First Day of Second Grade

The day started a little rough - Chase was very nervous but came home loving it (as I knew he would)!  It's going to be a great year!  He played 'Skittles' at recess and also learned that no English is spoken in French class......

First day in International School 

Drew wants to go too

Gabriel from Italy is our new buddy

Louisa is another new friend

Miss M - I am about to leave at this point and you can see the fear in his eyes.....trying to keep the brave face.

I had a day out with friends after and while we were having coffee, peacocks were hanging out next door and came to visit us - including this little baby peacock with his mom.  The first day of school is complete - we can all let out a sigh of relief.  :)

It's like Christmas in August!

Last week on three different days we received parts of our shipment of goods.  Oh happy days!!  Let the sea of boxes and trying to find a place for everything begin!  Only a few more crates to receive -   hopefully we'll see those this week!!! It's a bit overwhelming after living without it all for so long (was nice) - does make you wonder what in the world you need it all for?!?  I am, however, very grateful for my Keurig!!  I have missed my coffee!

Good Eatin'

I do the same thing everywhere I go.  Talk to people, ask lots of questions, listen, and take notes.  They know - they've done it - they lived there (here) before me.  And then I see for myself, make my own assessments, and hopefully have something to share with the next inquisitive person.  I do an equal amount of seeking things out on my own - but this weekend we patronized two local eateries recommended by friends.  Chix-n-Ribs, owner comes from Chicago - ribs, burgers, wings, (we also had a Snickers shake).  It was good - the first 'fast' food we've had here.  

But THEN - we had brunch at the swankiest hotel in town, The Movenpick.  I didn't even try to take pics of the hotel (will save that for another time) but let's just say it is FABULOUS!!!!  The brunch is fancy and not something you experience every day.  It will be a very nice place to revisit when we have guests, or just need some rejuvenation.  Our favorite parts (really it was all my favorite) was the coconut milk served straight from the coconut, and the huge dessert bar - to include cream puffs shaped like swans and chocolate cherry mousse.  Another perfect touch was the band that serenaded us the entire time.

Makola Market

Awww Makola Market - I have been curious about you.  This is the very large market in Accra - where you can find and purchase anything!  It is very very crowded and for some not worth the effort.  From what I hear, you either love it or hate it!  On my very first visit with my new friend Jen - I must say I LOVE IT!  Maybe it's because she, too, is an adventurous shopper so we had no trouble going wherever the road would take us.  Our main mission was to find the fabric vendors - which we did with no trouble.  It is an ALLEYWAY of nothing but fabric.  Oh heaven!

The arch is the landmark of Makola Market

I bought several yards from this beautiful shop owner - really, don't you love her?

so colorful and fun!

fabric stuffed in every spot - it is so fun!! 

This is looking back at the alley

We wove our way through the market until we found the very large produce, meat, fish, spice market.  There are just a few pics - they are not fond of having their pictures taken in here - but I don't feel like they really do it justice anyway.  These pictures should really be scratch and sniff - this part of the market has some smells that would make you turn and run!  So much stuff packed in tight, warm spaces.  Eek!  Needless to say, this part of the market I will not spend much time in.  :)

But isn't it fascinating?

One last story - this one goes down as my most embarrassing moment ever! (or at least comes very close).  We had just hopped out of the cab and were at the beginning of the market when I started getting very mean glares from folks and they were saying what sounded like 'shorts - your shorts'!!  We just kept walking until  my friend let out a scream and said ''Amy, your shorts are ripped"!!!!  Not just ripped - my entire backside was exposed!  Our guess is that I caught them on something getting out of the taxi!  It all happened so fast, but a very nice woman gave me her fabric scarf to cover myself and pulled me in her shop where we gave my shorts to the man below and he stitched them right up.  We laughed for quite awhile and then went about our hunt to find the best fabric.  :)  Such nice people here, it's true.  

I didn't even get his name, but he let me snap his picture - he saved me (& my shorts).  :)

I can't wait to go back to Makola!  Visit me and I'll take you too!

African Adventure Take One (part two)

The second day of our weekend outing we decided to check off the rest of the items on our list for that area vs. saving it for another time.  Not saying we won't go back again, but just in case.... plus having the knowledgeable driver allowed us to waste less time wondering where or how to find anything.  The day started at Kakum National Park, a famous park in Africa (rainforest) and the only one with a canopy walkway.  A walkway 1150 feet long connected by seven tree tops that is 131 feet high at the highest point.  I didn't check all the details beforehand and when we got to the top, I got a little nervous realizing we had both our children.  Never fear.  Drew spent his time looking for monkeys and Chase just held onto the back of someone and about hyperventilated.  :)  I told him I will use that moment to remind him every time he is so terrified of something of what he accomplished, even through his fear.  I am actually the one who is scared of heights but for some reason it did not phase me.  Partly because we were literally in the trees and you could not really 'see' the ground and the ropes were fairly enclosed, but mostly because I was too focused on making sure my children made it.

Afterwards, we stopped at Hans Cottage Botel (?) where we were told we could pet a crocodile.  Sure enough, this place surrounded in swamp (I think that's what you call it - I'm actually kind of surprised anything can live in it), has crocodiles that have gotten so used to people that you can actually get right up close and touch one.  It was about a 10 minute excursion.  Random.

Finally, we stopped at Cape Coast Castle, similar story to Elmina, but also part of the Smithsonian Museums, and completed our weekend.  Good first adventure.

I found this water fountain statue amusing - am I the only one?  One thing to note is that public urination and worse is the norm here.....but that is another post for another day.  :)

African Adventure Take One (part one)

Let's face it - just living here will be a bit of an adventure...directionally, emotionally, relationally, mentally, etc....But we do plan to partake of everything the area has to offer and those will be the real African Adventures, day trips, weekend getaways, all the experiences that scream ONLY IN AFRICA!
You all know that I like to get and out and DO - see it all and then some.  We took our first overnight this weekend.  Why not?  No car, no stuff, and a large 'to see and do' list in 2 years time.
Our commissary provides an excellent car/driver service so that's what we did for this outing!  What a blessing it turned out to be - an experienced Ghanaian driver who showed us the ropes (and knew all the hidden gems along the way).
We headed a few hours out of town to the Cape Coast area in the Central Region of Ghana.  First stop, Anomabo Beach Resort where we spent time on a nice clean beach.  The lodging was a bit like indoor camping but manageable.  :)  We spent the evening at Elmina Castle in one of the largest fishing villages (Elmina).  The Cape Coast area is notorious for its role in the Atlantic Slave Trade.  The story itself can be depressing but it is history and there is alot to be learned from it.  These pics are from Anomabo Beach, Elmina Castle, and the Elmina fishing village.

On our way back to the "resort" (hee hee) - we were a little bit starved and our driver knew JUST the place to take us.  Down a dirt road in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE that I was very wary of but he knew what he was doing.  Good food and a fabulous view.