Travel the World - Week 6

This is the sixth week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

Gambia

The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa.

It is really a narrow strip of land with a river running through the center. It covers an area of 4,127 square miles and has a population of 1,882,450 people. It is slightly smaller than the island of Jamaica found in the Caribbean.

It is bordered by Senegal to the north, east and south, with a coastline along the North Atlantic Ocean to the west.

In 1964, the then president took measures to prevent persons from confusing The Gambia with Zambia? He added the “The” to Gambia so that the country would be officially referred to as The Gambia. Another reason the president added the was to differentiate the Gambia River from the country.

English is the official language of Gambia. Other languages are Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Serer, Krio and Jola.

The terrain of The Gambia is mostly flood plain along the Gambia River, flanked by some low hills and luscious forests.

The average life span in The Gambia is 53 years.

For much of the population, the Gambia weekend is three days long and begins on Thursday.

With its coast on the Atlantic Ocean, The Gambia is blessed with white, sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Situated in the tropics, this country has warm sea water and palm trees dancing on un-crowded beaches. 

With its warm climate year round and an abundance of beaches, The Gambia has become a popular budget tourist destination in recent years, especially with Britons.

An odd feature of the tourism industry is "gigolos", young Gambian men who have relationships with female tourists, many in their later years. On the tourist "strip", romances between local men in their 20s and British women in their 50s or 60s are common sight. Diplomats even report seeing gigolos promenading with elderly women on mobility scooters.

Some "gigolo" relationships become lasting and happy relationships. Others end up in fond and tearful farewells at the airport - at which point the gigolo sticks around to wait for another foreign girlfriend arriving on an incoming flight.

On Election Day, Gambians go to vote with stones or marbles in hand. Gambians vote by dropping their stones or marbles in a drum with the picture of their preferred politician. Officials count the number of votes at the end of voting by dropping them special trays with home. This unique system was developed to include illiterate Gambians in the election proceedings of their country.

In The Gambia, business deals are apparently based on relationships and trust, rather than salesmanship.

The national and most popular sport in The Gambia is wrestling.

I decided to let this Gambia fact be the inspiration for this week's card... The Gambia grows peanuts, rice, sorghum and millet, rears cattle, sheep and goats and catches fish.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Sets: Newton's Nook Floaty Goat stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers and SU Work of Art stamped with Ranger Broken China and Faded Jeans Distress Oxide Inks

Papers: Recollections Black, 110# Blue, and 110# White CS

Embellishment: Ribbon Boutique Ribbon