Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 1, 2019 Author #101 Share Posted May 1, 2019 Breezy outside and the temperature is still dropping. The Internet still crawls along - 17 minutes to upload this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted May 1, 2019 #102 Share Posted May 1, 2019 47 minutes ago, Silver Spectre said: Breezy outside and the temperature is still dropping. The Internet still crawls along - 17 minutes to upload this That'll never do...by that time, you'll be in a totally different spot and I'll never be able to find you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 2, 2019 Author #103 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Monster Truck tour of Gambia 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 2, 2019 Author #104 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Lunch with local beer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spinnaker2 Posted May 2, 2019 #105 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Thats quite a truck! Stay safe and enjoy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 2, 2019 Author #106 Share Posted May 2, 2019 Traffic jam 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 2, 2019 Author #107 Share Posted May 2, 2019 (edited) Lunch Edited May 2, 2019 by Silver Spectre 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 2, 2019 Author #108 Share Posted May 2, 2019 (edited) So goodbye Banjul, we are now whispering our way to Dakar and a 5+ hour bunkering operation that will not allow us on or off the ship, which makes the port visit a complete waste of time for those who are not on excursions. Luckily, that means a much needed lie in. Oh, and the Internet is still complete rubbish. Edited May 2, 2019 by Silver Spectre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tothesunset Posted May 3, 2019 #109 Share Posted May 3, 2019 3 hours ago, Silver Spectre said: Oh, and the Internet is still complete rubbish. Snap! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 3, 2019 Author #110 Share Posted May 3, 2019 Noisy this morning with all of Fernando’s announcements, now docked at the bunker berth. Even with most guests ashore we can only manage 0.15 Mbps! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 3, 2019 Author #111 Share Posted May 3, 2019 A little better now, Goree Island, where our evening trip will take us 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCCruiser57 Posted May 3, 2019 #112 Share Posted May 3, 2019 Update. Captain just announced refueling operations started late. Thus, we won’ t return to the port pier until 4:30 pm instead of 2:45 pm. Our original 4 hour tour had already been extended to almost 6 hours and now will be nearly 8 hours. Welcome to Africa. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 3, 2019 Author #113 Share Posted May 3, 2019 (edited) A very deep and honest apology from Fernando just now from SS about the bunkering disaster this morning and for the guests who were on the pier this afternoon after the port agent failed to send anyone to tell them what was going on. I think he said sorry 5 times! Now off to Goree Island and the Gates to Nowhere for cocktails and dinner. Edited May 3, 2019 by Silver Spectre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unibok Posted May 3, 2019 #114 Share Posted May 3, 2019 My goodness, it sounds like quite a challenge for the crew! I hope you enjoy your well-deserved cocktails and dinner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 3, 2019 Author #115 Share Posted May 3, 2019 38 minutes ago, Unibok said: My goodness, it sounds like quite a challenge for the crew! I hope you enjoy your well-deserved cocktails and dinner. We had a wonderful evening, great food, great music and topped off by fireworks. Well done SS! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 4, 2019 Author #116 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Car transportation failures on Dakar dock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 4, 2019 Author #117 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Yesterday was a day of stark contrasts, marooned during the day for 7 1/2 hours by the bunkering debacle, but then treated to our best ever SS event with dinner in the Fort on Goree Island. Wonderful organisation and a superb meal. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Fletcher Posted May 4, 2019 #118 Share Posted May 4, 2019 (edited) While I am not an apologist for the slave trade, I do find it rather strange/odd/queasy that Silversea should throw a lavish, frivolous party on the island of Goree, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a monument to the millions of Africans forcibly exported to the New World. There may be circumstances of which I am unaware - which SilverSpectre might reveal - but I'm not sure I would have attended this event. Edited May 4, 2019 by Fletcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 4, 2019 Author #119 Share Posted May 4, 2019 4 hours ago, Fletcher said: While I am not an apologist for the slave trade, I do find it rather strange/odd/queasy that Silversea should throw a lavish, frivolous party on the island of Goree, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a monument to the millions of Africans forcibly exported to the New World. There may be circumstances of which I am unaware - which SilverSpectre might reveal - but I'm not sure I would have attended this event. An interesting, perhaps alternative, take on the event, and one which most of the WC’s would probably not comprehend (IMHO). I suspect it was here because of a lack of adequate facilities elsewhere on this WC segment. To a certain extent it was also a celebration of Africa and of local culture, and that makes it worthwhile. This was the event description: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 4, 2019 Author #120 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Great Country Fair this afternoon, fun for all, especially guessing Fernando’s current weight. Two obvious leaks being dried today and the forward lift has been ‘momentarily’ under maintenance all day! