Weekends Away

Here in Ghana, during the week we work hard, but come 5pm on Friday ...

Here are a few of our favourite weekends so far:

Domama rock shrine

A 7km trek, up and down hills on a dirt track, lead us to a spectacular collection of rocks piled on top of each other to form a cave.  Inside was a spider web covered shrine.   Our guide tried to explain the significance of the shrine, but the language barrier proved challenging so we just nodded and smiled.  7km back to the start left us exhausted and sweaty.  The tro-tro (shared minibus) ride home will stay in my mind for ever – it was pitch black and we hurtled along the pot holed road at 60kmph with no headlights.  I believe that this is illegal in the UK, but here, a 20p 'dash' to a policeman at a road check and any vehicle is roadworthy.  Luckily (!)  another tro over took us so we stayed close using the light from its headlights.  The Ghanaians in the tro with us didn't seem fazed. 

Eco Lodge

One weekend, we drove to an eco lodge.  The last road was “unmade” and took us 80mins to travel 10km, dodging pot holes and rocks in the dark.  The lodge was on a beautiful long white sandy beach.  Perfect waves for body boarding, sunbathing, delicious food, gin and tonics.  Bliss!   On a night walk on the beach we saw a green turtle laying its eggs before wondering back in to the sea which was amazing.   Unfortunately the “self composting” toilet was the most disgusting loo known to man (Tim has a photo straight down it).  Even waiting outside the door was unbearable.  Despite this,  it was a fantastic weekend.

Elmina Beach Resort Hotel

We have bought leisure passes to the 5* hotel across the road from our current house, which was mentioned in a previous blog.  Many hours have been spent lying next to the pool reading, swimming, playing basket ball and using the gym. Only a handful of Ghanaians can swim, but they like to learn and will often ask for a lesson when they spot the 'bruni' lady doing lengths.

Elmina Village

Having been told that all the fishing boats return to our local village after a night of fishing at 6am, on Saturday morning at 5.30am we set out to watch the fishermen bring home their catch.  We walked though the village as it came to life; kids were washing in the street, adults we brushing their teeth, stalls were being set up and the floor was being swept.  Unfortunately there were no boats on the sea! It seemed that our information was a little wrong.  Another man said that maybe the boats would come in 8am.  Looking at the harbour, to us it looked like the boats were already in.  Never mind, it was a beautiful seeing the sunrise over the sea.

   This chap wanted to go into business with Tim. $50,000 dollars up front from us and he'd give      us half his catch every day in the new fishing boat he'd buy with the money. We got him down                                                 to $40,000 and went for it; bargain.

Catching fish with a net in the harbour. Not a job for the weak, this guy gets one small fish every                                                                hundred throws

And, in other news, today we bought a car!

2 year old Kia Picanto, 30,000km, AC, but no Power steering or central locking. Change the oil every 3,000km and the timing belt at 40,000km and she'll be sweet for years to come, apparently -Tim-