Monday, January 5, 2009

Happy New Year

Well, you would have thought I'd seen it all by now but,

Yesterday, I was at the Hotel Mermoz, the place I am consider switching to (away from my darling Hotel la Residence) during Jazz Fest because they have a lovely pool in a tropical setting where I spent much of my time last year. It will be very hot here in May.

So, I'm in the bathroom at this upscale resort with it's tight security against the riffraff. I walk out to the common sink area to find a man washing his penis in the sink. To answer the standard questions I have received so far. Was he Senegelese? I don't know, I didn't ask for his ID, but he was black and spoke french so I would assume yes. Next, did he seem embarrassed? Answer: he didn't seem to be but he did go back into his stall to shake it off.

My reaction? After washing my hands while shaking my head and snickering to myself, was glee that yet again I have another juicy tid bit to share with you. Mind you, this is certainly not the first penis I have seen out in public during my time here in Africa. It's actually quite common. But they are usually attached to the very young or the very old, who have lost all of their modesty and are squatting out in the street doing their business. This is, however, the oddest episode.

I think I have been here a little too long.

To a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year