Back to normal (almost)

G'day'!

Day two of the wedding in Senegal

Lion Island, where we went last Sunday with a friend from  Spain who is
visiting.

I have now been back in Australia for a few weeks. I flew from Senegal to France and had a pleasant visit with friends and I was also able  to run some necessary errands. Hubby had to go back to work so he flew straight back to Australia.
The first afternoon my host and his wife drove us up to Villard de Lans to visit old friends which was great. I usually catch up with them in Sweden in the summer but this time we missed out.

I know, the three bottles of wine in front of me doesn't look so good but I had help.

The next day my host family had organized a delicious meal with the neighbours.

In the picture we are missing hubby of course and also Dang and of course the G family who were away.

 Our last two nights in Dakar we spent at a very comfortable hotel and just enjoyed the pool and the drinks and the food. The breakfast was to die for. We needed a little bit of pampering.

At night there was a cool band that played nice, mellow jazz.

The security at the hotel was just as serious as at the airport. The luggage had to go through scanners and we were also searched. There were also snipers up on the roof. All this seemed a little exaggerated I thought, since Dakar generally is very safe but I guess it is so the precious businessmen and politicians and other important people can feel safe.
The only unpleasant thing that happened was that hubby got his phone stolen one of the first days, but these days  that could really have happened anywhere.

We did feel a little bit conspicious when we checked in with two of these trolleys. 

We had our own luggage, our daughter's luggage,  our daughter's friend's luggage (she was leaving later that day) and all the wedding gifts and left-over food and wine from the wedding.

After Dakar and Grenoble,  I went back up to Sweden again but this time I stayed in a hotel near the train station. I wanted to visit with my mother and tell her about the wedding.
Incidentally, I stayed at Hotel Eggers where I had worked many, many years ago. It hasn't changed much, it's still very La Belle Epoque with very friendly personnel. I recommend it, especially if you want to be right in the city centre.

Let's see, what else has happened since I got back here. Well, our youngest daughter and her boyfriend who have lived with us since they moved to Australia from Chile have moved out and into their own place in town. It is a bit empty all of a sudden.
We have also had some visitors which is always fun.
Next I am looking forward to my painting group starting up again next week. I have not done much painting since I was there last. I think I need the inspiration of being in a group.

So leaving you now with a saying from the man who was the first president of Senegal.
We went to visit the island, Fadiouth where he was born. It is built on sea shells. Another quirky fact is that the population is 90 percent Christian which is unusual in Senegal, a strictly Muslim country.

Just one last anecdote before I post this. I almost didn't get to go back to Australia. When I tried to check in they noticed that my visa had expired, last year. It is an electronic visa so there is really no way I could have known. Plus I have permanent residency so I didn't worry about another visa
 but apparently it is just good for 5 years if you travel. If you stay put in Australia I think it is permanent.
 Anyway, they had to call Canberra and check if it was ok to send me on without a visa and after a very long wait they ran me onto the plane. Once in Sydney I was taken to a Border Control office (the ones you see on TV) and I had to hand in a temporary application and then apply properly when I got home. But here I am so all good!