Bendula

I loved having breakfast and, when I asked, dinner on the shared terrace. The place also had mosquito nets on the windows and door, running water at outside temperature, a shower and toilet, electric lights, and 230V sockets for phones, laptops and razors, so bring a travel adapter. The beach is about a 20-minute walk away, while the coastal road is far enough off that traffic noise didn’t bother me. Ancient trees cover the property and keep it naturally cool. I arrived after dark and heard sounds in the tree above the entrance; by morning I knew they were chickens that roam freely and sleep up there at night. Monkeys quietly climb the walls, geckos seem to defy gravity, goats wander along paths and streets, butterflies move through the sunshine, and there are birds everywhere, to hear and see. It was just the simple, wonderful place I wanted for meeting local people and getting to know Gambia. I miss the place and its people already, and can’t wait to return.