Keep working on getting those coins together, Son -- you'll be surprised at what you'll unlock!!
I've been to The Gambia several times. On my first trip, I went alone on a spur of the moment invite from a friend of mine who was building a Black History Museum there. The husband was still working then, overseas and I was living alone at the house. And I have to tell you the flight from Senegal to The Gambia unlocked all kinds of feels.
When I landed there and got off that plane, seeing this sea of Black folk who ALL looked like me, it felt like somebody'd squeezed my heart and it took my breath away. It was feeling I've still not been able to articulate clearly other than I felt like I was home.
During the day when Gerald worked on the museum, I hung out with a beautiful, young Sister he knew, who took me around everywhere! I did all of those things on your itinerary except the rope bridge thing cuz well, I was an old broad. I spent time with her family and also ate everything they put in front of me. I'm from SC where rice was always a staple and found out it is there as well. I went out into the rice fields with her to meet her mother and aunties who were working. They treated me so well and I loved them too! I met so many wonderful people both at the hotel and in villages who were happy to see a Black American visiting the country and wanted to share what they knew about our Civil Rights movement. I went to a club and danced the damned night away with one of the managers at the hotel. I talked late into the night with Gerald and his partner John who'd been living there for some time and was married to a wonderful Gambian woman. They took me into their home where I met their children and yes -- ate! Suffice it to say it was a totally mind-blowing experience that left me want to do it again. And I did again, alone.
On my last trip, my two grown sons and my society-identified white husband (he hates that shit, he always says "I'm not white, I'm Italian!! To which I always reply, "But y'all became white once you got here, Mofo!) met me there for Christmas. I told them I wasn't buying any more Christmas gifts that they'd just take back and get the money buzz they didn't like my taste. I wanted to give them something that they'd have forever. And they have. They were both over here tonight and we were talking about that trip for 2012!
I promise you, you will unlock some shit you probably never kew was in there, Son. Just go...