CAPE COAST’IN IT UP
After we had been in Ghana for about 2 weeks, our group of 45 people went on an organized group trip to Cape Coast. We traveled by bus (with air conditioning, what a nice change!)to Cape Coast, where we stayed one night in a place called Hans Motel. The motel was built on stilts above a body of water with crocodiles in it. So there were crocidiles randomly walking around, but mostly stayed in the water. We were given the option of getting up early in the morning, and taking a paddle boat ride with them. I vetoed the idea of being in the water with the crocidiles, I figured I would like to be alive to see the rest of Cape Coast.
That day, we went to the Cape Coast Slave Castles. I had prepared myself for the fact that I knew it would be intense to go and actually be in a spot where such horrible things occurred. Once we got there, it was breathtakingly beautiful. The castle was a bright white that contrasted the intense blue color of the ocean behind it. There were cannons lining the walls, and from the castle walls you could see fishing boats on the coast coming and going for the day. Automatically, I started walking around, taking as many pictures as I could so I wouldn’t forget how beautiful this place was.
We then started our tour and our tour guide took us around the whole castle explaining the different aspects of it. The first thing he showed us was the male slave dungeons. There were two huge oak doors that opened and when they closed we were in complete darkness. A passageway led us down further and further until we were finally in the pit of the dungeon, where there was one tiny window at the very top (literally the size of a 5x7 picture frame). Our tourguide informed us that this room, (that was extremely crowded with 45 people in it) was meant to hold 150-200 slaves at a time. It hit me all of a sudden...that I was in the same exact place that held so much suffering. It’s hard for me to fully explain the impact that moment had on me, but I was not ready for how powerful it was. Suddenly, this beautiful place was not beautiful anymore. I was nauseated and literally felt sick to my stomach. I was not ignorant to the horrors of the slave trade before I went the castle, and obviously learning about it in school disturbed me and made me wonder how people could do that to each other. But, actually BEING there was so much more intense than I can write down in words. Throughout the rest of the tour, I could not take any more pictures, it felt wrong. Going to the castle was moving and I am so glad I did, I think everyone needs to experience something like that, to fully realize how lucky we are.
The next day, we went to Kakum National park, where there were canopy walks above the rainforest trees. We hiked up to the top, and there were bridges( I call them Indiana Jones bridges) that were the width of a wooden plank and had ropes on the sides. The bridges were about 200 ft above the ground, and it was beautiful. Walking above the rainforest was easily one of the coolest things I have ever done. However, though it was awesome, it was extremely terrifying. I am deathly afraid of heights, and getting me across the first bridge was quite the task! I had such a great group of friends that went with me though, and got me across in one piece! After crossing the first bridge, I was thrilled! I had conquered my fear, only to discover there were 7 more bridges ahead.......! I can imagine I was super annoying to be around that day, my legs were shaking so hard the whole bridge would swing when I got on it. I held on to those ropes for dear life and walked across at a snails pace. But, in the end I was glad I did it, definitely an experience I will remember the rest of my life.
After we had been in Ghana for about 2 weeks, our group of 45 people went on an organized group trip to Cape Coast. We traveled by bus (with air conditioning, what a nice change!)to Cape Coast, where we stayed one night in a place called Hans Motel. The motel was built on stilts above a body of water with crocodiles in it. So there were crocidiles randomly walking around, but mostly stayed in the water. We were given the option of getting up early in the morning, and taking a paddle boat ride with them. I vetoed the idea of being in the water with the crocidiles, I figured I would like to be alive to see the rest of Cape Coast.
That day, we went to the Cape Coast Slave Castles. I had prepared myself for the fact that I knew it would be intense to go and actually be in a spot where such horrible things occurred. Once we got there, it was breathtakingly beautiful. The castle was a bright white that contrasted the intense blue color of the ocean behind it. There were cannons lining the walls, and from the castle walls you could see fishing boats on the coast coming and going for the day. Automatically, I started walking around, taking as many pictures as I could so I wouldn’t forget how beautiful this place was.
We then started our tour and our tour guide took us around the whole castle explaining the different aspects of it. The first thing he showed us was the male slave dungeons. There were two huge oak doors that opened and when they closed we were in complete darkness. A passageway led us down further and further until we were finally in the pit of the dungeon, where there was one tiny window at the very top (literally the size of a 5x7 picture frame). Our tourguide informed us that this room, (that was extremely crowded with 45 people in it) was meant to hold 150-200 slaves at a time. It hit me all of a sudden...that I was in the same exact place that held so much suffering. It’s hard for me to fully explain the impact that moment had on me, but I was not ready for how powerful it was. Suddenly, this beautiful place was not beautiful anymore. I was nauseated and literally felt sick to my stomach. I was not ignorant to the horrors of the slave trade before I went the castle, and obviously learning about it in school disturbed me and made me wonder how people could do that to each other. But, actually BEING there was so much more intense than I can write down in words. Throughout the rest of the tour, I could not take any more pictures, it felt wrong. Going to the castle was moving and I am so glad I did, I think everyone needs to experience something like that, to fully realize how lucky we are.
The next day, we went to Kakum National park, where there were canopy walks above the rainforest trees. We hiked up to the top, and there were bridges( I call them Indiana Jones bridges) that were the width of a wooden plank and had ropes on the sides. The bridges were about 200 ft above the ground, and it was beautiful. Walking above the rainforest was easily one of the coolest things I have ever done. However, though it was awesome, it was extremely terrifying. I am deathly afraid of heights, and getting me across the first bridge was quite the task! I had such a great group of friends that went with me though, and got me across in one piece! After crossing the first bridge, I was thrilled! I had conquered my fear, only to discover there were 7 more bridges ahead.......! I can imagine I was super annoying to be around that day, my legs were shaking so hard the whole bridge would swing when I got on it. I held on to those ropes for dear life and walked across at a snails pace. But, in the end I was glad I did it, definitely an experience I will remember the rest of my life.
Oh MY!!! You take good care of yourself....I hope you have your antibiotics for your burn! (not mentioned in this Blog!) Love you lots, MOm
ReplyDeleteKeep these fun stories coming..I look forward to reading and rereading them!