The cheapest package deal to the sun in mid-winter? Believe it or not: a holiday resort in the Gambia.
Even with a six hours flight to another continent it beat strong contestants like Spain, Portugal or the Canaries.
Now we've never ever considered Africa as a holiday destination. We're more into Asia, to be honest.
But this seemed an opportunity not to be missed.
We'd have sun and summer temperatures, the complete opposite of the weather in Holland.
We'd be in a hotel with a pool and a bar and a restaurant.
So, even if we couldn't deal with the country itself we would at least have a week near a pool in a very acceptable clime. Fed and watered!
But then --- we'd also be in a country we had never been to before, even an unknown continent. Suppose The Gambia would agree with us, that would open all sorts of wonderful possibilities.
A warm and sunny country during our winter season, only a six hours flight, no (NO!) jetlag to deal with - it might be great.
It was.
So be prepared for a shower of blogs about this most wondrous country. The fishtrade on the beach, the vultures in the tropical gardens of the expensive hotels, the strange landscape: savannah, like in Curacao, but - different (can't put my finger on it. Curacao is drier, and more windy, I think).
Again strange trees - read my blogs about Curacao! - and an abundance of markets. Life happens at the markets in the Gambia and in the shops that line the streets. The supermarkets, few and far between, are for expats and tourists: very expensive and imported goods (Dutch, English and French!) only.
And not to forget the unspoilt beach opposite our hotel. We did some lovely walks.
So check out my next blogs and enjoy my photos. Here's the first one:
Even with a six hours flight to another continent it beat strong contestants like Spain, Portugal or the Canaries.
Now we've never ever considered Africa as a holiday destination. We're more into Asia, to be honest.
But this seemed an opportunity not to be missed.
We'd have sun and summer temperatures, the complete opposite of the weather in Holland.
We'd be in a hotel with a pool and a bar and a restaurant.
So, even if we couldn't deal with the country itself we would at least have a week near a pool in a very acceptable clime. Fed and watered!
But then --- we'd also be in a country we had never been to before, even an unknown continent. Suppose The Gambia would agree with us, that would open all sorts of wonderful possibilities.
A warm and sunny country during our winter season, only a six hours flight, no (NO!) jetlag to deal with - it might be great.
It was.
So be prepared for a shower of blogs about this most wondrous country. The fishtrade on the beach, the vultures in the tropical gardens of the expensive hotels, the strange landscape: savannah, like in Curacao, but - different (can't put my finger on it. Curacao is drier, and more windy, I think).
Again strange trees - read my blogs about Curacao! - and an abundance of markets. Life happens at the markets in the Gambia and in the shops that line the streets. The supermarkets, few and far between, are for expats and tourists: very expensive and imported goods (Dutch, English and French!) only.
And not to forget the unspoilt beach opposite our hotel. We did some lovely walks.
So check out my next blogs and enjoy my photos. Here's the first one:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.