DAY 1 – THE WORST DAY EVER!!!!!!!!
I don’t know if many of you know the feeling of when you’re supposed to be somewhere and you’re not, that’s what I felt times a million. We woke up around 7:30 expecting to get off the boat by 8:30; however, that was not in the books. They first told us that the waters were too rough and we couldn’t get into the port -- this was at 8am. They said we should be in by 11am ….that didn’t happen. Then we had a lot of down time waiting and waiting and waiting. A life-long learner then told us that they were going to try and get in again at 11pm. That did not happen, we were then told that we would be trying to get in again until 1am and that we would be at port between those times. Stephanie and I along with every other student on this boat had every intention to get off the boat at that time no one care how late it was we were all waiting for so long just to be in South Africa and we were getting off this boat. When it was 1am and the boat still wasn’t at port Stephanie and I made an executive decision that it was time to go to bed.
DAY 2 – BUT WE NEED TO GO!
We woke up and still weren’t at port. Do you know how disappointing this was! I was mortified and this was at 6;45 - breakfast wasn’t even open yet. So I listened to the captains announcements and woke Steph up again and went to breakfast. We ate breakfast with our friends Jared and Kevin talking about how disappointed we were. I believe at one point I told the real truth and said I wasn’t mature enough for this. We kept on going right up to the port and then we would just turn around and the water didn’t even look rough!
Finally they make the announcement that we will be going into port!!!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!!! Praise be to God we made it. Now every passenger just has to do a face to face with the port agent and they were only letting the SAS trip out first. ahhhh. This was not good we had a 1:20 flight we had to make and it was already 11 we could not wait for everyone to clear! So we waited in line outside the teachers’ lounge where inside you had to talk to the port guards. Every chance there was Andy asked one of the people leading the whole operation if we could go now. If we could have our face to face, we needed to get off this SHIP!!! Finally, we get our face to face and we run to the gang way as an LLC told us we could get off. Well we get to the gangway and then we are told we have to wait for every passenger to get cleared to get off. Now this just won’t work by the time everyone is cleared we won’t make our flight. Finally, we get it through their heads and they make an exception for independent travelers and that’s how I became the first person off the boat followed by Stephanie then Bruno then Andy! We ran out of the port, which was quite shorter than the Ghana one, and found the first taxi out there. He drove us right to the airport. I ran into the airport because none of us had any Rand because we couldn’t get off the boat but we needed to pay the taxi now. Oh and when you take money out of the ATM it’s scary. Not because you are in any harm but because you have to take out so much Rand which actually converts 725 rand is 100 dollars, it’s weird! We went inside and realized that we were okay on time. So we had a quick snack and then made it to our plane. Our plane was awesome it had zebra stripes on it but then when we got on Stephanie and I were asked to move out of great seats, mine by the window and in the front of the plane, to the very last row which had no windows and right next to the engine -- all to accommodate a woman and her baby. Now maybe this is selfish of me but come on I have never been to South Africa I wanted to look out the window! How much room does a baby need and why is this woman in my seat….she wasn’t even pretending to be sorry for making us have the crappiest seats ever.
After the flight we got off the plane and met the guy who would be guiding us for the next day or 2. Vinard was his name. He was working at the hostel we were staying at helping out John the owner, who was a family friend. He told us all about himself and how he planned to come to America to farm in Wyoming. I guess they pay the best there! Anyway Vinard showed us one of the soccer stadiums the world cup was played in, just in passing on our way to Daniels Cheetah Sanctuary. When we got to the sanctuary we were able to jump right into a group and walk behind the fence to where the animals were raised. First we walked up and saw the meircats they were very cute and she had just had 2 little babies which were about the size of my hand. Next we walked on to a bridge and saw some of the older cheetahs, who at this point in the day were just lying around. Then we walked over to the cage of Olva, a 4 year old cheetah and the guide opened the gate and said go ahead in. A cheetah is the only large cat that you can fully domesticate. So we walk into the cage and walk over to her and the guide first walks up to her in order to show us how nice she really is. So we all took turns going up petting her and taking pictures. The whole time she was purring which is actually a little freaky because it was so loud it kind of sounded like a growl. Also when she licks you, yes she licks you, it feels like the roughest sand paper you will ever feel.
