Our very first look at Kotu Beach. Wow...talk about a tropical paradise! Sun, golden sand, palm trees, thatched roofs, deck chairs and sun-loungers, it's all there.
We started walking along to the northern end of Kotu Beach. This building is being constructed literally right on the beach. Looks like it should be the first bar or restaurant to visit next time we come here. Apparently nearly 75% of the visitors to The Gambia do return.
Yup, time to roll up the clothing, whip the sandals off and feel that sand between the toes, and the warm Atlantic ocean.
Nick got into the act as well...
At the northern end of Kotu Beach we stopped to buy some bananas from this fruit stall. The dog was asleep in the shade. This was the first dog we had seen in The Gambia. They all look well fed.
The point at the end of Kotu Beach has this red outcrop.
After all that walking and paddling on the beach it was time to stop for a cold drink. This is the beach side bar at the Kombo Hotel. Our feet are on the beach, but we're in the shade.
The view sitting in the bar.
The first night we were there produced a nice sunset. There are little palm trees planted directly into the sandy beach. They are watered every morning and night by people with buckets.
Nick couldn't resist taking a shot of Sally in the sunset. Sally...he just wanted to play with the new digital camera.
We were rewarded with this spectacular reflection on the beach at low tide one morning.
Toward the middle of Kotu Beach is the outlet for Kotu Stream. Just there is the Sunset Beach Hotel. It looked a lot less inviting than our Bakotu Hotel with it's beautiful gardens. However, we did enjoy the bar in the late afternoon for a glass (or two) of the local lager...JulBrew...made in Banjul.
The best thing about watching the sunset at this bar was this wonderful musical trio, two percussionists and one guitar and three voices. They kept swapping the instruments around among themselves, a multi-talented group. They played a nice range of local and other West African music. Their rendition of Ismael Lo's Tadieu bone was great.
We were particularly pleased to capture this photo. It shows a group of fruit sellers, still balancing trays on their heads, walking home at the end of the day. The long shadows come from the setting sun.
The second best thing about the bar at the Sunset Beach Hotel is that there is also a rooftop area where you can watch the sun sink to the horizon in a blaze of glory. It overlooks Kotu Stream wending it's way to the Atlantic.
More of the same....at Sunset Beach.
One of the best sunsets.....
What more is there to say.
Nick...this is my favourite.
Temperature still in the high-20's or early 30's, with a nice gentle sea breeze.
These two young girls work as fruit sellers on Kotu Beach. They took some persuading to let us take their photograph.
The best part for us was when we showed them the first photo on the little screen on the back of the digital camera. The look on their faces was wonderful. One of them smiled for us for the second picture.
Unfortunately we couldn't write down their names. Anyway they strolled off in the sunset, home from work.
Second in the sequence...
Last in the sequence...
A last look at the fading sunset on Kotu Beach.