Blogs from Cape Coast, Central, Ghana, Africa - page 3

Wren writing: This morning we experienced what will probably be the most exhilarating breakfast of our lives. It had rained all night the night before and was still pouring when we reached the restaurant. The restaurant is located in the little lake (that contains the crocodiles!) and the bridges that connect it to the shore were already flooded with about 3 inches of water. And as we stood in line for the breakfast buffet, water began to flow into the restaurant and swell around our ankles. So we went to the upper level to eat and by the time we came down (we just had to get a camera because it was so cool), the water was up to our knees. One of the smaller crocodiles had come up and sat itself on the bridge to ... read more

On Saturday (20th) I made a last minute decision to go to Cape Coast with 2 other girls, and so had a mad rush to the STC bus station (almost comparable to National Express!) to get a bus ticket before they all ran out, then rushed back home to pack a bag and meet the other 2 girls to rush back to the station to catch the bus (which, surprise surprise, didn't leave on time anyway)! The taxi ride there was interesting though, as we got stuck in bad traffic around the main Circle, but I got chance to see the wide variety of things the street sellers sell, walking up and down and inbetween traffic. Its mad really, you could buy almost anything you need from the confine of a car - water, hot food, ... read more

So, we visited the castle on the saturday and on sunday travelled to Anamabo beach- 15 minutes drive from our town. It was paradise, a secluded and private white sand beach lined with palm trees and straw umbrellas. It felt more like a caribbean island than a beach in Ghana. It was the kind of place I'd imagine spending my honey moon with beach huts seconds away from where we sunbathed. The sea wasn't that crystal clear as the waves were quite strong but swimming in them was as safe as you can get out here, so the 4 of us enjoyed the coolness of the water. We hitched a ride in the back of a truck home from some lebonise guys who we kind of knew. During the week we alternated our days between the ... read more

Cape Coast Traveled west of Accra down to Cape Coast with two other medical students, Jenny and JJ. Cape Coast has an interesting history beginning. Beginnin in the 15th century, Europeans (Portugese, followed by Dutch and British) were trading Gold with the people occupying present day Ghana. Eventually this became an official British Colony known as "Gold Coast". Despite this name, gold was soon replaced as the chief export of the region by human cargo meant for European slavery, earning the unofficial historical name, the Slave Coast. The region containing present day "Cape Coast" and "Accra" is part of the Ashanti region of Ghana and the Ashanti people were middle men for the slave trade... capturing other Africans and selling them to European traders who'd set up forts along the coastline. These European traders constructed massive ... read more

Oops. So I have just realized that it ihas been 75 days since I last wrote in my blog! I have had e-mail correspondence with some of you...sorry to the rest!!! There is obviously alot to fill you in on, but I will give a summary of what I have been upto (if I can remember it all!!!) The days seem to pass by so quickly as I leave the house (I have moved from Dansoman, living with the family to Labadi, which I now share a house with other expats) between 7:30 and 8:00 AM and get home after work around 6:30 if I do not go out for dinner, or to other activities around the city. Work has become much more exciting as I have several projects to work on, not to mention I ... read more