We stayed in St. Louis for four days, and I fell in love with the city from the first Moment, the chaotic driving scene, and the bustling atmosphere of the city. There’s a kind of flow to it that I really enjoy. The baguette has a price limit of ”190 CFA”; in Senegal, we typically buy it for 125 CFA Francs, which is around 19 cents.On our first night, we camped in an abandoned hotel campground. Then we met Dominik, the owner of an hotel listed on iOverlander that wasn’t functioning anymore. She kindly allowed us to pitch our tent and stay for a few days.During our stay, we were introduced to Mafé and Chebujin,
”Ceebu Jën, the national dish, is a flavorful mix of marinated fish, spiced tomato rice, and vegetables like cassava and cabbage, traditionally shared from one big bowl. Mafé is a rich peanut stew with meat and vegetables, offering pure comfort and a deep taste of Senegal’s culinary soul.”
which have become my favourite foods. You can find them on almost every corner in Senegal, often for as low as 50 cents. On my first walk through the city, many people asked to have their photos taken when they saw me with my camera. It seems that people enjoy being photographed. What’s special about St. Louis is the variety of birds present. I never expected to be interested in birds, but their presence has been captivating. My Shimano HG-X chain has around 6,000 km on it, and I also need to change Sandra’s chain. Finding a replacement chain was not easy; after two days of searching, I accidentally asked someone on the street for help. They led me to Ablai, a bike repair shop and trainer for the national team. He sent someone to buy two chains for us at a cost of 7,000 CFA Francs, around €11, for two Chinese chains called Shimino. After getting back, I changed the chains, gave the bikes some love and a good clean, and now we are ready for Senegal!

Ceebu jën (also spelt thieboudienne) is Senegal’s beloved national dish, and its name means “rice with fish” in Wolof. It’s a rich, colourful combination of marinated fish, hearty vegetables like carrots, cabbage, and cassava, and perfectly seasoned rice cooked in a flavorful tomato-based sauce. Traditionally served in a large communal bowl

Saint-Louis in Senegal is experiencing significant economic developments due to major offshore oil and gas discoveries.

In 2015, a substantial natural gas reserve estimated at 425 billion cubic meters was discovered off the coast of Saint-Louis, near the border with Mauritania. This led to the development of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, a joint venture involving BP, Kosmos Energy, and the state-owned oil companies of Senegal and Mauritania. The project is expected to produce around 2.3 million tons of LNG annually, with production anticipated to commence by the end of 2024.
However, the local community in Saint-Louis has faced challenges due to these projects. The establishment of exclusion zones around drilling sites has restricted access to fertile fishing grounds, significantly impacting the livelihoods of local fishermen and their families. This has led to increased unemployment and poverty in the region.

They came every day to the same window and knocked hard on it, and till now nobody could give an explanation for that behaviour.