Accra life
Tuesday, April 17th, 2007Nothing terribly exciting to report from the last few days, but we’ve been enjoying ourselves here in Accra, the Ghanian capital. With three-part road flyovers, BMW showrooms, sidewalks (!) and yummy smoothie shops, it’s significantly more developed than anywhere else we’ve been to so far in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, as a coastal city, it’s not as hot as it is further north, a nice bonus.
We’ve managed to meet up with two travellers we’ve been bumping into throughout West Africa: the incomporable Ted Chang, he of more than 100 countries visited and someone who is more interested than any other person on earth in visa costs around the globe; and Lachlan ‘Lockie’ Prouse, who bought a bicycle in southern China three years ago and has since cycled it all the way here save for one Cairo-Frankfurt flight and the odd enforced boat ride. The four of us have been staying with an upper-class Ghanian here in Accra which has been rather interesting after coming from places like Mali where people like Steven (who owns a successful graphic design company, has a 4WD etc) just don’t seem to exist.
Wendy and I intended to leave Accra for Cape Coast today but somehow didn’t get around to it. Lockie took off on his bike this afternoon, so the rest of us will perhaps pass him on the road tomorrow morning and we’ll all meet up again in the afternoon.
After a few glitches (i.e. you’re not allowed to smile for your passport photo if you’re Australian), I put my application in yesterday so hopefully by next week I’ll have my new 64-page passport. Meanwhile, the Australian High Commission is putting on a service and BBQ for Anzac Day next Wednesday so Lockie (another Aussie) and I are going to attend, and maybe they’ll let me bring Wendy as well.
Nick