Gambia Day Six - in which Christina finally gets the hang of talking to the locals!...

Today we visited a maternity-ward-come-baby-clinic, which apparently had been renovated since last year's trip. When we walked through the lady's ward and men's room I felt like a real intruder - it was quite uncomfortable! Next we visited the Brikhama Craft Market. On entry, I thought "I'm gonna hate this!" because people were urging you into their shops and calling at you. However, I really enjoyed the bartering and talking to the shopkeepers! We met 'Mr Cheap', 'Mr No Problem', 'Mr Chicken and Chips', and saw many an 'Asda Shop' and 'Tesco Shop'! By the time it came to leaving I was really getting in to it! Sam and Mrs Hardman ('The Tourist!') had to be dragged away! Then we went to the most westernly point in the Gambia and visited 'Paradise Beach' which was GORGEOUS! It was so breezy you didn't realise you were burning! I enjoyed 'Ladyfish Benachin' for dinner, which was ladyfish (like cod) with rice and a delicious vegetable sauce. We also enjoyed a delightful extract reading by Mrs Hardman about a traveller in Nepal - a great anecdote for before a meal! (Cheers, Miss!) Lauren also got promised marriage and a chocolate baby by a local, and Claire got a proposal from a toothless 60yr old! Score!
Then we (and I mean we, some of us got to drive!) drove along the beach at speed with scum flying up to Tanji Fishing Village. We went to the museum first and saw people weaving - I bought a handbag! - and learned a bit about how people in the Gambia lived traditionally, in compounds. It's strange how the men live separate from the women once they are circumcised, and how the 'Head Man' moves between his wives! Then we walked through the fishing village whilst the catch was coming in - and it wasn't pretty! There were fishheads and piles of fishtails in the sand, and they dry the fish out by laying their carcasses on big tables - nice!
Then we headed back to the hotel for evening meal - and it was drinks and cards all round again!