Christmas in Ghana - Part 4

From Ezile and Busua Beach, we started making our way back to Accra, via Cape Coast (probably the biggest tourist destination in Ghana). I hadn't seen as many white folk my whole time in Ghana!

There were a few lowlights/highlights in Cape Coast.

1. The Boabab Tree Cafe/Guest House - after hearing great things about this vegetarian cafe I was super excited to try it. We met a random Aussie guy, who was on a self-appointed mission to get Europeans to apologise for their part in the slave trade. It was obvious he was passionate about it, but um... they have? And actually, it seems like its the West Africans that need to apologise, since they were dealing in slaves before Europeans even came to West Africa?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_slave_trade

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8356357.stm

http://across.co.nz/Apologyfo%20SlaveTrade.html

Anyway, the most annoying part about this place was that after an hour of waiting for our food (c'mon guys, I have a 4 month old baby who needs naps, etc) we found out they hadn't even started cooking it! They were just hanging out talking... and as we looked around, NO ONE ELSE had their food either. We cancelled our order (a sandwich and smoothie from memory) and walked to a food-is-ready and had beautiful rice, beans, plantain for about a 1/4 of the price and it was INSTANT. 

2. Cape Coast Castle - this tour was definitely worth it. Cape Coast was the main British hub for the trading of 'commodities', and hundreds of thousands of West Africans were held here in the dungeons, and those who stayed alive, walked out through the 'Door of No Return' onto the boats that would take them to a new land and a new life. It was so eerie to stand in the very places where so much cruelty took place... and to walk along the very path they walked.  I walked out through the 'Door of No Return' and I was struck by the sight of the landscape... this was their last glimpse at their homeland before boarding those ships.  In 1998, the Ghanian government encouraged black people everywhere to return to Ghana to receive a sense of healing. On the opposite side of the 'Door of No Return' is a another sign... 'Door of Return'... welcome home....

The Door Of No Return

The bustling fishing port outside the door

I'm smiling because an old lady was telling me to give my baby to her. Sorry lady.

Neriah missed most of the tour

 And, pretty much, that was our trip. We had the most awesome time and are so grateful that we were able to go and explore. We are also thankful that we have the most precious little girl who travels so well.