

September 12th, 2004 Getting There Meet Dez. He’s a transplanted Brit who now resides in Gambia. Dez is a compact, muscular man in his 60’s who retired to Gambia because he and his wife, Sylvia, can live well for less. Dez and Sylvia are not alone. Many people have come to Gambia to vacation on…

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The US Election and Thanksgiving in Africa

Cover of a children's book titled 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving' with colorful cartoon characters.

November 2004 The US election and Thanksgiving in Dakar We’re recovering from the election. The U.S. Embassy put on a nice Election Night Party that went until 5:00 AM Wednesday. Yours truly left at midnight. Music, food, a mock election complete with voting booths, a speech by our ambassador Roth, and a concerted effort to…

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Living underground and the Land of the Lotus Eaters

Ancient mud-brick building with arched windows and wooden door under palm trees.

MAY 2004 Southern Tunisia: Living Underground and the Island of the Lotus Eaters Check out the Living underground and the Land of the Lotus Eaters photos attached. Our third bite will be about how people live underground in Tunisia. Yes, we lived underground, too. But first, you need to get acclimated geographically. Tunisia lies on…

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Sbeitla Roman Ruins and Anne’s Peace Corps Family

Ancient stone ruins under a bright blue sky.

Tunisia – May 2004 Southern Tunisia: Rugs, Roman ruins, Oases and Anzie’s Peace Corps Family Check out the Sbeitla Roman Ruins and Anne’s Peace Corps Family photos attached. Our second bite was to head south and meet the Chebbi family. They’re part of the reason we decided to visit Tunisia in the first place. You…

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