The Popcorn Apopka Park

The skulls of the land in Gambia. The Apopka National Park was, I must say, a disappointment. Just a little bit... Now, I'm not one of those people expecting to see lions and giraffes and hippopotamus as I traveled closer to central Africa. I mean, most people expect lions and animals inherent of the jungle to pop up as soon as one lands on the continent. Bones through the noses of natives are other ideas inherent of this kind of thinking. With that being said, I believe my expectations were reasonable. I didn’t expect an American zoo with gargantuan cages housing the silver-backed hyena or the lion-cheetah or something else created behind the walls of zoologists turned genetic modifying scientists (I don’t know if that’s true, I’m just making it up.) But still, I expected to see something. Instead, *shaking my head* I saw hyenas languidly strolling the cages putting forth more energy to lay down and swat flies from their head. There were no other animals to speak of. The “crocodile pond” was a joke. Needless to say, no crocs showed their faces. The park even had the nerve to have a look out post with binoculars to check out the reptiles (or are they amphibians or mammals?) but, last time I checked, I didn’t need binoculars to see a fucking crocodile, I just needed the crocodile. Anyway, my father and I had a great time anyway. We made the most of it. And here, we were able to stroll the beaten path, arriving at this clearing with skulls on display. I really just wanted to sit down on the only bench that the display was resting on, but I guess that would’ve meant the end of the attractions at Apopka.

The Road to Prosperity

This is the road to the fields where most people in my village tend to their farms bringing food back for the family. Mauritanians eat what they produce in the fields. A lack of productivity or a skimpy rainy season causes families to starve. Ironically, this is the same road to the district hospital.

Young Congolese

Here is Fisenou. He is a Congolese refugee who left Congo when he was very young. He came to Mauritania with his 2 older sisters, his twin, his older brother and an older cousin. His parents and smaller siblings are still in Congo. His oldest sister told me they fled the war but I doubt Fisenou realizes the situation he's in. He can be deported at any time.