COMME CE COMME CA
WEDNESDAY 30TH NOVEMBER DAY 48 HOTEL COMME CE COMME CA, BOLGANTENGA GHANA
134 miles
Chris set off early for Togo and then we said goodbye to our German friends and will see them in Ghana?
100 k later we passed through Po and then the border from Burkina to Ghana .
Very easy leaving Burkina Faso and entering Ghana was ok until we wanted our carnet stamped.. It took 3 different people to decide who would fill it in. Eventually 1 guy filled it in and the other one stamped it.
It is great to be able to speak English again and have paperwork that is in English, we even managed to stop at a bar down the road and order a drink in English. We ordered 2 castle beers and ended up with 2 milk stouts but it tasted good.
Our hotel in Bolgantenga has rooms for 56 cedi(€26) with air con and fridge. We ended up having dinner there, chicken Jamaican and yam chips and beef and yam chips. Don’t go much on the yam chips!
Forgot to mention yesterday that we had a major disaster in camp that was averted by the arrival of Chris who had a spare jar of marmite as our spare jar had gone missing!!! So now Dave is a “happy bunny”.
134 miles
Chris set off early for Togo and then we said goodbye to our German friends and will see them in Ghana?
100 k later we passed through Po and then the border from Burkina to Ghana .
Very easy leaving Burkina Faso and entering Ghana was ok until we wanted our carnet stamped.. It took 3 different people to decide who would fill it in. Eventually 1 guy filled it in and the other one stamped it.
It is great to be able to speak English again and have paperwork that is in English, we even managed to stop at a bar down the road and order a drink in English. We ordered 2 castle beers and ended up with 2 milk stouts but it tasted good.
Our hotel in Bolgantenga has rooms for 56 cedi(€26) with air con and fridge. We ended up having dinner there, chicken Jamaican and yam chips and beef and yam chips. Don’t go much on the yam chips!
Forgot to mention yesterday that we had a major disaster in camp that was averted by the arrival of Chris who had a spare jar of marmite as our spare jar had gone missing!!! So now Dave is a “happy bunny”.
THUR 1ST DEC DAY 49 MOLE NAT. PARK N 9 14.658 W 1 50.719
228 Miles
Had breakfast at the hotel as a treat, full English for C6 (€3). Left Bolgatenga heading south towards Mole Nat. Park. The road as pretty good but the occasional pot hole was met with a crash or a big swerve around.
Some of the cars and a lot of the lorries are in a pathetic state, windscreens missing, no lights, black smoke pouring out of the exhaust and worst of all moving crab like down the road. One mini bus had its wheels so far out of alignment that you could almost see daylight between the front and rear tyres when looking from behind it!!
Found the well signposted turnoff for Mole and then the fun began. The sign said “87km” to Mole. Not a problem but it was 87km of corrugated dirt road all the way, the worst road we have found (so far). A grader truck sat idle at the side rusting away. It reminded us of one of the signs we have seen on cars “No food for lazy man”
At Mole we check in and find ourselves on our own in the campsite although there are plenty of people staying in the rooms.
After setting up camp and having a cold beer we head to the Main Camp for something to eat and we find 3 of the “truckers” from the Sleeping Camel. They left the truck just before the events in Timbuktu and are waiting for the truck to catch up.
.
228 Miles
Had breakfast at the hotel as a treat, full English for C6 (€3). Left Bolgatenga heading south towards Mole Nat. Park. The road as pretty good but the occasional pot hole was met with a crash or a big swerve around.
Some of the cars and a lot of the lorries are in a pathetic state, windscreens missing, no lights, black smoke pouring out of the exhaust and worst of all moving crab like down the road. One mini bus had its wheels so far out of alignment that you could almost see daylight between the front and rear tyres when looking from behind it!!
Found the well signposted turnoff for Mole and then the fun began. The sign said “87km” to Mole. Not a problem but it was 87km of corrugated dirt road all the way, the worst road we have found (so far). A grader truck sat idle at the side rusting away. It reminded us of one of the signs we have seen on cars “No food for lazy man”
At Mole we check in and find ourselves on our own in the campsite although there are plenty of people staying in the rooms.
