30 day here’s  a bit of interesting history.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouakchott

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293815-d10339182-Reviews-Nouakchott_Ho…

we’re doing a private tour today, looks like an interesting variety.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g293815-d14779091-Nouakchot_…

We’re writers and here’s a golden opportunity to see a famous library and a shipyard graveyard. Our muse should be inspired by one them to discuss. Maybe even both.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-libraries-of-chinguetti-chinguetti-mauri…

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bay-of-nouadhibou-ship-graveyard

and our interesting dining choice.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293815-d4022339-Reviews-Restauran…

Discuss what you enjoyed on the tour or the library, or the shipyard graveyard or even the restaurant. Maybe all of them. Have fun!

Our hotel is average but then it’s only for one night.
I’m inclined to agree with the reviews about the Mosque, the architecture is average nothing outstanding other than its size compared to other buildings in this location. I’m glad we moved onto the Galerie Zeinart. The textiles were colorful and quite pretty. I like that local artisans are preferred. I purchased a pair of earrings, I do enjoy colorful dangle earrings.
My overall opinion of this tour was it was a waste of my time except for the Galerie.

Day 2838: August 24 Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Prompt: Take a look at Nouakchott 2020 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293815-Nouakchott-Vacations.html and answer these questions: What is the best of Nouakchott? Why?

I’m glad we could choose the rest of our day because I moved on to Banc D Arguin. It’s a Mauritanian national park ideal for sighting the birds that migrate from northern Europe and Siberia. How cool is that? We discovered hundreds of birds and we saw dolphins too! The guide said, “this park is one of the most important zones in the world for nesting birds. In addition, This park is formed of sand dunes, areas of coastal swamps, small islands and shallow coastal waters. The austerity of the desert and the biodiversity of the marine area results in a land and seascape of exceptional contrasting natural value.” Lunch was delightful.

The guide told us Nouakchott was a mid size village of little importance until 1958, when it was chosen as the capital of the nascent nation of Mauritania. It was designed and built to accommodate 15,000 people, but drought and increasing desertification since the 1970s have displaced a vast number of Mauritanians who resettled in Nouakchott. “Nouakchott is largely flat and only a few meters above sea level. It is threatened by the sand dunes advancing from its eastern side which pose a daily problem.[8] There have been efforts to save particular areas, including work by Jean Meunier. Owing to the rapid build-up, the city is quite spread out, with few tall buildings. Most buildings are one-story. Nouakchott is built around a large tree-lined street, Avenue Gamal Abdel Nasser, which runs northeast through the city centre from the airport. It divides the city into two, with the residential areas in the north and the medina quarter, along with the kebbe, a shanty town formed due to the displacement of people from other areas by the desert.”~ wikipeida.

The interesting view of Mauritania’s Bay of Nouadhibou is spotted with rusting hulks in every direction, ships that were cheaper to illegally abandon in the harbor than to correctly dismantle. It seems that in spite of it all the rotting ships have produced a few surprising benefits. In addition to a continuing salvage industry that has sprung up around the wrecks, their deteriorating hulls have actually provided new habitats for fish and undersea life, giving the city’s vital fishing industry a much-needed shot in the arm. If only the ships could talk what a story they would tell.

I found the Library of Chinquetti overwhelming. I had no idea how many old documents were stored here. What to look at? Where do I begin? Today there are five such libraries left in Chinguetti containing some 1,300 Quranic manuscripts, as well as civil records including contracts, bills of sale, and legal judgments. The dry desert air and dedication of generations of custodians have helped preserve the fragile parchments, often rolled inside bamboo tubes. We learned the crumbling texts are gingerly inspected by scholars who still visit the site to study Islamic Law. Preservationists have attempted to relocate the collections or set up restoration programs locally, but the libraries’ private owners resist. UNESCO has awarded Chinguetti and other nearby ancient settlements World Heritage status, and efforts are being made to save the city and its libraries from neglect.

So much history… in the water and in the library. But I’m so thirsty especially with this dry heat.
Restaurant Al Fantasia is pretty inside but with all the heat of the day, I’m more thirsty than hungry. The pizza that Blue ordered sounded really good so I decided to get one as well. I felt bad for the waiter, as soon as he filled my glass I downed it and held my glass out again for a refill. I told him I was thirsty but I’m not sure his language skills were up to par. Anyway, I didn’t guzzle the second glass. Sandy and Petra looked tired as well. I didn’t see Neva, I wonder if she’s already headed up to bed. I’ll check at the front desk.
I’m glad we’re moving on this is location looked more appealing than it actually is or maybe it’s just the fact we’ve been traveling 24 days now. Tomorrow we’ll be in Marrakech,Morocco our last location in Africa before moving onto South America.

Mauritarian Proverb

To manage yourself, use your head; to manage others, use your heart.