20.1.14 Monday. Banjul

We needed to go into the capital for some paperwork today and so after breakfast we set off for Banjul.  We called at the offices of our shippers to pay for the container and then John and I walked around the corner to the ferry offices to drop off our letter of request for a priority crossing.  There is lots of work happening in Banjul, with roads being renewed and many very old buildings being pulled down to make way for new building work.  We drove down to the Ministry of Education to drop off some paperwork , Steve left me at the office and went around the corner with everyone else to do some shopping.  I logged the papers with the record office and then walked around the corner to find everyone.  I was stopped by one of the many guys trying to get you to go into their shop, this one was David Beckham Shop, nothing to do with the man himself, and I declined saying I was looking for my sister.  The guy said – she’s over there – and sure enough Gill and Mell were on the other side of the busy street.  The guy then said that he had saved my sister from one of the most notorious criminals in the Gambia and would walk with us to protect us for the rest of the morning!   John was looking for a belt, so we were taken into Albert Market and after several choices had been brought for him to try and inspect, a purchase was made.  We had had enough of the shops and the eager shopkeepers by then so went on to Independence Arch where we had a welcome cold drink and a sandwich before climbing to the top of the building for the view of all Banjul.  It was getting hot by now, so we returned home and sat and relaxed in the garden this afternoon before walking round to Neil’s bar for the evening.