We arrived at Banjul airport in the middle of the afternoon after a pleasant 6 hour flight.  The heat and humidity hit us as soon as we got off the aeroplane, and the atmosphere of The Gambia started the minute we got outside the airport.

It's not called the smiling coast for nothing.  All week we did not meet a single unpleasant person.

We stayed at the 4 star Senegambia Beach Hotel, a very pleasant hotel with lovely grounds and lots of wildlife especially birds.  I would however recommend upgrading your room to one with airconditioning, as the humidity is the same through the night as in the day.  It was the first thing we did and worth every extra penny.

Among the trips we took we rode in an open sided lorry and visited a local school, where we were able to go in the classrooms and watch the children being taught.  We had brought with us from th UK pens, paper, and pecil cases, which were all gratefully received.  Had I known before I would have packed a small suitcase with old outgrown clothes of ours to hand out as these would certainly been loved by the people.  I will do this the next time I go as I fully intend to.  However I did elect to sponsor a 6 year old boy through the junior stage of his schooling, the princely sum of £30.  On this same day trip we visited a fishing village, which was full of atmosphere and very colourful, but rather smelly, as they dry and smoke the fish they catch in wooden sheds.  It was here the children took an instant liking to Daniel who was 13 at the time, and found it a little overwhelming.  They were all wanting to hold his hand.  Later that day we took an exhilirating trip on the lorry along the beach because there was no road to the place where we had a barbeque and could swim and relax a bit.  It was good fun.

The constant attention from the people can be a bit daunting at first.  It happens the minute you set foot outside the hotel.  Someone will ask for money for education or to buy something from them.  When you walk round a market, everyone says their stall is better than the others, and if you dare to express an interest in something prepare to start haggling.  It is all done in good nature, and remember it is a way of life for them, they are just trying to make a living like everyone else.  But if you can't accept this way of life then The Gambia is not for you. 

We visited a nearby forest as much for some much needed shade than for anything else.  We managed to see quite a few monkeys, who would make us laugh with their antics.  Most were shy, but some came up and took food from us.  We took a local yellow taxi which stayed and waited for us to take us back, and paid a guide to take us round the forest.  Also in the hotel grounds we saw monkeys moniter lizards (big ones) and lots of varieties of birds including vultures, who would circle round the grounds a 11am every day for feeding time.  What struck me was that the birds never stopped making a noise even through the night.

Amy had her hair braided by one of the entertainment team in the hotel which wasn't strictly allowed but if it had been done at the hotel salon it would have cost £60.  This girl charged £15 taking Amy away for 3 hours, and then wanting Amy's dress and shoes.  She genuinely thought Amy was rich enough to give her clothes away.  It lasted for weeks, and Amy only took it out when she had a fashion night at her college where she is studying beauty therapy.  It meant she didn't have to wash her hair for all that time, but it took another 3 hours, and a lot of panic to get it all out.

It is very hard to give the reader a real taste of this lovely country here on this page,  you have to visit it to really find out.