Elmina
(may 24th
|
|
Elmina
-- what a mysterious little jewel, just within sight of the larger
Cape Coast town, but seemingly an age apart. This town has probably
the oldest colonial buildings in west africa and the fort was originally
a Portuguese trading settlement. Today, the city is a contrast of
the dominant castle and it's slave history, the medieval stores and
homes that line the tiny streets, and a bustling, busy fishing community
that is the largest along the Ghana coast. We spent a wonderful day under the shadow of this awful castle wandering through the market where all the fisherman had returned that morning with their catch. Somehow, it felt as though this is exactly how it would have been 500 years back. No engines. No fridges. Just shouting, bartering, and selling their goods. |
Bringing in the catch
Most of the hulls of these huge boats are made from a single tree trunk.
Weird looking?
Sitting at the gate of the castle, passing time. They're all fishermen
in this village.
swimming in the harbor
This is probably the most imposing
of all the castles along the coast.
The locals busy fishing in the
shadow of the castle.
Alex and our taxi-driver, Abraham,
taking a break during the tour.
Up the tree for coconuts.
Pathetic. I got stuck at this point.
Preparing
the boats for the evening departure to spend the night fishing at sea.
Dragging a shark through the market.
Bright red peppers & tomatoes
Amazing old colonial-era buildings
line this little town's main street.
Elmina castle was originally a trading post of the portuguese who sold
to the Dutch who sold to the English. It was adapted to the trade in africans.
The Ashanti king was imprisoned in this
castle for years by the British.
Where the african's were led out
to the waiting boats and the
trip to the "new world".
The largest and most beautiful
sun-dial I've ever seen.