DAY 102 - DAY 96 CRYSTAL SERENITY

WELCOME TO DAKAR, SENEGAL

We wanted to begin with a summary from Ocean Views which was held yesterday morning.
 
The panel consisted of Tony Leon, (Former Ambassador from South Africa to Argentina) Tom DeFrank (Presidential Writer) and Eugene Robinson (Pulitzer Prize Writer) with Moderator Ken Rees
 
Questions Posed to the Audience and they answer via hand held devices.
 
Where is the audience from?
 
193 from North America, 28 from Europe, 3 from Asia and 18 from Australia.
 
What station do you prefer to watch?
 
81 Fox, 30 CNN, 73 MSNBC and 74 BBC.
 
What are you Political Views?
 
51 Left, 63 Right,  147 Center
 
Has President Trump’s Presidency Improved or Lowered America’s Standing in the World?
 
America’s Standing in the World Reduced - 172
 
America’s Standing in the World Remained The same -  54
 
America’s Standing in the World appears stronger and more resolute these days. – 32
 
After the discussion.
 
America’s Standing in the World Reduced - 185
 
America’s Standing in the World Remained The same -  47
 
America’s Standing in the World appears stronger and more resolute these days. – 20
 
What should the West do about Africa?  Background is that  China is  funding a great deal of African countries.
 
The West should move swiftly to engage more in Africa. – 173
 
The West should keep its distance from Africa. -  41
 
As Bolton from the USA says, it is Africa’s Call to  make and to choose the West over China/Russia. – 47
 
The West should move swiftly to engage more in Africa. – 210
 
The West should keep its distance from Africa. -  16
 
As Bolton from the USA says, it is Africa’s Call to  make and to choose the West over China/Russia. – 29
 
Will Democracy Survive Across The World
 
The Far Right is posting a risk against Democracy.  – 56
 
This is just a phase that Countries go Through.- 22
 
Government must act firmly against Hate & Extremism. – 175
 
The Far Right is posting a risk against Democracy.  – 15
 
This is just a phase that Countries go Through. - 18
 
Governments must act firmly against Hate & Extremism. – 184
 
Gun Control.
 
I support the Constitutional Right to bear Arms exactly as it stands now.   – 22
 
No something must be done and stronger Gun Control is Essential as New Zealand has Recognized -  207
 
Mental Heath is the issue- not the easy availability of Gun. – 28
 
I support the Constitutional Right to bear Arms exactly as it stands now. – 18
 
No something must be done and stronger Gun Control is Essential as New Zealand has Recognized -  214
 
Mental Heath is the issue- not the easy availability of Gun. – 20
 
Ken Rees concluded the talk on a light topic asking the panel what their advice for themselves back when they were 20.  Eugene Robinson said to pay more attention in class and to read more poetry.  Tony DeFrank said know your parents are not so stupid.  Tony Leon said that at 20 you know all the answers but when you are over 40 or 50 you need to know the questions better than the answers.  
 
Finally he asked the panelists for reasons to be more cheerful in a world that is sometimes more challenging.  Eugene Robinson said that in the past couple of decades that many have been lifted out of poverty so the long Ark is bending in the right direction. Tony DeFrank said that in his 50 years in Washington he has covered War, Assassination of a President, two attempted Presidential Assassinations and other challenges but that we are still here as a country and he thinks America is a country of survivors.  Tony Leon said that his job as an opposition leader was to be pessimistic but he has found a book called Fact Fullness and ten things are better than you think.  His point is that we tend to focus on negativity and while the world is bad it is getting better.
 
Regardless of what one thinks about each item discussed we really enjoy the format of Ocean Views.  It allows for a discussion of each item in a calm manner and also an opportunity to see what our fellow guests think before and after the discussion.
 
We began last evening with a pre-dinner drink at the Avenue Saloon

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These are the dinner menus from Waterside

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We dined with fellow Cindy who is on this full World Cruise.  Cindy has been on two other World Cruises that we have sailed and on Northwest Passage.    Like Keith she plays Paddle Tennis and Keith often plays on the same court with her either as partners or as opponents.  Each of us sees her at the Fitness Center while we are taking personal training or Keith is taking an indoor cycle class.  This was the first time we have dined with her.

We dined later than we often do.  Upon our arrival we were the only guests needed to be seated so Restaurant Manager Leo  escorted us to the table we were seated at.

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We enjoyed a delicious meal.  We began with appetizers; Soup for Anne Marie and Olive Oil Poached Corvina for Keith.  We both had salads and all three of us had the Yellow Tail Fillet.  We  often have Yellow Tail at Umi Uma which is thinly cut.  This was the first time we remember having it at Waterside.  

Food was outstanding as well as the service. Special thanks to Senior Waiter Claudia for her recommendations including Yellow Tail and to Head Waiter Augusto for his advice.  We appreciate Sommelier Donovan's recommendations for wine and all that Waiter Yvraj does including many things behind the scenes.  It is a true team effort.

​We slept well as we made our way to this port of call. Keith was up first and worked out a the Fitness Center.  We enjoyed coffee and breakfast in our room.

This is our second time to Dakar.  The city has a population of 2.5 million resdidents

Highlights include:

Place d'e' I'independence which is the Independence Square in the heart of Dakar.

Mache Sandaga which is 60 years old and is a historical heritage site.

Musee Theodore-Monrod which is  museum devote to the arts and traditions of West Africa.

Grand Mosque which was built in 1964.

Palais Présidentiel winch was building in 1907 and serves as the residence of the current sitting President.

In 2014 we visited Dakar for the first time and we took a private tour that we booked with Crystal Cruises.  We decided not to do a tour this time around but thought we would share highlights and photos from the 2014 tour.

As part of the tour we drove around the city of Mamoune and saw several historic sites.  We then went to the Ferry Building to take the ferry over to Goree Island.  The island was used for Salve Trade.  While on the island we learned about the history of Slave Trade.

During the course of the tour we visited Saint Charles Boromeo Church,  Governor’s Palace and the Historical Museum.  As we walked what really hits home is that in the context of history and in the scheme of things that slave trade was not too long ago and a reminder about how bad and hard life can be for so many people. 

We have seen slave cells on this Island as we did on another World Cruise visiting a different country. It was truly a sad time for the world.

The first photo is where we waited for the ferry.

Second photo of the slave cell.

Third photo is outside the House Of Slaves built in 1776.

Photo four shows the architecture of many of the buildings that we saw.

Fifth photo is a monument given by the United States when Bill Clinton was President.

Last photos are of military equipment from the World War.

Keith had a haircut appointment  at the salon this morning. Gloria who cut our hair since we boarded is on Holiday and Danielle is now our hair stylist.  This is her first time working on Crystal Cruises after several contracts with NCL. She is from Liverpool so Keith and Danielle  spoke extensively about my favorite all-time group, The Beatles, and how much we enjoyed visiting Liverpool.
 
After Keith's appointment he went ashore and walked around the immediate area.  The locals were very friendly only asking that I visit their stores.  He asked if I could take photos and in some cases they said he  could photograph them.  He made some donations at the stores without purchasing anything.    

After returning to Serenity we enjoyed lunch at Marketplace and this was followed by Paddle Tennis for Keith  and a long walk for Anne Marie.

We are enjoying the rest of the afternoon on-board Serenity.  The daily Reflections Program follows.

Cheers,

Anne Marie & Keith
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