Cape Coast

Our weekend in Cape Coast got off to a rocky start. When we finally arrived in Kumasi, we went to the OA Station (buses very similar to the Greyhound) only to find out that they were not running to Cape Coast that night- very unusual. We then called the STC (another bus company) to see if they were making the trip, which the usually do, but they weren't until the following morning. Our only options were a tro tro or spend the night in Kumasi. Because of our feelings for Kumasi, and the knowledge that most of the hostels/hotels have bed bugs, we went with the tro tro option. As luck would have it the ride did not take the 3.5 hours it usually takes. It was closer to 5.

I know I've complained before about the bumps, but each weekend I think I find the worst bumps in the country, only to be surprised the next weekend when I find even worse bumps. I'm sure you see where this is going. The bumps from Kumasi to Cape Coast almost sent me over the edge. At one point I had to restrain from getting out of my seat and yelling for the drive to let me off on the side of the road. To make things worse, the further you get away from the Ashanti region the hotter it gets. North, its more desert like so waaaaaaay hotter. South its more humid so hot feels disgusting.

Anyways, we made it to Cape Coast, got a cab to our hotel which was called the Oasis Beach Resort which was recommended to me by a new friend who attends the University of Cape Coast. Our room was inside a hut, something I'm beginning to love. The hotel is right on the beach and about a 5 minute walk from Cape Coast castle. The view was really awesome. Down the beach is a small fishing community and they had all their boats out. They're so colourful and impressive. Another perk about Oasis: RUNNING WATER! I was actually able to wash my hands the way I used to in Canada. And the shower water was HOT water, and it was not from a bucket. I think I can say for all three of us, it was like we struck gold!

The next morning we got up for breakfast and to get our day started. Yet another perk, the menu had pancakes!!!!! Not crepes, which I get every so often, but actual PANCAKES! All in all, Oasis made up for our awful tro tro experience.

We proceeded on the Cape Coast Castle. We walked around the museum which had some pretty neat things and we watched a short video about the Akan people. Then we began our tour which started in the mens dungeons. It was actually a really chilling experience. You walk down this creepy sloped hallway into one of five smaller rooms. The first room "housed" (for lack of a better term) the strongest men, the second room housed the average men, and so on until you get to the last room which was used to treat the really sick men. Down another hallway and completely seperate from the mens dungeons, were the rooms for the women and children. In a room about the size, or maybe a bit smaller, of the average living room, 250 people were kept for 2-3 months. If they survived this, they were sent to North or South America. The walls are really, really high and at the top, just before the ceiling, there are three slits for light. However, I don't see the point in the slits because its almost pitch black even with them. There is also a spy hole where the British soldiers were able to monitor the prisoners.

Unfortunately I didn't get to finish the tour because as we were learning about the priest that now monitors a shrine in the 5th room, I suddenly was overcome by a feeling that I was about to pass out. I think it was a combination of being way too hot and dehydrated. It sucked.

Some interesting things I learnt at the castle: the rooms which are now part of the museum were once used as a post office, then a school, then a hospital, then apartments, and then rooms where slaves were kept. Also, 1/4 of all Ghanaians who were shipped away as slaves went to Brazil. I just find that so ironic because now Ghana loves Brazil because of their football skills.

---

---