Finally, Ghana

We arrived soon after dark to Aba House tired but relieved. Had our first Red-red, which is a Ghanaian dish of red plantains and beans, very delicious. After our second malaria tablets, we all had the vivid dreams. Not too different from our usual dreams.

Today we began our journey across the country and driving in Ghana is an extremely stimulating experience. The going is slow and the commerce is thick; folks selling everything on their heads from peanuts to bags of filtered water, others selling everything roadside from waffle irons to plastic buckets. Who needs TV when you can look out the window. Driving in all three countries; France, Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana has been wild and wooly--I am glad someone else is doing the driving.

We arrived in Cape Coast this afternoon and visited the site of the famous Slave Castle, one of many places where slaves were sold as merchandise by colonialists. The history is thick with complicit tribal chiefs and deceitful Europeans. The situation is sobering and something to attend to. I was looking forward to seeing the "Door of No Return" and the subsequent, recently named "Door of Return" inviting all those of African descent to return and visit Ghana someday. I highly recommend it.

At a hotel this evening with crocodiles and weaver birds, way cool. Canopy walk tomorrow, my girl is excited.

Something worth mentioning about Madeline--what a great adventurer she is! She has proven to be very flexible and open to most everything. I'm a proud mama.