20090528_115950 D3 P1 P1

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:16:57 -0400

On our return trip to the mainland, our guide talks to the handicapped indivdual seen in previous photo #18. There are said to be about 300,000 handicapped individuals on the island. This fellow had come across with us on our ferry to the island, desembarked and followed us almost all the time while we were on the island. He never bothered us, or talked to us, other than the time I spoke to him. He had polio when he was very young and has walked with crutches ever since. His supposed purpose of visiting Goree was to buy a gift for his mother. He told us too of his handicapped friend who years ago befriended a visitor who arranged medical care for the friend. About a third of the population live in poverty with an income of less than $500 US yearly