November 4, 2024

City of Dakar, Senegal

We negotiated for guide and driver to take us a couple of sights in the city, after we returned from Goree Island on the 3pm ferry. We figured it was worth seeing more in one Day, then having to negotiate again the next day. The thing we most wanted to see was the controversial African Renaissance Monument (above photo Cindy Karen & I, with our Guide). This is the tallest monument in all of Africa!! It's huge, the photos don't do it justice. The statue is 171 feet tall, and it is 200 steps up to the base of the statue. The former   President, Abdoulaye Wade launched the project with Senegal Architect, Pierre Goudiaby. The president owns 35% of the copyright (Controversy C#1). Meaning he collects 35% of the profits from the tourism revenues. There is an elevator inside the man's torso that runs up to an observation lookout in the man's head.   Site preparation started in 2006 on top of a dormant volcano. It shows a family drawn up towards the sky, an Africa emerging from the bowels of the earth, leaving obscurantism to go toward the light. (C#2). It was completed in 2010 at a cost of $27 Million (C#3). The statue, built of pure copper, was built by a North Koreen company. (C#4). The statue was dedicated on April 4, 2010 the 50 year anniversary of Senegal's independence from France.

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Grande Mosquee de Dakar

    Button
  • Slide title

    Design came to prophet in a dream - built by workers labor free

    Button
  • Slide title

    President's house

    Button
By Pat Patrick March 18, 2026
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA on Saturday March 14th was a bonus day for us due to port adjustments we had to make with our New Zealand itinerary. It turned into a cousin reunion for me. I got to spend the day catching up with my 2nd cousins Joan and Paul Murphy . Paul's mom Sarah Murphy was my grandmother Anne Timothy's sister. I met Joan and Paul last time I was in Melbourne, in 2016. Joan and Paul have had some rough times with health lately and they recently downsized their large family home down to a compact 2 bedroom cottage, within a mile from their son Paul's home.
By Pat Patrick March 18, 2026
Fellow Residents, Chris aka Zeus & Laura aka Hera , pictured below love a good Murder Mystery night. They go all out and this one had 120 passengers, the Captain, Hotel Manager and several other Crew and the entertainment staff participating, in this ship wide event. We were all given roles, and togas with Greek or Roman roles. Many of the Gods and Goddess had major roles while many others, just played along.
By Pat Patrick March 18, 2026
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND was a quick 25 minute ride inland from the Port of Chalmers . We were going to take the bus, when fellow Resident Theresa, offered us a ride, as she had to return her rental car. This allowed us to make a stop along the way at Baldwin Street.