After setting up camp and having a cold beer we head to the Main Camp for something to eat and we find 3 of the “truckers” from the Sleeping Camel. They left the truck just before the events in Timbuktu and are waiting for the truck to catch up.
.
OUR FIRST ELEPHANTS
FRI 2ND DEC DAY 50 AS ABOVE
0 Miles
I got up at 6.30 and left Julie asleep and joined a group to take a bush walk for two hours in search of some elephants. We saw vervet monkeys, antelope and crocodiles but no elephants. Two hours walking gave me two blisters too.
Melon for breakfast as we watch the warthogs watching us eating, fortunately the baboons didn’t appear.
The back of the Landy is full of the brown dust of Africa and the outside is no better but a real clean will have to wait until we reach the coast.
We lounged about in the afternoon until Geoff came to the camp and said elephants are at the waterhole so it was a rush to the Main Camp to meet a guide who took us down to get a closer look. We got within 20 meters of them! It’s the closest I have been to an elephant on foot.
Our German friends arrived in the afternoon (Otto and Sigried), we seem to be bumping in to them all the time.
Beef curry and yam chips for dinner.Oh and some Club lager which is more like a bitter really.
0 Miles
I got up at 6.30 and left Julie asleep and joined a group to take a bush walk for two hours in search of some elephants. We saw vervet monkeys, antelope and crocodiles but no elephants. Two hours walking gave me two blisters too.
Melon for breakfast as we watch the warthogs watching us eating, fortunately the baboons didn’t appear.
The back of the Landy is full of the brown dust of Africa and the outside is no better but a real clean will have to wait until we reach the coast.
We lounged about in the afternoon until Geoff came to the camp and said elephants are at the waterhole so it was a rush to the Main Camp to meet a guide who took us down to get a closer look. We got within 20 meters of them! It’s the closest I have been to an elephant on foot.
Our German friends arrived in the afternoon (Otto and Sigried), we seem to be bumping in to them all the time.
Beef curry and yam chips for dinner.Oh and some Club lager which is more like a bitter really.
WARTHOGS TRAPPING JULIE
SAT 3RD DEC DAY51 THE LUNAR LODGE, SOUTH OF TECHIMAN
196 Miles
The road west of Mole was not quite so bad or so far but still badly corrugated in places. It still took almost 2 hours to make it to the tarmac.
Long hot day passing many small villages which seem to be surrounded by bush fires, not sure if they start them themselves or not but it makes bush camping a bit dodgy so we are heading to Techiman to try and find somewhere to stay.
In Techiman there seemed to be a religious meeting going on because of all the banners and all the Ghanaian women dressed in black and the men in black robes, tomorrow is a holiday so perhaps they are warming up to it?
Had to stop at our first police check point today, normally they just wave us through. He asked for my IDP and passport…..here we go again, another fine. But no not this time he just wanted a chat, mainly about football which is always a good subject to get the officials talking about in Africa. Chelsea are the main team in Ghana and they beat Newcastle I think today. Lots of lads wear old football shirts. I have seen Rooney on a donkey cart, Messi digging roads and Lampard was wearing the dirtiest shirt I have ever seen!
We find the Lunar lodge and check in then visit the crazy Techiman for something to eat, easier said than done as a lot of places are shut for the religious gathering. Up and down the side streets saying “Hi, how are you” to people as they stare at us. The brave ones say “Hi” back and want to shake my hand. Now in England we’d think “What do they want” but they are just so friendly in Ghana as the people were in Mali.
We have chicken with jollof rice (spicey rice) for €1.
We break our Don’t Dive At Night rule by a few minutes. Not to be advised.
196 Miles
The road west of Mole was not quite so bad or so far but still badly corrugated in places. It still took almost 2 hours to make it to the tarmac.
Long hot day passing many small villages which seem to be surrounded by bush fires, not sure if they start them themselves or not but it makes bush camping a bit dodgy so we are heading to Techiman to try and find somewhere to stay.
In Techiman there seemed to be a religious meeting going on because of all the banners and all the Ghanaian women dressed in black and the men in black robes, tomorrow is a holiday so perhaps they are warming up to it?
