Day 60: Zebrabar – Dakar (Bi Hotel 2)

By the way, Sam, the cyclist from Germany, arrived here yesterday. How impressive. Unfortunately we won't spend much time with each other because we're leaving for Dakar today.

Before that, however, a third attempt was made to obtain a Guinea visa – again without success. The payment page is probably not running at the moment.

In the morning we do a little cleaning in and around the car, check the tire pressure, blow out the air filter and the car locks, and fill up with water (the tank was actually empty this morning). It will be midday before we leave.

The drive to Dakar is almost a bit boring. However, we drive through a number of small towns and because it is Sunday, people are relaxed. We see a lot of stalls along the streets with everything you need or don't need – sometimes a lot of baskets, sometimes a lot of shoes, metal goods, plastic items, kitsch, clothing. And meat, nuts, vegetables and fruits that we can't even identify.

The traffic in Dakar is dense, jostling but not aggressive and we get through slowly but steadily. Maybe it's an advantage that it's Sunday.

At first we can't find the hotel and are afraid it doesn't exist. Then an entrance opens and security gives us access to the elevator to the 6th floor. In the first room the bathroom smells like rotten water. The second room has the window onto the shaft with all ventilation systems. In the third room the bathroom is completely down. So there is a price upgrade for the fourth room, which is ok and at least offers a good view over Dakar.

The car is parked downstairs in front of the house and hopefully security will actually keep an eye on it.

We definitely have to eat something and look for a place that looks good on Google and has traditional cuisine. The operator used to be in Germany on a student exchange – funny and equally amazing how well he speaks German. Which tempts us to ask a few questions straight away. The green fruits are probably from a type of conifer and are eaten raw.

On the way back the streets are still packed. We stand out, but feel comfortable. Every now and then a nod or a smile or some other greeting. We're tired. Great, we're in Dakar.