Are we good natured?

Day 21 - Kumasi to Elmina to Anomabo

We drove from Kumasi to the fishing town of Elmina, with an impromptu road side stop to witness a small operation that produced palm oil for cooking. It was a multi step and very manual process, requiring the nuts to be removed, then cooked, and pressed to extract the oil. 

We arrived in Elmina around noon so had lunch before we walked over the bridge past all the fishing boats (not in use as today was a day off for fishermen) to St George’s Castle, the oldest European building in Africa which was once used as a holding centre for slaves. 

The guide explained to us the horrific conditions and deplorable treatment of the slaves before they were taken to the ships bound for the Caribbean and other destinations. Inside visitors had left flowers and wreaths in remembrance of the people who had suffered there. 

After the castle we walked around the old quarter of the town to see the unique Posuban shrines, made by the traditional ‘asafo’ societies which were once responsible for local defence. 

Our overnight stay was in beach bungalows where the ocean breeze was very welcoming after the stifling heat of the day. It was the last night of the tour and after a few drinks by the sea and a nice dinner, one member of the group gave an impromptu speech thanking our guide, as well as giving out "awards", where we were dubbed "the good natured Aussies"!