leaving the city for the weekend...

We left the city on Saturday morning. Our destination? The Cape Coast area, more specifically Elmina.  The 3 hour ride was quite eventful.  Traffic rules are very loose on roads and the self talk to keep the backseat driver in control is constant.  We have a wonderful driver his name is Nii (Knee).  He has been with us since last Saturday and he has transported us safely all week.  I am amazed at his skill maneuvering through the streets.

The landscape changed considerably on the trip. The poverty still overwhelming.  The vibrancy of this life very clear.

The front half of these buildings are missing...lost to make room for the new road.  Half of the space is still useful so the back half of the buildings remain.

 Old vehicles are kept for parts I suspect. Over the past week I could have taken pictures like this hundreds of times.  A common sight from the car.

 Buildings under construction and buildings started and abandoned are also a common sight.  There are MANY empty buildings at varying levels of completion.  Many housing "squatters".

 It felt good to get out of the city and see a different landscape.  The constant stream of pedestrians walking on the side of the road has not changed.  Was amazed at the number of people walking and the number of people selling items from the side of the highway.

 We encountered our first village with mud hut housing.

 Any guesses on what these are?

 They are termite mounds!

Along the way we came across several vehicles that had been involved in accidents.  It was clear that many of them had been there for some time.  A reminder of the dangers of the road.

 Here is a shot of the highway vendors. 

 The landscape continues to change, green lush vegetation surrounds the hillside villages.

 This truck lost its load on the side of the road.  They men are reloading it one bag at a time.  Was so grateful that the load shifted here, in town at slower speeds.

 After 2:45 minutes we reach the coast. The castle in the distance is Elima Castle (more on the castle in my next blog).

 This is the port next to the castle...amazing.

We arrived at our beach side resort for a weekend of sights and rest.  The resort is beautiful.  The disparity between the hotel we are staying at and the reality for most of the people we have seen on this day is ENORMOUS.  I continue to be reminded of the privilege that is mine. Makes my heart hurt.