Friday, April 12, 2013

The Strange Streets of Ghana



Besides our two day trips in Ghana we really didn’t have many noteworthy adventures.  With the heat and lack of easily accessible activities we kept to the ship most of the other three days we were in port.

On the first day in Takoradi we attempted to go to the market and find lunch but couldn’t find a restaurant we thought looked good.  We ended up walking around for a few hours and then just coming back to the ship to eat. 

The most interesting thing that happened that day was when I almost got arrested for taking a picture of a chicken.  It sounds strange but it happened.  See what I didn’t realize was the chicken was walking in front of a national bank and you are not allowed to take picture of government buildings.  The man in a military uniform with a large riffle yelling at me made that abundantly clear.  Fortunately he was a ways away and I was able to just walk away while blurting out, “It’s a chicken.  It’s a chicken.”

Besides my free-range friend, I also saw one of the most out-of-place sights imaginable on the streets of Takoradi.   For some reason there was a motorbike with a North Carolina license plate on it parked on along the street.  I almost missed it because I’m so used to seeing them on a daily basis and I have no idea how it got there or who owned it.  The questions will forever haunt me. 

Ghana was definitely a country unlike any other I have visited and, while it was probably my least favorite port so far, I am glad I got to go there.  I was amazed by the amount of things the people carry on their head, everything from baskets of produce to coolers filled with beverages.  As I stood and looked at the scene of the market I almost couldn’t comprehend it.  Or maybe I was just still trying to out how that NC license plate got there.

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