Arrival at Hotel Coeur Maracas
Good day. October 21st. We’re at the Hotel Coeur Maracas, which is right on the beach. Picking these spots can be tricky, but this one happens to have a small pool as well, which was nice since the beach wasn’t very helpful for swimming due to all the rocks. You’d be hurting yourself trying to swim there.
Walking Towards Mbour Town
We decided to take a walk towards town. Mbour has an amazing fishing community, with livelihood fishing that involves very colorful boats and lots of manpower to get the boats to the water and back onto the beach. There are different sizes of boats that go out at different times, depending on many factors. The biggest factor, it turns out, is ice—ice to keep the fish cold.
Fishing Practices and Challenges
The bigger boats have enough ice to keep fish fresh for four to five days. As long as they have room to store more fish, they stay out for that time. I’ve been told that some go as far as 100–200 km offshore. There is also significant competition from Chinese fishing boats, which use radar to find fish, process them onboard, and stay out longer, catching more and affecting the livelihoods of local African fishermen. This is a concerning issue.
Observing Beach Pollution
Walking along the beach, I noticed that it collects a lot of garbage, which is not being managed. There are endless piles, mostly plastic and fishing nets, creating a striking, if unfortunate, scene.
Exploring the Fish Market
We walked all the way to the fish market. We were careful not to take too many pictures of people to respect their privacy, as locals can get upset about it. The market is full of trucks because the fish is exported to many different places. You can see fish of all sizes, from 4–5 feet long to small ones. There are places where you can have people clean your fish, or even cook it for you. It’s an endless market, and while the smells may be overwhelming for some, it’s fascinating to observe.
Life Around the Boats
Between the boats, you may see donkeys or horses helping to move them. People are everywhere, and I also noticed some repairing boats—drilling holes and using rebar to connect missing pieces. It’s very fascinating to watch the craftsmanship and teamwork involved.
Relaxing at the Hotel
After a long walk, we returned to the hotel for the rest of the day. I had one of the most delicious fish and vegetable dishes I’ve ever eaten, supposedly just a sole, either fried or baked. I still remember how good it was. The pool was perfect to cool off when we wanted. I would recommend this hotel to anyone wanting a true flavor of Africa. It’s also a great place to eat.
Closing Thoughts
Thanks for coming along on this day’s adventure. We’ll see you tomorrow!
