Green Turtles

I have been scolded more than once by many of you now for not being religiously devoted to my blog, uploading photos and recording ever detail. Forgive me! I'm trying I promise, I just spent about 30 minutes and got a total of two photo's up on my blog. Go Ali. I am now trying to upload them to photobucket.com, and then hopefully attach the link, so hey, at least you have something to look forward to...

This past weekend I took off yet again. I swear I may never really "know" Accra because almost every time the weekend rolls around, I am to antsy to stay around. I guess I got the travel bug BAD. This past weekend Theo, Natalie and I headed out up the West Coast to an Eco-tourist lodge by Busua. (Disclaimer: I always forget to bring the guide book with me to write these little bits, thus, I forget how to spell the places I have been...so some editing may be necessary!) Our bus ride to Takoradi took what felt like forever, thus making our arrival a little later then expected. So...we were kind of stuck, and let me tell you, the taxi drivers new it. Walking up to the first taxi driver, I request a ride to the Green Turtle for three cedi. I have never pissed a taxi driver off so much as in this moment. He thought we were crazy. He demanded 30 cedi, so we figured that was it, we're stuck. Luckily we were able to catch a ride for something much more reasonable, which later made some sense, considering that the car broke down. AH! The drive should have been conducted in some crazy off roading vehicle, but no we were just in a Taxi, coasting across the most painful dirt road. Once we arrived at the Green Turtle, we were informed that the rooms Theo reserved had been given away. Again, theme, we were stranded, and trekking back up the road from hell was not an option. Luckily they had a few tents free for the first night. So safe for a night. The next two we spent on mattresses under mosquito nets, or at least Natalie and I had nets, Theo, being the gentleman, was left to the little buggers. Don't worry though, we made up for it our last night on the beach. We walked a bit up the beach to the swanky Safari Lodge. Does the name say enough? No, it was really fun there. I felt out of place though because it was a really nice hotel and I am studying abroad in Africa, not the kind of accommodations I was expecting. On the other hand, it is funny that I got myself so worked up over it, considering that this really nice hotel only put me back 10 cedi for a night. Well, that's a lie, considering the dinner and drinks we took part in..... Well, I didn't have a proper 21st Birthday, so forgive me.
So activities for the weekend consisted of me reading two books, eating yummy french toast, hiking up and down the beach (sooooo beautiful), collecting shells and getting one step closer to my dream of joining the fishermen out at sea. We walked to a neighboring village up the beach and took a canoe ride through the mangroves. I really enjoyed the experience, but my legs did not. They were as read as the tomatos in my tuna sandwich. Oh well, skin cancer, no biggy, right? Don't worry mother, I have been lathering on the sunscreen since.
The bus ride back was a breeze, other than the sand I found everywhere!

Well, I am off to Northern Ghana this weekend, making my way to Mole National Park, where I'll be seeing elephants and monkeys. Are you jealous?

Ta-Ta for now.