Take Me To Saint Louis

Or better yet, don't take me to Saint Louis. Yesterday, I returned from my trip to Saint Louis, Senegal. On the downside: Saint Louis is far too touristy for my tastes, more expensive than Dakar, and four of my friends got pick-pocketed. One of them got a staff infection in his foot. There's a big resentment against tourists and white people in general. I often found myself grabbed at and taunted by mean hordes of St. Louisian children. In general, I don't recommend Saint Louis.

On the bright side: the architecture is colonial French and in the process of crumble and decay. It's an eerie, shabby beauty. SIT put us up in a gorgeous hotel, very business-class, and we got a large meal stipend-- I fulfilled most of my cravings for European/ Western style food. Most importantly, I found myself really missing Dakar, and missing my family in Dakar (and of course, missing my family aux Etas-Unis-- but that's a constant, familiar pain). Coming home to Dakar, I realized I've been calling it 'home' effortlessly, without thought.