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Fletcher Posted May 4, 2019 #121 Share Posted May 4, 2019 1 minute ago, Silver Spectre said: An interesting, perhaps alternative, take on the event, and one which most of the WC’s would probably not comprehend (IMHO). I suspect it was here because of a lack of adequate facilities elsewhere on this WC segment. To a certain extent it was also a celebration of Africa and of local culture, and that makes it worthwhile. This was the event description: Thanks for that. Mmmm . . . Silversea are being more than a bit coy I think, regarding the dark history of this place. Forgetting for a moment the logistics, I'm sure Ghana would not allow such an event to take place at Elmina or Cape Coast Castle. Perhaps I'm now going to push things a bit too far, but ditto Poland and Auschwitz? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 4, 2019 Author #122 Share Posted May 4, 2019 I will endeavour to find the SS corporate guy who did all the organisation (and the other WC events) and ask him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Observer Posted May 4, 2019 #123 Share Posted May 4, 2019 4 hours ago, Fletcher said: While I am not an apologist for the slave trade, I do find it rather strange/odd/queasy that Silversea should throw a lavish, frivolous party on the island of Goree, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a monument to the millions of Africans forcibly exported to the New World. There may be circumstances of which I am unaware - which SilverSpectre might reveal - but I'm not sure I would have attended this event. I have been pondering this post and have mixed reactions. First, having several years ago spent some time at Goree, I was very sympathetic to your perspective. This hardly seems an appropriate venue for cocktails and a lavish, festive dinner. Nor would it seem appropriate to have lectures, etc., over the pudding reminding the guests of the horrors that took place there. On the other hand, apart from luxury hotels, I cannot readily think of other likely spots in West Africa for such a dinner -- a place where the caterers are accustomed to dealing with such guests in style, etc. To my mind, nearly anything that will contribute to the economic development of Africa is permissible. So, briefly, I am torn. Thanks for your thought-provoking post. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlemichael Posted May 4, 2019 #124 Share Posted May 4, 2019 Interesting discussion. I've been to Goree Island on a couple of occasions and am deeply moved by the place each time. It is one of the great parts of any visit to Africa for me. I too think it would be totally inappropriate to hold a party in Auschwitz and many other sites of crimes against humanity. This function took place in the Fort D'estres which was built around 70 years after the slave trade ended from Goree Island. It wasn't held in the Slave House which is a couple of hundred metres away or in any other slave place. Aside from the fact that the Slave House is unsuitable, it would be deeply inappropriate. I know that some of the people of Goree benefitted from this event by way of employment and I imagine Silversea paid a goodly sum for our presence in the Fort and on the forecourt. I have no qualms about being there and am glad that, in a small way, my presence helped the local community of this beautiful place. If, because of the history, they can't make a living, that is very sad to me. As the whole visit to this part of the world is moving I am happy to help in any way I can without diminishing the awful events that occurred here. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 5, 2019 Author #125 Share Posted May 5, 2019 2 hours ago, turtlemichael said: Interesting discussion. I've been to Goree Island on a couple of occasions and am deeply moved by the place each time. It is one of the great parts of any visit to Africa for me. I too think it would be totally inappropriate to hold a party in Auschwitz and many other sites of crimes against humanity. This function took place in the Fort D'estres which was built around 70 years after the slave trade ended from Goree Island. It wasn't held in the Slave House which is a couple of hundred metres away or in any other slave place. Aside from the fact that the Slave House is unsuitable, it would be deeply inappropriate. I know that some of the people of Goree benefitted from this event by way of employment and I imagine Silversea paid a goodly sum for our presence in the Fort and on the forecourt. I have no qualms about being there and am glad that, in a small way, my presence helped the local community of this beautiful place. If, because of the history, they can't make a living, that is very sad to me. As the whole visit to this part of the world is moving I am happy to help in any way I can without diminishing the awful events that occurred here. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now