To the Cape!

“The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen

Thursday morning I boarded a Metro Mass Transit bus for a weekend in Cape Coast with a fellow volunteer. Exactly what I needed to rejuvenate. Though I have visited Cape Coast before, it was a different experience as a return visitor and when it was simply a weekend getaway planned on my own versus part of a weeklong obruni (white person) tour.

I enjoyed the memories of my past visit and more thoroughly reveled in the beauty of it all this time around. Thanks to a national holiday on Monday, I was able to stay one extra day and do a little venting, a little eating, and a whole lot of sightseeing with the other Amy, who because she also has brown hair and white skin, everyone assumed was my twin. Oh Africa. Sigh…..A touch of American life creeped onto the agenda as well. Cocoa puffs with milk, grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches and yogurt. Oh yea.

Cape Coast is a bustling coastal community. Fish, fish, and more fish. Roaming the Kotokaruba market is an exercise in patience and alertness. Taxis get the right away in these parts, so get out of the way, or suffer the consequences. From shoes to bread to clothing to vegetables to books to ice cream….this market has everything anyone could possibly need. I half jokingly told the other Amy that I could have showed up in Ghana with an empty suitcase and very easily found everything I needed to live. In Cape Coast, you will find many white volunteers, and they like to hang out at the Oasis where a dose of familiarity is available with some good ole’ American cuisine. A view of ocean waves crashing the shore doesn’t hurt this place’s ambience either.

Saturday night included an African drum and dance show. The joy radiating from the musicians and dancers is contagious. It’s hard not to smile and tap your foot to the beat of the African drum. Love of the arts is strong in African culture. I dig it.

To escape the city, we ventured about twenty minutes east to a small piece of heaven-on-earth called Anomabu Beach Resort.

Upon arrival we happened upon beautiful sandy beaches, families frolicking along the coast, and delicious coconut shrimp and cheesy pizzas. Our accommodation for the night was a tent set up right near a lovely hut umbrella and two cushion covered lounge chairs. We strolled the beach, relaxed while listening to the sounds of the ocean, and enjoyed some delicious boxed sangria.

Can’t go wrong with that combination! Anomabu stole my heart. I’m totally mesmerized by the ocean and island life and messages in bottles and people living on deserted islands....I often get “Lost” in the idea of being a “Castaway” ;)

Our weekend culminated at Kakum National Park. We conquered the canopy walk, which happens to be about 120 feet above the ground and is ranked third in the entire world for excellence. Two Canadian fellas helped out some Ghanaians to construct this adventure about sixteen years ago.

It's amazing. Incredible. Breathtaking. As I walked across foot-wide wooden boards held in place by large bolts and intricately woven ropes, I couldn’t help but smile and marvel at the vastness of the dense, greenery of the rain forest below me. We even snagged some bottled pure honey along the trail. Delicious!Lunch followed at the Hans Cottage Botel which is a restaurant hovering above a swamp filled with friendly crocodiles!

I needed this weekend. I needed to see some beauty and enjoy Ghana. I haven’t had a very positive attitude about my time here thus far, but Cape Coast, you turned things around for me! Though this whole experience may not be all that I hoped it would be professionally, I am going to enjoy what Africa has to offer me and savor the freedom and opportunities to explore.