Had to stop at our first police check point today, normally they just wave us through. He asked for my IDP and passport…..here we go again, another fine. But no not this time he just wanted a chat, mainly about football which is always a good subject to get the officials talking about in Africa. Chelsea are the main team in Ghana and they beat Newcastle I think today. Lots of lads wear old football shirts. I have seen Rooney on a donkey cart, Messi digging roads and Lampard was wearing the dirtiest shirt I have ever seen!
We find the Lunar lodge and check in then visit the crazy Techiman for something to eat, easier said than done as a lot of places are shut for the religious gathering. Up and down the side streets saying “Hi, how are you” to people as they stare at us. The brave ones say “Hi” back and want to shake my hand. Now in England we’d think “What do they want” but they are just so friendly in Ghana as the people were in Mali.
We have chicken with jollof rice (spicey rice) for €1.
We break our Don’t Dive At Night rule by a few minutes. Not to be advised.
RIVER NIGER
SUN 4TH DEC DAY 52 HOTEL TRUE VINE, KUMASI
87 Miles
Easy day today to Kamasi taking our time and buying some fruit on the way which is so cheap. We somehow buy some little red things like small red acorns which we didn’t really want but the lady insisted on. Fruit or vegetable? We will have to ask as she said something in her local language and put them in a bag. Mmm.
More lush green hills and small villages then we hit Kumasi where we are greeted by the usual chaos of an African city. Find the central market (not on purpose) allegedly one of the biggest in Africa, well not sure about that but believe me its BIG.
Eventually a couple of Ghanaians notice we are lost and between them we get escorted to the True vine hotel, very nice but for C60 it should be. Lets hope the wi fi works.
Will try the Indian restaurant tonight.
87 Miles
Easy day today to Kamasi taking our time and buying some fruit on the way which is so cheap. We somehow buy some little red things like small red acorns which we didn’t really want but the lady insisted on. Fruit or vegetable? We will have to ask as she said something in her local language and put them in a bag. Mmm.
More lush green hills and small villages then we hit Kumasi where we are greeted by the usual chaos of an African city. Find the central market (not on purpose) allegedly one of the biggest in Africa, well not sure about that but believe me its BIG.
Eventually a couple of Ghanaians notice we are lost and between them we get escorted to the True vine hotel, very nice but for C60 it should be. Lets hope the wi fi works.
Will try the Indian restaurant tonight.
BURKINA FASO SUMMERY
Well we didn’t see as much of Burkina as we had planned, mainly due to events in Timbuktu Mali. We saw lots of Bobo and the surrounding area. The people are friendly enough and no real hassle apart from the one dodgy policeman we seem to find in each country.
For a very poor country the roads are excellent, they put U.K. roads to shame
Near perfect tarmac on all the routs we travelled..
Well we didn’t see as much of Burkina as we had planned, mainly due to events in Timbuktu Mali. We saw lots of Bobo and the surrounding area. The people are friendly enough and no real hassle apart from the one dodgy policeman we seem to find in each country.
For a very poor country the roads are excellent, they put U.K. roads to shame
Near perfect tarmac on all the routs we travelled..
BAR AT GREEN TURTLE
MON 5TH DEC DAY 53 GREEN TURTLE LODGE, DIXCOVE. N 4 45.515
W 2 01.272
213 Miles
Early start trying to miss the traffic but to no avail as we join the queue to the south by pass.which is being built at the moment. Out of town we are stopped by the police for a paperwork check and ask him if we are on the correct road. “Yes and no” he says. Well he means yes we can go this way but it is shorter to return to Kumasi. We decide to carry on and find our way to Lake Bosumtui,
After several more small villages we find the “main” road to the coast. The worst road in Africa (so far). All but the last 30 miles were broken tar and dirt roads filled with pot holes with dust billowing everywhere. The Landy gets covered in dust as do we as its too hot to close the windows, we drive with lights on as the dust reduces visibility for oncoming vehicles.
