The Heart Of Life: Day 55

Cape Coast Trip Day 3

Today was one of the best days I’ve ever had. This day could not have been more perfect. I never ever want to leave here. We woke up early around 6:30 and so we could leave early for Carcum Canopy walk. We met Innica on the rooftop around 7 and could already smell breakfast. I ordered pancakes and an orange juice. We waited for Esther, Tina, Carl, and Sarah to meet us for breakfast. The pancakes were seriously so delicious. We brought bananas and cut them up in our pancakes. The other group ordered their food and we all finished around the same time. We went downstairs and saw our taxis waiting for us. The other group decided to take a taxi the whole way there for 60 cedi but we took our taxi to the tro tro station. Once at the tro tro station we didn’t have to wait long at all to leave. The taxi ride wasn’t too uncomfortable and only cost us 2 cedi. We saved so much money by just taking a tro tro to the park. In the tro tro we talked to Innica where she told us that she was so grateful that she ran into us in the lobby last night. She said she was in her room crying and praying to God that she would have a better experience in Ghana because she missed her boyfriend and didn’t feel very safe there. Then she came downstairs and we invited her to come with us and she said that it was no coincidence we were all there at the same time. That got us talking about religion and our beliefs. She agreed with everything we talked about especially the word of wisdom and chastity. Innica told us that she believes there is a God but doesn’t go to church. We invited her to church if she’s still in Cape Coast tomorrow. We got dropped off at the entrance of the park and had to pay 1 cedi to enter. We had to walk down a dirt road to the canopy site. It wasn’t even 10 when we arrived to the park but it still wasn’t busy. We had our student ID’s so we paid 15 cedi to enter the park. We saw the other groups there of tourists and they were way too cute to look like they were about to do a nature walk. The girls were dressed in nice silk shirts, skinny jeans, makeup, and hair nicely done. We were in our long shorts and dirty shirts but we didn’t care one bit. Our group had 16 people in all. Jackie, Lauren, Cassie, Me, King, Innica, Esther, Tina, Carl, Sarah, 4 Medical students, and this weird couple. Carl stayed back with King Innica and us while the rest of the group quickly hiked up the hill. We took our time taking pictures looking at the nature around us and having a really good time. We stopped a few times to look at millipedes, worms, and ants. We started the walk off with an intro to the park and what was there. They had lots of animals there but it was unlikely that we would see them during this time of the day. We would get 120 feet up in the air and go over 7 different walkways. We were the last people on the canopy walk with only Carl and the tour guides behind us. We were going slowly on the first walkway so they told us to hurry up. We told the tour guide we don’t want to be rushed and he’s going to have to pass us if he wants to go any faster. The rest of the group was already on the second walkway by the time we were barely half way on the first. We just kept looking over the edge and all around us. We weren’t even that high up yet but we were already amazed at how far we could see. In between each walkway was a platform where we spent even more time taking pictures and videos. After awhile the Ghanaian tour guide passed us leaving only the German tour guide to watch over us. He had been doing an intern with the park for the past 10 months and spoke rough English. Over the next hour we were completely out of sight from the rest of the group. We had the best time jumping up and down and taking pictures. Only Carl stuck with us and seemed to have a great time with us. It must be the American bond or something. By the time we were finished the rest of the group had been waiting what looked like a long time for us to finish. We didn’t even care if they had to wait a long time, we definitely got our 15 cedi out of this trip. We began the trek back with the rest of the group to the main park site. I think the other girls were wishing they hadn’t worn their cute gold sandals and fancy clothes as we hiked back in the deep mud. When we got back there were so many people. There were hundreds of little kids and tourists everywhere. We went out to try to find a tro tro or taxi to take us to Hans Cottage. The only taxi there would only do it for 25 cedi. The place was only 20 minutes away so we declined and waited across the street to find a tro tro or different taxi. We waited for about 20 minutes without any luck while the taxi driver laughed at us getting rejected by every tro tro because they were all too full for 6 more. Then a taxi with only 1 passenger stopped and agreed to take all 6 of us for 6 cedi. I sat on top of Innica the whole time and my legs were dead asleep by the time we got there. The first thing we saw when we entered Hans Cottage was this alligator with its mouth open looking very fake. We took some pictures of the other alligators swimming around in the lake surrounding the restaurant. Then we saw a crowd of people surrounding another crocodile and taking pictures almost sitting on them. Cassie and I were the only ones to pay to take the pictures. Cassie was first and got tons of pictures on the alligator just hovering over it. I was next. The alligator started moving right when I crouched over it and then I realized