Look once and you see the dustiness of West Africa – it all blends together – the orange grime that covers everything in the dry season and the equally faded and dirty skies above. Sahel + Harmattan.
Look closer and the details transition into focus. Trash everywhere – most of it is plastic crap. Notice the stillness; rusted motorbikes half buried in the sand will never run again. A truck’s cabin has been gutted by people and by the weather. The coarseness of the tree trunks. None of this moves.
Keep looking, and this time notice the movement in front of you – an old man sits at a wooden table drinking, his movement is barely perceptible. Kids ride squeaky old bicycles on the dusty sides of the blacktop. A man stands slightly hidden in an old doorway, broken walls of what was a home – simply urinating in the shadows. And from the rear view mirror are the corrupt cops that pulled you over.
for it is on the way to varela
a world few see
for it is on the way to varela
escape reality to the sea
for it is on the way to varela
a world of poverty
for it is on the way to varela
a dusty place to be
broken only by the bright fruits of the cashew trees
The pictures are stunning, Dave! Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks Agness, always nice to see you dropping by. Hope your trips are going well – and maybe we can meet up in Thailand one of these years!
Good article and fantastic photos, Dave. We may make a trip to Ghana sometime down the road and check out nearby Guinea. Thanks for the info.
M&G
NYC
Nice captures, Dave. Love the photograph of the two beautiful girls.
Michael – thanks for your note. Ghana is nice – I was there a few years ago. If you do decide to check out GB while in Ghana, I would highly recommend flying rather then going overland (especially if you are short on time).
Deeptha – thanks. I was nice to hang out in Varela for a while, a village that apparently doesn’t see very many tourists.
This is wonderful how you explain about Guinea Bissau!! Thanks for sharing your experience and beautiful pictures!!!
Like a microcosm of Africa, this tiny nation contains multitudes – of landscapes, peoples, cultures and plant and animal life. All of it within reaches of the capital, Bissau. Faded colonial-era houses sag, from tropical decay and the weight of history.
Such a thought-provoking place … great pics!