The Return To Kumasi...

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Hey All!!

Twice in one week?! Yeah, I'm in a generous mood...and I'm kinda backlogged! So I thought I would play catch-up before taking off on another far-flung adventure.

So, this past weekend marked my second extended visit to Kumasi, and while the quantity of the itinerary was relatively small it was more than made up for in the high levels of quality! What was the mission this time? Cheer on Ghana's national football team the Black Stars, as they took on Benin in a 2010 World Cup Qualifier Match!

While this was once again an independent trip, there were so many ISEP people going it might as well have been an ISEP sponsored trip! There were about twenty four or twenty five of us that left, all on different days and different times.

My party of eleven, departed Saturday morning at elven, but didn't actually leave the city until around one thirty...courtesy of Nkrumah Circle...Have I ever mentioned just how much I despise the Circle station? Anyway, the ride up was the same as usual, long and bumpy. However, the skies were blue, the clouds fluffy, the breeze cool, and for once, the road open. Consequently, it was a good day to travel!

We arrived at the city around eight..ish...and ate dinner at the Sanbra Hotel...Great pizza with real cheese...man, I miss real cheese...so good. When we eventually arrived at our hotel (picked for it's strategically convenient position ten minutes away from the football stadium!) we had a little trouble checking in. Apparently our reservations got...well...I'm not really sure...We were told that their rooms were all occupied...Then he told us their were a few available...But that they were reserved...oh!...wait...hmmmmm....whatever...you would think that with a name like the "Justice Hotel" you wouldn't run into problems like that...oops! My naivety is showing! At any rate, it was nice to finally grab a bed, cool down and relax, take a shower...wait...scratch that last one, the water didn't work in our rooms...groovy. Still, we had A/C so I can't complain too much.

The game didn't actually start until five in the evening so the majority of Sunday was spent purchasing both our tickets and Black Star merchandise, exploring the city, and watching Kumasi turn into a game day football frenzy freak fest!!! It was great! One couldn't help but get pumped up! It was GAME DAY!!

The actual game was extremely enjoyable, the atmosphere in the stadium was contagiously electric, rife with anxious anticipation, nail-biting suspense, and pure unadulterated screams of euphoria! The Black Stars scored in the first minute! ...and then nobody scored the rest of the eighty-nine minutes... but they still won!!! And it was awesome!!! An incredible experience to be sure, and most certainly not one I will be soon to forget.

Following the game we quickly worked our way back to the hotel. Fortunately, I travel with smart people, people who think ahead and take the extra initiative to plan ahead as well. We hired a Tro Tro out to take us straight from our hotel to the literal doorstep of our Hostel back in Legon...definitely the smart move.

Needless to say, it was a great weekend, and great to be back! I could finally grab my bed, cool down and relax, take a shower...wait... the water's out at our hostel?!? ...sweet...... Oh Ghana, gotta love it! ^_^

Stay frosty gang,

Jonathan

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Photos

GOAL!!!
One minute in and they already scored...nice

The Match
Ghana's in white, Benin's in yellow

Walking into the Stadium
Be careful who you take photos of...they just might want something in return!

Comments

[Thomas]

Wow
Everything you are looks so fun jon. I'm jealous!

[Jen Lemons]

Hey
I'm jealous, this looks like so much fun. We miss you here, but i know ur having the greatest time. Can't wait to go overseas myself. Have a great weekend!

[Grama Walton]

glad to hear
Now John, this looks like good safe fun, all you had to do was get there and watch the game. The no water is another story(smile) Love to you Grama Gerry

[emma]

football!
as always, it's great to read your stories, johnny. but the absolutely most amazingly awesome thing is to see you use the real name of the game :D YEAH!

[Cindy]

"Stay Frosty"
Jonathan--please do me a favor and sign your next blog with something other than "Stay Frosty Gang." We've had enough winter here--wind, rain, snow, cold--all today! 4/5/09 Thank you! I'm very ready for spring. I'd like to garden a bit in my retirement and sit on my deck reading a book watching nature in my backyard in my shorts! You are such a good writer Jonathan. Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with us. Bless you. Remember, NO more "Frosty!"