May 2011

Is French West Africa Expensive as a Traveler?

by phil May 26, 2011 Tips
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Many of the countries in West Africa are former French colonies. The currency used in these countries is the FCFA (Franc Communauté Financière Africaine), more commonly known as the CFA (pronounced seefa). Tied to the Euro at a rate of roughly 640 CFA to 1 Euro, the CFA currency is often cited as the main [...]

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Why are you Traveling in West Africa?

by phil May 20, 2011 thoughts
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I don’t want this post to come across as angry or judgmental. I will attempt to be careful with my words. West Africa is not particularly well traveled so it’s common to get to know other travelers when you do happen to come across them. Most often, you meet overlanders who are either traveling solo [...]

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40 Hours: Dakar to Bamako During the Hot Season

by phil May 16, 2011 Mali
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This post has 7 parts: Senegal? The Bus The Passengers Hot Season is Hot The Bad The Good The Cutest Girl in the World Senegal? I arrived in Dakar last Monday. I stayed until Wednesday night. Depending on what happens in Mali, I may spend more time in Senegal on the return trip. My first [...]

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Ode to Hobart Street

by phil May 8, 2011 USA

I am writing from Dulles Airport, on my way to Senegal, but stuck in the orbit of a Washington, DC neighborhood – specifically a street called Hobart. I lived on this street for two years. Since I’ve left, there have been semi-annual reunions. If I return to DC, I will find a way back onto [...]

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A Few of my Favorite Photos From West Africa

by phil May 3, 2011 W. Africa

Some of these have been shared previously, some have not. A handful of them are from my first trip to West Africa in 2005, when I studied abroad in Ghana. You might want to wear sunglasses, some of these are overexposed. Kids in the fishing village of Akwidaa, Ghana, 2005 Burkinabe girls in Ouagadougou, Burkina [...]

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