Cape Coast and Kakum National Park

So I just got back from my weekend trip down the coast. We started in a tro-tro(which had a little tv in it!). We were all ready to go, and then the police came over and started yelling at the tro-tro driver! we didn't know what was going on, but another friendly passenger told us we had better get off and take a bus. The bus cost 2.50 (about 2 US dollars) and it was about a 3 hour drive. When we arrived in Cape Coast, it became apparent that a lot of the women there smoked their own fish as a source of income. We wandered around and made it down to the Cape Coast Castle, where we had lunch in the restaurant there overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful, and we walked down to the beach to have a better look.








After lunch, we took a tour of the castle. it was built in the 1700's (I think) and held by many different European powers. It became a place to hold slaves who were to be sold to the Americas. It was especially bizarre because it was us 3 white people on the tour, and a class full of young African boys. Everytime the tour guide talked about the Europeans doing mean things, he seemed to look directly at me (as i was standing right next to him). I felt like saying "I wasn't even alive then! I am sorry though. But anyway, the slaves were kept in very tight quarters with barely any light. Above the slave holdings was a Church! How ridiculous?


After the tour, we made it up to our hostel. It was called Hans Cottage Botel, and boasts a swamp with crocodiles and a restaurant on stilts on the water. Also, it had a pool!!!! We went for an afternoon swim, watched the crocodiles, and enjoyed some french fries (our attempt at comfort food). The crocodiles were pretty neat, and you are allowed to touch them. I went up to one and was about to touch it but just as I reached down it moved and I freaked out! So I guess touching crocodiles isnt for me. In picture on the left the white things are birds all in a tree at night.

Today (Sunday) we traveled from our hostel a few miles to Kakum National Park. It is a rainforest reserve with a rope bridge Canopy walk. It was AWESOME!!!! I took tons of pictures. We were at most 50 meters high, and the walk is bridges linked by treetop viewing stations. The pictures speak for the place. It was really really cool.











After our time at Kakum, we traveled back to town to catch a bus back to Accra. Now, I want to preface this statement by saying most people we have met in Ghana has been EXTREMELY nice!!! They are helpful, wonderful, and very friendly people. BUT the taxi drivers and merchants are the most annoying people I have ever met. They don't just ask you if you want a ride, they pester you and do not leave you alone! Because we are white, everything is 20x more annoying for us. They try to charge us exorbitant prices, and in general do not leave you alone. It is very frustrating and very very annoying.

We just took a bus back today, and it had AC!!! (and only cost 3.50). The other problem, though, is that Ghana time is not like time in the states. Even in the hospital, people show up when they want. Doctors are never ontime, and they move at whatever pace they like. It is the same with buses and other things that are normally scheduled. Even eating in a restaurant, you need to be prepared to wait an hour, maybe longer. As a very punctual person it irritates me. I am trying to be more laid back and relaxed about it, but when I am the first person at the hospital in the morning and I am 5 minutes late, it is really very strange.