Lorries are parked at the side of the road with punctures and broken suspension. One lorry is on the brow of a hill broken down an the two cars in front of us decide to pass up the inside. Good idea I thought if a mini bus and a saloon car can pass then so can we. BIG MISTAKE. We end up grounded wheels spinning, I take a look under the front of the Landy to find us mounted on a log at least 18” diameter.
The car in front must have kicked the log into our path! What next. The shovel comes out and then just as I think of getting the jack out the lorry driver and his mate wake up-take a look and then lift the front up while I reverse out. Lucky escape really the only damage is a slightly bend steering guard and a scuff in the dif. Guard. Mind you I am now covered in the red dust.
On we go passing some unofficial mining with guys working in pools of mineral filled water looking for gold we assume as it’s a gold mining area.
In Tarkwa the tar greets us and we head south to dixcove and the Green Turtle Lodge, well known amongst overlanders for its idyllic setting. Dixcove is a tiny one street village just wide enough for the Landy…is this the correct road?
5 miles of very rough dirt testing the Landys suspension, wouldn’t want to come here in the rainy season.
At camp we set up the tent have a shower and down a large bottle of Star lager.
W 2 01.272
213 Miles
Early start trying to miss the traffic but to no avail as we join the queue to the south by pass.which is being built at the moment. Out of town we are stopped by the police for a paperwork check and ask him if we are on the correct road. “Yes and no” he says. Well he means yes we can go this way but it is shorter to return to Kumasi. We decide to carry on and find our way to Lake Bosumtui,
After several more small villages we find the “main” road to the coast. The worst road in Africa (so far). All but the last 30 miles were broken tar and dirt roads filled with pot holes with dust billowing everywhere. The Landy gets covered in dust as do we as its too hot to close the windows, we drive with lights on as the dust reduces visibility for oncoming vehicles.
Lorries are parked at the side of the road with punctures and broken suspension. One lorry is on the brow of a hill broken down an the two cars in front of us decide to pass up the inside. Good idea I thought if a mini bus and a saloon car can pass then so can we. BIG MISTAKE. We end up grounded wheels spinning, I take a look under the front of the Landy to find us mounted on a log at least 18” diameter.
The car in front must have kicked the log into our path! What next. The shovel comes out and then just as I think of getting the jack out the lorry driver and his mate wake up-take a look and then lift the front up while I reverse out. Lucky escape really the only damage is a slightly bend steering guard and a scuff in the dif. Guard. Mind you I am now covered in the red dust.
On we go passing some unofficial mining with guys working in pools of mineral filled water looking for gold we assume as it’s a gold mining area.
In Tarkwa the tar greets us and we head south to dixcove and the Green Turtle Lodge, well known amongst overlanders for its idyllic setting. Dixcove is a tiny one street village just wide enough for the Landy…is this the correct road?
5 miles of very rough dirt testing the Landys suspension, wouldn’t want to come here in the rainy season.
At camp we set up the tent have a shower and down a large bottle of Star lager.
A MORNING SWIM FOR ME
TUE 6TH DEC DAY 54 AS ABOVE
0 Miles
Great nights sleep with the sound of the waves breaking on the beach, we camp just 25m from the sea.
Melon for breakfast before a swim and then a bit of a tidy up of the Landy. Had lunch at the Lodge, all very relaxed and I think we will stay a few days.
In the afternoon some school kids returning home sing us a little song. Obviously they go to a church sponsored school as the song went something like “We are all sinners and we have sinned! O.K. here is a sweet each. They walk at least 6 miles to school and 6 miles back, a couple of them carry there own chair too.
Lazy afternoon
0 Miles
Great nights sleep with the sound of the waves breaking on the beach, we camp just 25m from the sea.
Melon for breakfast before a swim and then a bit of a tidy up of the Landy. Had lunch at the Lodge, all very relaxed and I think we will stay a few days.
In the afternoon some school kids returning home sing us a little song. Obviously they go to a church sponsored school as the song went something like “We are all sinners and we have sinned! O.K. here is a sweet each. They walk at least 6 miles to school and 6 miles back, a couple of them carry there own chair too.
