Senegal

Senegal surprised me. After some time traveling through West Africa, Dakar was refreshing in that it was one of the region’s most modern and vibrant cities. I spent my time wandering the capital, visiting the towering African Renaissance Monument for panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean, and making my way to the westernmost point of mainland Africa. One of the most meaningful experiences, though, was visiting Gorée Island, whose history as a major center of the transatlantic slave trade serves as a powerful reminder of one of humanity’s darkest chapters.

The most memorable part of my visit actually came at the airport. While waiting to board my flight to Mauritania, I met a couple, Costanza from Italy and Rubén from Honduras, who had first met while working for the United Nations in Bangkok. Costanza had recently been posted to Mauritania, and they were living there together. We spent our time talking about travel, diplomacy, and life, and by the time we boarded, it felt like we’d been friends for much longer than a single conversation. Serendipitous encounters like that are undoubtedly one of the reasons I love travel so much.