One more visit - and then It's Play Time!

 The Chief Justice had recommended that we visit with the Freedom of Religion Commission and Emmanuel was able to make it happen because of the Chief Justice recommendation.

We had a meeting on Friday morning with Emmanuel Daniel Joof, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of The Gambia. This is where the Eastmonds were able to shine as they were both speaking the same way.  While the rest of the crew were talking, I read their booklet and really enjoyed learning about the people of Gambia and what they will accept and what they won't. It was a good meeting.

Then it was off to the Gambia River!  We went upstream and rented out a boat. Friday is the holy day in Gambia because it is mostly Muslim. Christians have Sunday, Jews have Saturday and Muslim's have Friday. I think the whole weekend is wrapped up in someone's holy day.

We arrived at a mostly empty dock/pier

Many empty boats waiting for the tourists to come back

When we asked for a boat they went out and cleaned one out.

The driver showed us how oysters collect on the mangrove roots and ladies come out and slice the oysters off with machetes and sell the oysters to restaurants, hotels and places that use them.

The river looked like the ocean when we came out into the bay part but it clearly has sandbars that caused this ship to tip over after is broke loose from its anchor one night. It had already been abandoned and now parts have been salvaged off a bit at a time.

This is an interesting way to fish with the poles holding the nets underwater. Clearly these birds indicate a successful result.

We toured around many ships and boat in the bay  

After running around the bay touring the ships, then losing a hat which the captain swirled around in the boat for a rescue by Christopher reaching into the water, we saw the arch and the Mosque we visited earlier off in the distance. My camera couldn't "see" that far but it was cool seeing what we could see from the boat. 

Then we headed back into one of the fingers of the river back into the mangroves passing oyster and fishermen on the way.

Baskets of shells, I couldn't figure out what she was standing on

Small boats for such a big river. Crocodiles are in big numbers upstream. I didn't see any on this trip but that doesn't mean they are not here. The people in these canoes are way too close to the water.

Our captain took us under the bridge and we got just a little stuck until he took down the canopy roof

We had a fun time. And then it was on to the crocodile pond...

There is a pond of crocodiles that have been around for hundreds of years. They have a hold site here where people come to pray about fertility and other things. They pour the water from the pond and pray in a little room close to shore. The keepers feed the crocodiles fish and told us not to touch their faces (right - just what I thought I might NEVER do) and not to tap our feet in front of them as the vibrations act as a lure. He walked right up to a crocodile and petted him on his back and belly and legs. The crocodile did not move and he invited us all to come do the same.

I succumbed to peer pressure and felt the hard back of the crocodile and the very soft skin  behind his legs and belly. A twitch from the pond and I was out of there.

I must admit I enjoy the smaller reptiles so much better. Isn't he pretty?!

I really enjoyed the monkey's at the hotel also.

We ended the night at a great restaurant Flamingo's where they gave Jeffrey a fruit smoothie and made up a ginger/pineapple drink for me - awesome!

So yummy! They had their signature to the plate.

I would love to go again! The country is full of smiles and I enjoyed myself very much.