The Purple Penguin

Up at 5am and away by 6am. Loads of time at Heathrow, eggs on toast
but no watches (need a replacement due to broken band). Flight to
Amsterdam fine. Enough time in Amsterdam to get to boarding gate, not
enough to actually look around. The flight to Ghana was not full, so
after take off everyone shuffled around so we all had empty seats next
to us. And for once I actually got behind someone who did not recline!
Read, watched Alice in Wonderland during lunch, flew over the Sahara
but couldn’t see much as I was over the wing. Arrived 2 hours before
the others so stayed in the baggage claim area waiting and reading.
Everyone else came in fine and we headed out into the chaos that is
Accra airport. Found the people sent to collect us and got ready for
the 2+ hour drive to Cape Coast. We were exhausted and not looking
forward to that drive so we definitely cheered up when we were told
we’d be staying at a hotel in Accra! Crystal Palm Hotel, plain but
nice and I fell asleep quite quickly but woke up very early.

So sat and read until down to meet everyone for breakfast. Interesting
breakfast – the waiter said he’d placed an order for an ‘English
Breakfast’ for us. Which was an omelette, hot dogs fried with green
pepper and onion, two slices of toast, and beans. So after breakfast a
very quick check of emails (this laptop has Windows 7 and it took me
forever to figure out to connect to the wifi! Not the easiest system.)

Into the car and off to Cape Coast – a bit over 2 hours. The traffic
was moderate and there was lots to see. The view changed from rather
dry and dusty to very green – lots of trees and greenery. Every now
and again people by the side selling things – including hunters with
small antilop and a large rodent! One person wanted to get a photo but
then we didn’t see any more. Typical! Soon could see the sea.

Got to the university and registered and checked in. The on campus
chalets are very nice – though no wifi (I’m at an internet cafe typing
this). We have a sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, and small lockable
room that we haven’t quite figured out. Haven’t figured out the hot
water either! Meetings start tomorrow.

After getting settled we headed over to get lunch. We decided the
Ghanian dishes looked good so got the ‘buffet’ which was sampler of
everything. We decided that looked like too much food so only got two
for three of us. Should have got one! It was loads of food, which was
all good. Though the banku and ocra stew wasn’t to everyone’s taste!
It was a bit bland and sticky.

We are now in the cenre of Cape Coast at an internet cafe. Interesting
area and I’m trying to get loads of photos so Joe can see what it’s
like!