| Submitted by: Paloma WreggUnited States |
| Submission Date: 04 February 2005 |
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The Atlantic ocean and a row of palms, each supported by a single pair of gorgeous african children. They seem to sit right below the palms and nowhere else.
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I saw the Castle at Cape Coast today and it was wonderful, hot white walls in the sun contrasted by solid black cannon balls piled outside on the stone floors. I managed to take some stealth photos through the cannon holes in the wall. Unsuspecting children caught in play. There was a wonderful museum with artifacts and the story of the slaves. After the Castle kwarme assured us it was not far to the Hans Hut and so we went for lunch. Crocodiles and hundreds of tiny yellow birds nesting in the trees. Unfortunately baby birds were being stolen right in front of our eyes by the crows. Now I am sitting on the edge of the beach looking at Elmino with the sun on my back.
It was a perfect day. After laying awake all night listening to the waves crash, we set off for a swim in the Ocean. I was dumped many times. The water was a lovely temperature for such a hot day and the place reminded me of what Jamacia would be like. We are not having much luck with our meals, Dinner was really late last night and even though I would normally be frustrated, because I'm on holidays it was just funny. I don’t think John and Jean think so. I have been swimming and sunbaking in the pool, talking to the visiting American students. They are all over here for a month and complaining about the food. They told me the beach we swam at was exactly like Jamacia so I was right in my first impression. I am writing this and being surrounded by little green and orange lizards, bobbing their heads up and down and then sprinting along. Coconut palms and Grass umbrella huts, Wooden carvings and brass pots adorned with beads add to the setting. This is African romance, the natural spirits and simple pleasure of being. Everyone has a smile on their face, the children almost all of the time. I almost don’t notice the women with huge bundles on their heads walking past. Its all so normal now. I know that I am rich here, I am easily reminded every time I see poverty lined up outside the hotel carpark... waiting... waiting... hoping. John and Jean have been so good to me and will not take any money from me. I will never be able to repay them. Sometimes walking in crowds confusion around you is deliberate, intended to distract you, while pockets are picked. I have lost nothing yet.
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I have been to the Culture centre and brought some great masks. We are back in Accra and Jean is happy I have experienced the traffic, so I can understand. We are trying to fix the camera but my doubts are high and my hopes are slim. It has proved such a run around and way to dodgy to think about. The girl in the camera shop, which is unlike any camera shop you would imagine, is asleep when we arrived. The man who fixes them would back later and it would take 3 weeks. Joburg will be my next try. I am resting at the pool at the Shangri-la. It is windy today and I am loving this sticky tropical weather and I could easily live in it. The water is glorious and I am covered in wrinkles again from being in here to long. Jean took me jewellery shopping and I purchased some sweet little earrings. It’s the time of my life and Ghana is such an exciting and beautiful place..... I have just left the airport. After a visit to the Golden Tulip,we arrived at the airport, which was chaotic. For us anyway. I am now safely (????) on Ethiopian Airlines. There is almost no one else on the plane which is very unsettling, because my other flight was over booked by alot of people...??? where are they. John was right and as unorganised as we were (we had confirmed) I did not expect to actually be told there as no seat and I would have to wait 4 days. I was getting very upset at the thought of missing my tour from Nairobi tomorrow. After more hassles with customs on the way out, and about 3 more hours of waiting I finally am on board. The flight I was supposed to be on has not left yet so I think it's fate that now I will actually get there... I hope, anyway. I am very flustered and sad, It was a rushed, panicked goodbye to Jean and John. I did not even get to say goodbye to Kwarme or give him my tip. John looked after me and managed to get my ticket transferred with a lot of hassle. I have had two bad experiences in that airport now and its almost funny. Ghana was just awesome apart from the airport..... Its about 3am in the morning and I am going to try and sleep before we take off. Goodbye Ghana!
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Red and Green with purple sky, Ashanti gold, Children and their eyes. Babies in Bundles, Balance and posture. Madasi and Madasi pa. Yes please and No please. Brass and wood and woven cloth. Fu fu, Maize and Ground nut soup. Goats sheltering under grass roof's. Mud Homes and wooden frames left. Colours that burn brightly as brightly as their eyes. Jewellery and beads on beautiful Black skin. Bimbo the beautiful, faithful and loved. Opheia the singing Iron Lady. Joseph and Jon in the Garden, polishing and polishing the brass. Where names are days and galisaums are the thieves of gold. Adinca symbols and queen mother stools. Markets of fish, fabric and people, Mangoes and pineapples abound with fresh sweet coconut milk to drink. Cape coast forts and Elmina castle. Beaches with palms (tops fallen off) and coffins like cows. Funeral possessions by the hundreds, black and red gowns, elaborate designs. Traffic chaos and yet workers sleep under trucks by the road. Expect the unexpected always. Swims under sunsets and nights of heat cooled by tropical storms.
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