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Bookmark & shareA Top Day in St-Louis
I step out of the front door of La Louisane, my favourite little hotel in Saint-Louis, and there it is again, that feeling of walking right onto a dusty film set. From the colourful horse-drawn carts to the tranquil atmosphere and poised colonial architecture, an air of unreality flavours the air of this unique town.
Saint-Louis, the first French settlement in West Africa, is famous for its 19th-century architecture - ruler-drawn lines of ochre, two-storey houses, complete with leafy patios and wrought-iron balconies. And a proper Saint-Louisian day begins with a casual stroll around town, past the legendary Hôtel de la Poste and mighty cathedral to my Saint-Louis favourite, the crumbling facade of the Maison des Sœurs de Saint-Joseph de Cluny whose elegantly arched staircase and sky-blue walls I never tire of looking at.
After a royal lunch at the historical Hôtel de la Résidence, I cross the bridge to the village Guet N'Dar and take in the sights, sounds and flavours of this fishing community - the rolling in of colourfully painted pirogues , the unloading, gutting, drying and smoking of the fresh catch, the trading and bartering.
Back on Saint-Louis island, it's time for a lazy afternoon, spent people watching on the Quai Roume, best from the peaceful position of the Bou El Mogdad restaurant. At the other side of the building, the intimate Galerie Mame Thiouth is a fantastic place to admire contemporary art in the imposing surroundings of an old Saint-Louis building. And as I walk out of the gallery, intending to return to my cute river-view guesthouse, I pass La Maison Rose, an old-style hotel full of character, creaking staircases, noble furniture and a story lurking in every corner - and I decide to blow the budget. It's my top day, after all. I'll be spending the night here.
Author: Katharina Kane
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