how scary this actually was. I got to feel it breathing and made paying the 2 cedi totally worth it. It took another 45 minutes or so for our food to actually get there. I ordered a papaya drink that was also heavenly along with the spring rolls. They were loaded with ginger and veggies, so delicious. We finished and watched school kids and adults freak out as they tried to take pictures with the alligator. One woman wanted a picture with the alligator so badly but looked like she was going to cry every time she even went near it. We left the cottage and took another taxi about a 30 min ride. There was a lot of traffic so it took a lot longer than normal. The traffic is the same everywhere in Ghana, just absolutely insane and very aggressive. Once at our hotel we rested for about 45 minutes then went souvenir shopping. This was the best 2 ½ hours of shopping ever. I got the best presents for myself and family ever. It was hard to contain my excitement at some stores but I was so happy with all of my purchases I could hardly believe it. I got an amazing deal for the present I am giving to my parents and couldn’t believe how perfect it is. Then we went back to the stores that line the coast with all the Rastafarian men. I got a few more gifts and then we dropped our stuff off at the hotel and spent an hour relaxing there before going to dinner. We met up with Innica and walked to dinner. Lauren and Cassie went ahead to buy some more gifts so when we met up with them they were watching this really cool dance performance. Everyone was danced in traditional African wear and there were 5 huge drums behind them. The dancing was really cool and each one was so talented. King told us that one of them was deaf and dumb and just feels the beat and knows what to do. It gave me goose bumps watching him. We walked to Baobobs but it was closed so we went to Coast 2 Coast but it took too long and was more expensive so we actually ended up at the castle restaurant like we originally planned. I ordered sprite and shrimp with fried rice. The Italy vs Spain game was on so it kept us distracted from how starving we were. Once it came I practically inhaled it. They put red sauce on the side which made it that much more delicious. We paid and started walking down the road to go dancing at La Hacienda. We ran into a man named Lafiya that was one of the professional dancers we watched earlier. I don’t know how it happened but we ended up learning how to dance in the middle of the road from him. We practiced our new moves with these little kids and each other. Then he started doing tricks with this little boy until he told me to do one with him. I was so scared at what he was going to do but he just grabbed onto my forearms as I jumped on his thighs. I put my other hand behind me while Cassie snapped a photo of us. It is one of the funniest pictures I have ever seen, I look like a little kid. We continued walking to La Hacienda where Lafiya was also going. We walked into the bar but no one was dancing. We continued our dance classes from Lafiya for about half an hour before the other group showed up with Carl. We danced for the longest time enjoying every single second of it. At one point one man did try to dirty dance with me but sweet King quickly got him away from me and told him to find somewhere else to dance. This other lady in a white shirt was going absolutely crazy so I danced with her too for a little bit. Cassie also snapped a great one of that one. We had King David, King, and Lafiya who are some of the best dancers with us. We learned a few more dances from Lafiya as the night went on. The other girls left Carl to hang out with us but he didn’t seem to mind at all. He even did a bit of awkward Azonto dancing himself. We left the bar around 12 and got fan-milks before going to The Oasis for round 2! We walked into what looked like a real American party. All of the white girls were so high and just standing around. The second that our favorite song ‘Chop My Money’ came on we were up on the dance floor going absolutely crazy. Most of the music was American but a few Ghanaian songs were played throughout. We were running around the dance floor going absolutely wild and I’m sure everyone was wondering what drug we were on and where to get it. We went down to the beach and walked in to our ankles. We wanted to go in so we asked Innica to watch our stuff while we went swimming. She basically flipped out. She said it was a very bad idea and wouldn’t let us do it even though King David and King said it was ok. We agreed we wouldn’t go past our knees. We sat down in the really shallow water and let it wash over us and get us completely soaked. We looked at the time and we couldn’t believe it was already 1. We walked back to the hotel as a group and took pictures with Innica and Carl. In the middle of Lauren’s shower the water shut off so we ventured downstairs for another shower party. During this talk we talked about how much as changed in the past few weeks and how much of a better person we all have become because of it. We talked about how excited we were for the fall and how many times it is affirmed to us that we are supposed to be at this place in this time to do what we need to and learn. Six months ago I wouldn’t believe anyone if they had told me I was going to be in Africa for the whole entire summer and now here I am. Having one of the best days ever with the most fun people and learning so much along the way. The Lord has blessed me in ways I will never understand.

XOXO
Natalie