Saturday, March 25. Docked in Takoradi, Ghana. 30 C. Slightly overcast. Day 81.
We had a tour this morning, about 3 1/2 hours. Not much walking it turns out, we got off the bus only twice, once for a rather hectic walk through a bustling fish market where the boats were still off loading their catch. We were certainly a nuisance to the industrious workers buzzing around us. It was fascinating but at the same time I felt like we were a nuisance with stopping and snapping pictures of the men and women at work. There seemed to be so many women just sitting around, waiting for what I do not know.
There were two bus loads of us, about 65 people total, plus our Police Escort. At the fishing port, it was not a retail outlet but a Working Enterprise in full operation. Apparently the men do the hard work, like being on one of those old smelly boats with their clothes strung up all over the place. The women apparently do the sorting and cleaning etc., preparing the fish for other purposes. Some Port Authority gentleman addressed the whole crowd of us before we headed off like a herd of cats. I for one could not hear or understand a single word he said, but can only assume it regarding our safety. The occasional open drain and bustling workers could do a lot of damage to this elderly crowd! A group of about 10 Police and Fisheries Officials herded us through the market and wharf ensuring we did not get hurt or run over by the fast moving activity here. Then into an ice making warehouse where that process was explained to us. He was quite proud of the operation indeed.
Then back to the safety of the busses where we then went to The Circle Market which is half way through the four year Demo and Reconstruction process. The evicted tenants have set up shop all around the construction site which is about 100 meters at least in diameter. I was glad the bus did not stop there as there was not a single thing in the stalls that any visitor could possibly want.
We then went to an Upmarket Hotel where we stayed for about 3/4 of an hour. Light snacks and beverages were nicely presented and served while the Drummers and Dancers pounded the heck out of the drums the whole time as we all sat in shaded comfort. Then back to the ship where the locals had set up 14 tents with All Things Ghanian so the passengers could shop in relative comfort and safety. We of course checked every one out but did not purchase. Gail had her eye on a six foot wooden Giraffe but was not sure about the plane ride home aspect of such a purchase.
We did not have any expectations of a great shore excursion today, but it was better than expected, so that makes it just fine Our Bus guide was pleasant, mature and knowledgeable and proud of his country. It would be a difficult country [of 27,000,000] to try and get it moving up the economic scale I would say. It is a stable but poor country, glad to have had a glimpse of it and glad to sail away from it as well. Abidjan, Ivory Coast tomorrow.
A Good Day, For Us…
Housing for Railway workers.
See the girl in pink in front of the yellow house, she was waving as we went by.
Workers housing.
More, rather endless.
A side street.
Grocery shopping???
Left for nature to consume the previous British-Built stone structures.
Previous Post Office before independence from Britain in 1957. Ghana was formerly known as The Gold Coast.
Sardines from the ships.
Containers that belong to specific fishing boats.
How would you like to sleep on that boat.
This woman was hamming it up for us.
A mass of people and boats.
Waiting to be entertained, at the end of the trip at a fancy hotel.
A pretty nice hotel I would say, so there are some people here with money.
Local venders started to set up as we came in today.
More ’Stuff’.
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