We had been waiting for weeks to get a look inside the Grande Mosquée de Dakar and finally it was arranged just in time before service departure. Preparations were made for our visit and, to show proper sensitivity to religious protocol, it was ensured that there would be nobody around during our visit and tour (except vendors, of course).

Our guide brought us through the grand arched halls and symmetric decorations to the door of an inner prayer room where we removed our shoes and entered in very small groups. Once inside, the incredible attention to geometric detail was almost overwhelming. Each repeating motif was done in deep relief, pressed into the plaster and trim work. The work was seamless and mathematically exacting without breaking into any partial shapes.

What can we say? In a setting like this, everyone did their utmost to assimilate the surroundings. A tour of the complex, a quick Arabic lesson, and we were ready for our close-ups. Perhaps a little too close for some, so we posed for a broader group shot!