Perfect Weekend

On Friday, Justine and I ventured into Accra for the evening.  It was an excellent chance to check out the city and we also wanted to travel!  We were very pleased to have made this choice, as it was great fun.  We went out for a nice dinner, and then on to a couple different spots, and finally out dancing.

It was almost strange to be in a more western setting- and we almost felt like we were back in North America- but little reminders in the form of power outages, euphoria over air conditioning, and azontu popped up often enough to remind us that, indeed, we were still in Africa.

Ready to take on Accra

After an eventful night, we woke up, went for breakfast, and then carried on into the city.  Accra is so busy-it's full of hustle and bustle. Since we had not made any definite plans, we decided to wander to some tourist destinations and experience the city on foot.

We ventured into a HUGE outdoor market, where everything from toothpaste to live crabs were sold from small stands packed together tighter than my suitcase was.  Once again, we were struck by the friendliness of strangers and were often stopped to chat by locals wondering where we were from and why we were in Ghana.

After the market, we walked to the wood-carving scene- a market filled with intricate carvings and beautiful artwork.  Although most of the stalls sold similar items, every seller wanted us to see his/her work.  Needless to say, window shopping was not a preferred practice- so we ended up looking at many different pieces.  While this was time consuming, it was also great fun.  We joked around with the carvers, met some lovely people, and Justine found a great African mask!

En route to the Wood-Carving Market

After the carving shops, we carried on to Independence Square.  Since Ghana was the first sub-Sarharan country to gain independence from Britain, the monuments here hold great importance to Ghanain people.

From the square, we were able to walk down to the beautiful beach and enjoy running in the waves with sand between our toes.  Splashing in the Gulf of Guinea made for a perfect end to a nice stay in Accra.

Standing in Independence Square

On Sunday, I went with Fred, Annette, and Justine on a hike to Umbrella Rock.  So far, this stands out as one of the best days I have experienced in Ghana; it was simply perfect.  We started the hike by heading to Akaa falls- a really gorgeous setting.  The trails were nestled between unique rock formations and tropical rain forest.

Once we arrived at the falls, we were able to stop and have a snack.  Although the water was almost dried up from the Hamatan, it was still incredibly beautiful- and it smelled fresh, a scent that is often missed in the city.

After a stop at the falls, we carried on with our hike to Umbrella Rock.  It was really hot, but lots of fun.  We headed up the red dirt roads, and felt truly lucky to have the opportunity to view the landscape from a whole new perspective.  

We got the chance to meet some more welcoming locals

Finally, we reached Umbrella Rock.  Feeling brave, we climbed the home-made ladder and had lunch on the top of the rock.  It was an experience I will never forget.

After visiting Umbrella Rock, we walked back down to the road to hop on a tro-tro.  Justine and I decided to walk, and get the next one that passed.  Much to our surprise, after walking over an hour we had yet to be picked up.  We ended up making it all the way to the next town.

This was not a mood-dampener, however, as walking the road through the small villages allowed us to experience Ghana at a really intimate level.  We saw landscapes and people that would have flown by in a car.

We talked about how our surroundings really felt like Lion King-style Africa.  It was a great feeling to be in the setting I had imagined when I planned this trip; I was so thankful to have one of those special moments when I could stop and think "This is what life is all about!"