Lazy afternoon
WED 7TH DE DAY 55 AS ABOVE
O Miles
Cooked our dinner in the dark last night after getting chatting to a Swedish and Irish guy, there dinner turned up and we dashed of to stumble around in the dark
Nothing much to do apart from more cleaning of the Landy and lazing around, could get used to this..
THUR 8TH DEC AS ABOVE
O Miles
More lounging about and swimming, enjoying some timedoing nothing. Serviced the Landy today and cleaned myself up in the sea. Just an oil and filter change to do and we will go to a garage for that.
The only complaint we have is that the beer is not cold enough! Oh well.
O Miles
More lounging about and swimming, enjoying some timedoing nothing. Serviced the Landy today and cleaned myself up in the sea. Just an oil and filter change to do and we will go to a garage for that.
The only complaint we have is that the beer is not cold enough! Oh well.
FRI 9TH DEC AS ABOVE
0 Miles
This will be our last day at the Green Turtle Lodge, we must move on tomorrow. Our plans are all up in the air as we have had no internet for 10 days and are unsure of the situation in the DRC. Maybe tomorrow we will find an internet connection.
Christmas and New Year approach and we need to find out if we can travel through Africa or have to ship to Namibia. Do we get our Togo and Benin visas? Oh for the internet and news of the outside world.
Time for a beer I think.
A Dutch overlanding couple arrived around five o’clock (Wendy and John) looking tired and dusty as we did after the run from Kumasi to Green Turtle Lodge. Hopefully we can have a chat with them before we leave tomorrow.
Dinner was curry and rice for me and Julie had chicken stir fry. We tried the house cocktails also, not that brilliant but maybe the blue colour put us of a little.
0 Miles
This will be our last day at the Green Turtle Lodge, we must move on tomorrow. Our plans are all up in the air as we have had no internet for 10 days and are unsure of the situation in the DRC. Maybe tomorrow we will find an internet connection.
Christmas and New Year approach and we need to find out if we can travel through Africa or have to ship to Namibia. Do we get our Togo and Benin visas? Oh for the internet and news of the outside world.
Time for a beer I think.
A Dutch overlanding couple arrived around five o’clock (Wendy and John) looking tired and dusty as we did after the run from Kumasi to Green Turtle Lodge. Hopefully we can have a chat with them before we leave tomorrow.
Dinner was curry and rice for me and Julie had chicken stir fry. We tried the house cocktails also, not that brilliant but maybe the blue colour put us of a little.
SAT 10TH DEC DAY 58 ANOMABO BEACH RESORT,NR. AMOMABO
N W
Miles
Wendy and John are planning on driving all the way to South Africa too and they have e-mailed a friend asking them to find out about the DRC problems, hopefully they will update us with any info.
They met Tily at the Sleeping Camel and say that she is just about coping, she was upset that the Dutch press had used photos from there website in there newspapers so now the website has been closed down. It’s a shame we are leaving an unable to swap news with fellow overlanders, maybe we will meet at Big Millys?
We said our goodbyes and packed Arons bag on the roof (he is cadging a lift to Takoradi) and departed the Lodge. The 5 miles back along the track to Dixcove didn’t seem so bad on the return trip, maybe it seemed bad when we arrived because we were so tired.
We passed through Dixcove, a tiny village but it had a dozen massive loud speakers in the street blaring away…the Landy shook as we passed it. The pile of rubbish in the middle of the village was still there but the kid that was sitting naked on top of it when we arrived had gone. Maybe to hospital!
In Takoradi we got some Cedi from the ATM said goodbye to Aron and moved onto Cape Coast where we intended to stay. Unfortunately the Oasis Beach Resort wasn’t up to much (and the beer was warm), we tried to find another place but ended up moving on to Anomabo. Very nice place where you can camp but we blew our budget and took a room. No internet though.
Tomorrow we go to Accra and must find an internet connection to plan our next move. We need some accurate news on the Congo/DRc border problem even if its bad news and its still closed at least we will know where we stand.
Time for some food.
N W
Miles
Wendy and John are planning on driving all the way to South Africa too and they have e-mailed a friend asking them to find out about the DRC problems, hopefully they will update us with any info.
