Ooooo ........ Oooooo ....... Orabi, Orabi.
"It was how much Barry" ????!!!! I asked with combination of shock and amusement. From Barry: "well when I booked I thought that price was for several nights". Ha!!!! So to make up for a couple nights in what was a very nice hotel with fabulous staff (Thank you Davida for your exceptional service at the Accra City hotel) Barry booked a couple cabins on the beach perfectly situated in the middle of nowhere. More on that later.
Very well accommodated in our super swanky hotel, (where we eventually had to part with a kidney each to pay the bill), we set out to explore Accra and see what there was to see in this beautiful city of about 4 million people. Gratefully Ghana speaks English and both of us were able to abandon our high school french and the accompanying verbal assault we had perpetrated on so many REAL French speakers.
Independence square was a must see completed in 1961 and a real cause for celebration as it was in so many countries on the dark continent. It was time for the colonial rulers to hit the bricks.
Museums were a bust for the most part although in fairness we arrived weeks ahead of a major super fancy museum opening in Accra. The issue of African historically significant artifacts being repatriated after their theft is pretty interesting stuff. There is a significant movement going on throughout Africa - it's past time for this to happen. Further review of the history of Accra abandoned to Wikipedia we hit one of the biggest markets in Africa. The Makola market!! In case you're wondering, the orange things are called garden eggs and are a yellow Eggplant or Aubergine.
As we stood and peered in through the entrance we both literally took a breath before diving into the swirling mass of bodies, strange and pungent smells, a cacophony of yells and laughter crashes bangs and all manner of sounds. It was hot and humid as we worked our way through a market where we were clearly not welcome. In addition to the evil eye, we received an earful from numerous vendors particularly when we pulled out the camera for a quick shot here and there. You had to super sleuth is... you know pretend you're reading a message and then snap a couple. That said - it was a great expedience and glad we jumped in for a swim in one of the world's busiest places. Wow!!!
Ok - let me share the story of Barry's triumph. After selling our kidneys to pay for the lovely Accra City Hotel we arrived at a place west along the Ghanian coast. Almost as far as Cape Coast, it was a collection of little huts in the middle of a fishing village. We had our own little huts and think we paid about $20 USD each. i would have paid that just to get away from Barry's snoring to be honest... 😜
A couple cover picnic tables were a perfect place to set a cold beer as we sat and enjoyed the sounds of the ocean rather than the previous assault of Makola market. It was as relaxing a place as I could imagine and we were both grateful for the chance to recuperate after so hard travelling.
The staff were very accommodating, Mary particularly so as she cooked up wonderful dinners of fresh fish no surprisingly plentiful in this little coastal village. It was absolutely delicious and she was a delight.
On one of the mornings we watched as they prepared to bring a fishing boat onto the beach. I was really curious about how this could be done noting the absence of modern equipment anywhere in sight. How the fuck?
Museums were a bust for the most part although in fairness we arrived weeks ahead of a major super fancy museum opening in Accra. The issue of African historically significant artifacts being repatriated after their theft is pretty interesting stuff. There is a significant movement going on throughout Africa - it's past time for this to happen. Further review of the history of Accra abandoned to Wikipedia we hit one of the biggest markets in Africa. The Makola market!! In case you're wondering, the orange things are called garden eggs and are a yellow Eggplant or Aubergine. As we stood and peered in through the entrance we both literally took a breath before diving into the swirling mass of bodies, strange and pungent smells, a cacophony of yells and laughter crashes bangs and all manner of sounds. It was hot and humid as we worked our way through a market where we were clearly not welcome. In addition to the evil eye, we received an earful from numerous vendors particularly when we pulled out the camera for a quick shot here and there. You had to super sleuth is... you know pretend you're reading a message and then snap a couple. That said - it was a great expedience and glad we jumped in for a swim in one of the world's busiest places. Wow!!!
Ok - let me share the story of Barry's triumph. After selling our kidneys to pay for the lovely Accra City Hotel we arrived at a place west along the Ghanian coast. Almost as far as Cape Coast, it was a collection of little huts in the middle of a fishing village. We had our own little huts and think we paid about $20 USD each. i would have paid that just to get away from Barry's snoring to be honest... 😜A couple cover picnic tables were a perfect place to set a cold beer as we sat and enjoyed the sounds of the ocean rather than the previous assault of Makola market. It was as relaxing a place as I could imagine and we were both grateful for the chance to recuperate after so hard travelling.
The staff were very accommodating, Mary particularly so as she cooked up wonderful dinners of fresh fish no surprisingly plentiful in this little coastal village. It was absolutely delicious and she was a delight.
On one of the mornings we watched as they prepared to bring a fishing boat onto the beach. I was really curious about how this could be done noting the absence of modern equipment anywhere in sight. How the fuck?
So here it is .. after lightening the Jesus Aye by removing nets and any other bits and bytes, they leverage it up onto logs and then pull it up the beach. Seriously can you believe that!!!! I definitely couldn't so when they jokingly waved me over to help I quickly shed my flippy floppies and shirt and raced over spectacularly clad in my short shorts conspicuously white against the back drop of my black brothers. 100 of us then heaved together as a series of drums urged us on ..... all the while singing Ooooo ... Ooooo.... . Orabie Orabie!!!! Ahhhh a fine thing indeed as we later high fived and laughed together.
Ghana is in the green zone - that lush tropical belt across the middle of the African continent where things grow thick and furious in a humid greenhouse like atmosphere that is much better suited to plants than people.It's here that the Kakum National park is able to give the perfect experience to those who enjoy the wonderful experience of being up close and personal with all these growey bits. The park boasts a 500 meter tree top walkway some 70m above the tropical forest floor.
I have to admit that I enjoyed it more than I expected as we not only climbed about but also listened intently to the guide who explained the various trees, their historical significance and modern uses.
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| Barry quickly looks away as the woman on his right breaks into a few tunes from the musical Oaklahoma |
Thanks to Barry for all his arranging and camaraderie
and thanks for reading ......... Layno!!!
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