my ghana lovelights…

there is no particular order here.  all are equally notable and lovable.

• street hawkers (vendors selling everything from plantain chips and ice cold water  to toilet seats and gas caps-amazing)
• the wave of heat and humidity that greeted me in the plane doorway when we arrived in accra
• the ghanaian people – wonderfully warm and welcoming
• my new and at times uncomfortable minority status…life lessons learned 
• the vibrancy…the color of people and their clothing
• the railways (a look into the life of those living on the street-unforgettable) 
• house of refuge girls…what a privilege to be able to work with them and fall in love with them
• rafia’s willingness to trust and  her courage…I gave a piece of my heart to ghana and rafia is its keeper… 
• nii (driver and tour guide extraordinaire)
• street aid staff
• the pool at the hotel (relief from the heat and humidity)
• the trip to the dressmaker/seamstress...being measured was quite an experience…the final product a perfect fit…
• shopping and bartering at the shop in the hotel parking lot…
• “I need you to respect my no thank you,” (kathy stutzman to a pushy street vendor who refused to take no for an answer)
• the discovery of coke lite on day 4 by teammate kay…hazzzahhhs and woo hoos (gotta feed that addiction)
• my drum and drum lesson
• mango and pineapple 
• calamari with emma and john – great company too 
• ticking international travel with kas off the list J - we have been talking about it for years….would follow this one almost anywhere
• new gal pal - cathy smith 
• elmina castle 
• coconut beach resort 
• volta region-pontoon ride 
• an encounter with ghanaian military personnel and police at the president’s castle - a little scary but oh so memorable 
• the send off  from my girls…lovely J…this girl sobbed…
• the invitation to come back…a genuine hope that we would return 
• whirlwind stop in Amsterdam