They met Tily at the Sleeping Camel and say that she is just about coping, she was upset that the Dutch press had used photos from there website in there newspapers so now the website has been closed down. It’s a shame we are leaving an unable to swap news with fellow overlanders, maybe we will meet at Big Millys?
We said our goodbyes and packed Arons bag on the roof (he is cadging a lift to Takoradi) and departed the Lodge. The 5 miles back along the track to Dixcove didn’t seem so bad on the return trip, maybe it seemed bad when we arrived because we were so tired.
We passed through Dixcove, a tiny village but it had a dozen massive loud speakers in the street blaring away…the Landy shook as we passed it. The pile of rubbish in the middle of the village was still there but the kid that was sitting naked on top of it when we arrived had gone. Maybe to hospital!
In Takoradi we got some Cedi from the ATM said goodbye to Aron and moved onto Cape Coast where we intended to stay. Unfortunately the Oasis Beach Resort wasn’t up to much (and the beer was warm), we tried to find another place but ended up moving on to Anomabo. Very nice place where you can camp but we blew our budget and took a room. No internet though.
Tomorrow we go to Accra and must find an internet connection to plan our next move. We need some accurate news on the Congo/DRc border problem even if its bad news and its still closed at least we will know where we stand.
Time for some food.
SUN 11TH DEC DAY 59 HOTEL PALOMA , ACCRA
82 miles
Nice buffet breakfast overlooking the sea fill you boots with plenty of unhealthy fried food and the one piece of fruit to make you feel less guilty.
Headed for Accra Ghanas capital. We are lucky with the traffic as it’s a Sunday its not to bad but when I do a U-turn the one policeman on duty is standing there to pull me over. 10cedi in his pocket and of we go to the hotel which is mega expensive but will do for tonight until we find a more suitable place.
We have decided to ship to Namibia after getting more info on the DRC, elections are over but people are fighting on the street and 4 people have been killed. We are disappointed not to do the full overland trip but feel its better safe than sorry. We find a shipping agent in the yellow pages and will visit them tomorrow.
82 miles
Nice buffet breakfast overlooking the sea fill you boots with plenty of unhealthy fried food and the one piece of fruit to make you feel less guilty.
Headed for Accra Ghanas capital. We are lucky with the traffic as it’s a Sunday its not to bad but when I do a U-turn the one policeman on duty is standing there to pull me over. 10cedi in his pocket and of we go to the hotel which is mega expensive but will do for tonight until we find a more suitable place.
We have decided to ship to Namibia after getting more info on the DRC, elections are over but people are fighting on the street and 4 people have been killed. We are disappointed not to do the full overland trip but feel its better safe than sorry. We find a shipping agent in the yellow pages and will visit them tomorrow.
MON 12TH DEC DAY 60 to MON 26TH DEC GREENFIELD LODGE ACCRA
5 MILES
This is a summery of our wasted 2 weeks in Accra arranging shipping and flights to Namibia.
Greenfield Lodge is where we stayed for 15 nights in Accra. The hotel was half the price of the Paloma but still expensive for our budget. Its very difficult to find budget accom.in the city, we did try but the only cheap places were really crap places.
The city has continuous traffic jams from dawn to dusk and later foul smelling open sewers and little in the way of places to eat or to see. As you can gather we didn,t enjoy our time that much in Accra but once again found the people friendly and welcoming. (apart from the rip of taxi drivers).
We visit Mc Dan shipping agent near the airport and get seen quickly which was promising but it was all down hill from there. The lack of communication drove us mad, We know its Africa but hey a phone call doesn’t hurt. They took a ridiculous amount of money from us (cash only) for shipping our Landy and did little for it. If I was writing a book one chapter would be on the shipping story.
Anyway eventually we get a date for shipping and drop the Landy at their yard and hand over the keys, worrying on its own but the only receipt I got was on a scrap of paper and I had to ask for that!!
ANYONE SHIPPING FROM ACCRA….DO NOT USE MCDAN SHIPPING.
Oh well we have Christmas to look forward to. We find a few places to eat and drink at reasonable prices. One was next to the Paloma hotel and another was Eddies Pizza place where they serve great Danish pastries coffee and tea and milkshakes for Julie. They Ghanaians love there English premier league football and Chelsea in particular which pleased Julie.
