Fishing on Poo Rock, Sunburn, No Fish, Village Kids! (Butre, Ghana)

fishing / Butre, Ghana

Nice, long breakfast and coffee with my beach before I head out to walk to Poo Rock.  There are few if any toilets in Ghana so each village has an outdoor spot for 'Taking Care of Business' and here it is a large rock outcropping on the beach.  We have kindly named it Poo Rock and it is now a geographical meeting point.  Read for a bit before Obehi met me to do some ‘Poo fishing’.  I am trying to keep myself covered today and to find any bit of shade I can after yesterday...ouch.  Talked to mom on the beach too which is still a crazy, bizarre act .  So use to not having contact when I travel; at least not without effort.

We found a nice large poo free area on the big rock outcropping that separates the 2-kilometer of Butre beach from a tiny fishing village on the other side.  I hung out in the shade taking pictures of sand crabs and various shells while Obehi fished.  A group of six kids from the fishing village joined us in various degrees of dress.  Some of the kids naked for swimming and others in swim trunks.  I did take note that the kids with cloths tend to speak more English and thus have been to school.  I assume to a degree it is socioeconomic.   The kids were between the ages of 8-10 I would say. 

The couple kids whom spoke English and I talked about school and if my friend was actually going to catch any fish.  The kids seemed to think anyone can catch fish at Poo Rock but in the end Obehi went home with nothing….LOSER! (Obehi says it was actually because he loves animals and didn’t want to kill a fish…he is lying)

Sent some of the kids to buy us water and snacks that we shared with them of course.  Even after all my travels the vast differences in how people live and interact still amazes me.  I guess that is why I am still addicted to travel.

Next Day

Hideout Lodge / Butre, Ghana

Even though I tried my best to stay out of the sun yesterday it didn’t work.  The walk to and from Poo Rock alone takes more than an hour.  Not leaving my sleepy shaded beach today.  Leisurely breakfast and catching up on my journal and reading I think.

Well, I ended up totally distracted by a huge church school group playing and picnicking on the beach today.  Loved watching everyone interact.  Playing soccer, gossiping and swimming.  A couple girls sat to talk to me and I made the mistake of assuming that since they were in high school I could be honest about my religious beliefs.  I told them I was spiritual but did not believe in one specific god or religion.  Not what you say in a predominantly Catholic country.  They were very sweet but went on and on about how I need to embraces the bible and read it.  I have read quite a bit of the bible actually.  Lesson learned.  Like my fake husband and fake children I must remember to have a fake religion here. 

Obehi leaving today to head back to Cape Coast but I just can’t seem to pull myself away yet.  I will take off tomorrow if my soul can manage leaving here.  One more quite night with my beach and dogs. 

Elmina fish market and Castle

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boats being built/view from St George Castle

Today I meet up with Evans after breakfast and we went to Elmina; a historic fishing village about 20 minutes by shared taxi (1.5 Cedi).  The shared taxis for Elmina are down by the Methodist Church just down the road not far from the Crab statue. 

The ride to Elmina is quite picturesque.  The road follows the ocean most of the way.  Down near the fishing boats and market it is bustling especially for it’s small size.  We first decided to walk around the fish market.  I had to pay 1 Cedi to enter as a foreigner.  Hey if they see a way to make a few extra bucks then more power to them.   All the fish I saw were fresh as can be.  It turns out the fishing boats take chests of ice with them and the fish is often put on ice back at port.  Those rotten smells of Asia are not found here (and least not yet).  

They types of fish were numerous.  Really wish I knew my fish better.  I know I saw mackerel, red fish, and tilapia. 

It is strangely hassle free around here.

After spending some time in the fish market we heading to St George Castle.  It looks a lot like Cape Coast Castle with its Colonial architecture and white washed façade.  Similar to Cape Coast Castle you get the spooky, sad feeling.  All those slaves that ended their time here.  All the broken ancestral histories that were severed on these grounds. 

The view from the Castle was wonderful.  It is difficult to get pictures of people (really would you want people taking your picture).  Hate intruding on people’s lives like that.  Also, as soon as someone knows you are taking a picture of them they get big fake smiles and it becomes a vacation snapshot instead of a real life interpretation of life here in Ghana.

Took a shared taxi back to Cape Coast and had a late lunch at the Cape Coast Castle Restaurant because I can’t seem to get enough Red Red.  I have a new addiction.