The trip to Cape Coast was intense and moving, and it had been one of our priorities for the kids. We started by visiting the Assin Manso Slave River which is where people who had been forced into slavery — after being marched in chains barefoot for long distances — were bathed before being sold. It was eerily peaceful given its history.
After that we went to see Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle. At both we saw the dungeons where humans were held for months, punishment practices and cells, and learned about the systematic rape of women. We also saw the infamous doors of no return, and the country’s more recent attempt to flip those dark passages into doors of return and welcoming. We have been studying the great African civilizations juxtaposed against the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery in anticipation of this part of the trip and it was heartbreaking to see it in person.
In Cape Coast we stayed at a hostel run by the Baobab Foundation with a variety of local projects supporting the community. The kids got to experience shared living spaces, bathrooms two flights downstairs from your room, and no running water. There was also no AC and, gasp, unreliable WiFi. Still, we loved it, especially the store where you could buy things made by the students.
We spent one morning traveling to a canopy walk in the treetops of Kakum national rainforest where we caught Mira in the exact spot Johanna stood 25 years ago. Take a look at the photos where you can see the same tree in the background. After our treetop walk we convinced the kids to go to a “movie house” where you watch a movie on a tv in an air conditioned room, only for us, just to get out of the heat. I’m not sure I even remember what we watched but it was a blast.
Next up is a drive down the coast to Busua Beach.
This Is Not Brooklyn. 
One reply on “Cape Coast, Ghana”
Astounding and very moving! You’ve done such extensive planning
LikeLike