We saw a few games sitting outside on the big screen amongst cheering locals having our fried chicken wings and jolof rice. Unfortunately that is where we suspect we both got food poisoning !!! We not sure but it was dark and we chicken. So for around 8 days we suffered the effects of that. Not nice I can tell you. Oh for a marmite sandwhich?
Christmas in Ghana is laid back very few decorations about and most people were working after going to church on Christmas day. Talking of which we went to church Christmas day. Yes I know its difficult to take in but we had an invitation from one of the staff at the Lodge who’s husband was the preacher at the church.
So Julie and I and Jimmy another guest from the Lodge get a lift to church which is open air under a canopy and we try to slide in at the back of the church. No chance. We are special guests and we get seated at the front on special chairs and are introduced to the congregation.
Everyone is dressed in there Sunday best and the preacher gets in his stride really getting his congregation excited and involved and even we find ourselves waving our hands and trying to sing along. Eventually Jimmy gets up and gives a nice sermon of sorts. Well you can imagine what I am thinking “What if they ask me to say a few words” Luckily although I mentally prepareda few words for myself it didn.t happen. Thank the Lord, Hallelujah Amen.
It was a good experience and we all came away feeling better for it. Even our stomachs were feeling better.
5 MILES
This is a summery of our wasted 2 weeks in Accra arranging shipping and flights to Namibia.
Greenfield Lodge is where we stayed for 15 nights in Accra. The hotel was half the price of the Paloma but still expensive for our budget. Its very difficult to find budget accom.in the city, we did try but the only cheap places were really crap places.
The city has continuous traffic jams from dawn to dusk and later foul smelling open sewers and little in the way of places to eat or to see. As you can gather we didn,t enjoy our time that much in Accra but once again found the people friendly and welcoming. (apart from the rip of taxi drivers).
We visit Mc Dan shipping agent near the airport and get seen quickly which was promising but it was all down hill from there. The lack of communication drove us mad, We know its Africa but hey a phone call doesn’t hurt. They took a ridiculous amount of money from us (cash only) for shipping our Landy and did little for it. If I was writing a book one chapter would be on the shipping story.
Anyway eventually we get a date for shipping and drop the Landy at their yard and hand over the keys, worrying on its own but the only receipt I got was on a scrap of paper and I had to ask for that!!
ANYONE SHIPPING FROM ACCRA….DO NOT USE MCDAN SHIPPING.
Oh well we have Christmas to look forward to. We find a few places to eat and drink at reasonable prices. One was next to the Paloma hotel and another was Eddies Pizza place where they serve great Danish pastries coffee and tea and milkshakes for Julie. They Ghanaians love there English premier league football and Chelsea in particular which pleased Julie.
We saw a few games sitting outside on the big screen amongst cheering locals having our fried chicken wings and jolof rice. Unfortunately that is where we suspect we both got food poisoning !!! We not sure but it was dark and we chicken. So for around 8 days we suffered the effects of that. Not nice I can tell you. Oh for a marmite sandwhich?
Christmas in Ghana is laid back very few decorations about and most people were working after going to church on Christmas day. Talking of which we went to church Christmas day. Yes I know its difficult to take in but we had an invitation from one of the staff at the Lodge who’s husband was the preacher at the church.
So Julie and I and Jimmy another guest from the Lodge get a lift to church which is open air under a canopy and we try to slide in at the back of the church. No chance. We are special guests and we get seated at the front on special chairs and are introduced to the congregation.
Everyone is dressed in there Sunday best and the preacher gets in his stride really getting his congregation excited and involved and even we find ourselves waving our hands and trying to sing along. Eventually Jimmy gets up and gives a nice sermon of sorts. Well you can imagine what I am thinking “What if they ask me to say a few words” Luckily although I mentally prepareda few words for myself it didn.t happen. Thank the Lord, Hallelujah Amen.
It was a good experience and we all came away feeling better for it. Even our stomachs were feeling better.
Bar area at Green Turtle Lodge.