Saturday 4th June - Run Forest! Run!

Got up at 7.30 and went for a run! Wow, the humidity just saps the energy right out of you. My hotel is on a busy main road with some small roads off either side, tried a couple but ended up running through some villages, or perhaps a better word is “slums”. I didn’t really feel comfortable… (a) I stand out like a sort thumb and (b) I am wearing (relatively) expensive trainers – most western shoes here are second hand. I have not yet seen a new-shoe shop. Not that I think someone is going to take them off me, though I was getting lots of admiring stares (and not at my running style), but more that I didn’t want to “flaunt” my relative wealth. Eventually found some quieter roads.

Went to the “Cultural Centre” in the centre. Quite cool, basically a museum and craftshop. Didn’t buy anything in the craft shop but there are some very good carvings, people, animals etc. The museum was great, small, with an excellent guided tour, mainly a history of the Ashanti kings. These guys are “enstooled” rather than enthroned. They have a golden stool for the coronation of the king – solid gold – supposedly it originally fell from the sky. Had a great rambling political chat with the guide – Another Ghanain who likes Pres. Bush! …because he stands up to terrorism! Tried to disavow him of that notion, almost got him to see who might be the bigger terrorist…

Went to the market for food, passing through the main bus station, “tro-tro’s” (vans) actually. Loaded up the gunnels with goods and people, they don’t leave till they are full. No schedule. Crazy place, sooo busy with vans and people. Even Cairo wasn’t this full on. Each tro-tro has it moniker on the front of it somewhere. There was one that was so beaten up, and so loaded down, that it’s name echo’d my thought: “Jesus!”

Went from there to the market, for some quick food, before going back to work for a bit. I wanted to take some pics of the waves humanity crashing out of the market area but these people don’t like photos being taken of them much. You have to be discreet, but how do you do that with so many people around you and you stand out like I do?