I've gotten in the habit of taking long scooter rides on Sundays. The traffic is light and the weather is usually beautiful, so I take the scooter out to explore the city. I often get lost, but it's a great way to discover new places and find my way around Dakar. Only one did I get lost and run out of gas: it was a long, hot walk to the gas station, but now I'm sure to always keep the tank full. Here are some pictures from this week's ride.
This is the Place du Souvenir, right on the coast. I generally start my rides, by going down the Corniche Ouest right along the coast. It's a beautiful view and a great way to get to downtown Dakar from Ngor, where I live. 
Magic Land, the amusement park. It's very "retro," complete with rides decorated in the popular motifs of the day, including Star Wars and Inspector Gadget. We went here on a Saturday with the 9th graders a few weeks ago. The rides are old and a little scary, but it's right on the water and the views from the Pirate Ship are incredible 
Another of many notable monuments on the coast. This is one of my favorites because of the connection with music. 
I believe this may be part of the Grand Mosque of Dakar, but am not entirely sure. At this point, I was rather lost and ended up circling past here several times, but seemed unable to get out of this area. I eventually found my way out when I discovered a Steers restaurant. Having lived on Steers for months in South Africa, this was a delightful surprise and a chance for some good fast food. 
