Cape Coast Day Trip

The beach in Cape Coast

On Boxing Day (26th of December) we drove with Mark and Barb Taylor to Cape Coast.  It is a three hour drive from Accra in good traffic.  We were fortunate and had good traffic.  During the holidays, the traffic is much lighter.  Since Mark was driving, Robert was able to do all the looking he wanted to and there was lots to see.

One of the chapels in Cape Coast

This chapel is right by the beach.  We wanted to see the church and institute building right next to it.  Churches are also a good place to stop if you need to use the "facilities" or wash room as the locals call it.

Fishermen pulling in their nets

This picture is not far from the chapel.  The men pull in their large nets by hand.  The beaches in Cape Coast are quite clean and lovely.

Goats crossing the road

We saw lots of goats.  This picture does not show how small they are.  Some we saw looked like miniature goats.  So cute!  Chickens also roamed around freely along with the occasional cow.

Sister Taylor and their caddy

Elder and Sister Taylor liked to golf and Sister Taylor promised her clubs to a young man who caddied for them.  He was so happy to get these clubs.  He called two minutes after we left him to thank her again.  Later, his parents called to thank her.  It was typical of the Taylors who are very generous and giving.

Some of the hazards on this golf course

The golf course had a crocodile pond on it.  No young men venturing in there to retrieve any lost golf balls.  They also had horses grazing on this course.  

Coconut Grove Beach Resort

The golf course is at the Coconut Grove Beach Resort.  It is quite nice.  We'll have to try it out sometime on a long weekend.  

Part of the restaurant decor

We ate lunch at the restaurant there at the Coconut Grove Resort.   It was right on the beach and completely open so we could feel the breeze and hear the waves.

This little guy joined us for lunch

This lizard was about ten inches long.  He would raise up and down on his front legs.  It looked like he was doing the push-ups.  Robert shared some of his lunch with him.

Robert's lunch

Robert had ground nut soup (peanut soup).  The sides are banku (a mix of corn and cassava and plantain) and kenkey (corn meal).  Both are fermented so have a sour dough taste.  They taste best dipped in soup, then they take on the flavor of the soup.  Don't quote me on the ingredients.

Joan's lunch

My curry and vegetable rice was outstanding.  It was a delightful, long, lazy lunch.

The seat of power or authority

In the villages, the chief has a special stool or seat that signifies his power.  This was in the small museum type area at the resort.

Trying out the seat of power

You can see it is not very large.  The "Flagstaff House" where the government is housed is in the shape of this traditional seat.  It is on Independence Street not far from the temple in Accra.

The Flagstaff House

From the Coconut Grove Resort, we drove to a neighboring village and the Elmina resort located there.  The Taylors were impressed with the improved roads since their last trip there.

Beach at Elmina Resort

The restaurant at the Elmina Resort was right above these rocks.  It was very close to the ocean.

Castle at Elmina

There are two slave castles in Cape Coast.  They are not far apart.  This is where they held slaves waiting to be shipped out on boats.  When we return, we will take the tour and learn about this part of the history of West Africa.  

Market

There are markets every where in West Africa.  I will post more market pictures later.  They are very colorful.  They sell everything at these markets!

New Years Eve Dinner

Kente Cloth Ceremony

On New Year's Eve, we ate dinner at the El Paso restaurant.  It was also a farewell dinner for the Taylors.  Our group was a bit large for the restaurant so we had a long wait and almost two hours between the first served and the last served.











When couples leave they are presented with some traditional Kente cloth.

North Ridge Ward Young Women Class and leaders

Good bye hugs

The North Ridge Ward will miss the Taylors.  They presented her with an African dress on her last day there.  All the young women wear their hair short.

The Dress

Here is Sister Taylor in her beautiful dress.  She is with a co-worker.  She wore it her last day at work when she and Elder Taylor spoke at the devotional.  Yes we will miss the Taylors!  They have been wonderful friends in the short time we have been here.  We have some big shoes to fill as we replace them in the North Ridge Ward.  Good-by Mark and Barb Taylor.  We love you!