Next we walked into the cage of the lions. Lion cubs that is, they were only 2 months old and they would leave the sanctuary at 5 months in order to go to their next stage of their reintroduction to the wild. Because they are not trying to tame them they will still claw and bite at you but their reaction time is not the quickest yet so we were safe. We also saw a survival cat when we were in behind the fence he was just laying there but they can jump up to 3 meters and their legs are very very long.
We left and went to our hostel which was about a 45 minute drive away. Along the way Vinard would show us the town that literally if you did not look quick enough you would miss it. The town was about 200 feet long and then it was gone. We soon got to our hostel and we were in the 6 person dorm room which ended up being just the 4 of us in it any way which was nice because we all got a bottom bunk. It really doesn’t matter because when you’re at a hostel you spend virtually no time in your room. Oh yeah forgot to mention our hostel was spread out on a farm there was a building here and building there but it was really just like a family living on a big piece of property.
Once we put down our stuff we head right over to the pub as we didn’t eat all day and were pretty hungry. It was a great time and we didn’t leave there until late at night. We just sat around with the locals talking around the fire all night and playing the occasional game of pool. It was a great time because, besides for the accents, you couldn’t tell who was the employer, employee, or guests. It was like we had all known each other for the longest of time.
DAY 3 – THE ANIMALS
The next day we woke up at 7 and went out for a game drive. Our game drive was 5 hours long and we were able to see a bunch of different animals. There were so many elephants and kudu; there were an overwhelming amount of them. We also were able to see some buffalo, zebra, ostrich, and mush more. I don’t really know how to tell you about the game drive because it’s odd to explain.
After that we had lunch and then went to the Reptile and Bird sanctuary. Now if you don’t know me very well you don’t know that I’m am terrified of snakes! I just plain out don’t like them they scare me!!! Well now we are going to a place that saves snakes and they love them there! WHAT AM I THINKING!!!!!!!!!! We walk into a room and its dark and there are just snakes everywhere. First we hold a gecko, I’m fine it was cute and I kind of want one whatever! Now she starts taking the snakes out and they are wiggling everywhere and I am becoming less and less okay with this situation. But I just keep thinking I am going to overcome my fear I can do it!!!! Well then she hands it to me the thing was squirming around bringing its face close to me and I’m not okay now -- like I’m trying to smile but I can’t. They get a picture of me with it -- take it back and what happens? I hyperventilate! I can’t even describe this to you, I just couldn’t breathe and that’s what happened! I was trying to breathe and couldn’t so what do I do I start laughing!! Now I really can’t breathe. What is Stephanie doing during this time but laughing and taking pictures! Every time I tried to take a breath it became harder and I don’t even understand how I finally was able to breathe but I did and I’m alive to tell you about it!! But that was only the first snake there were so many more.
I did not hyperventilate again when holding any of the other snakes - I did pretty fine. I even liked one of them enough that I named it Salizar and they said they liked the name enough that we would try and remember it. haha. I figure out I am less okay with the small ones they squirm around too much. I decided I really hate when their heads come close to my body. Oh yeah did I mention that I held a poisonous snake! Yup the lady showing us around didn’t tell me until after like what the heck!!! Oh and when we first just went into the place this guy comes into the room with the most poisonous snake in the world and this snake is more poisonous than the Black Mamba (which I saw). It was really pretty and supposedly really really sweet but I don’t trust any snake -- they have a mind of their own. I believe it’s called the Bom snake and its bright green with lime green under its skin that you can see when it moves! By the way this guy was just handling it with ease he even gave it a kiss on its…..tongue? What the heck is this guy thinking!!! We held pythons and boa constrictors -- it was all craziness!!!
Finally we finished the stressful part of the day! So we then saw some meircats that just had babies - then we went looked at the crocodiles fight over food and then went to feed the birds. We saw some eagles, ostrich, owls and other sorts of birds. We went into the owls cage and the owls perched up on our arms. This owls name was jack and had very sharp claws! Their eyes were so pretty, a bright orange! It was really cool! And then we left and went back to the hostel! Waited for a little bit talking with our new friends and then we went to the bus stop as the bus would be our bed for the night!
DAY 4 – SWELLENDAM
Its 4:30 am and the bus driver calls Swellendam. Thats our exit we get off and go to our new hostel where we wait for the owner to help us! She finally shows up around 8 and points us back into the direction of town where we ask a hotel to get us a taxi. They fixed us up with a driver that would drive us to De Woop Nature Reserve and then to Gansbaai which is pronounced nothing like what it looks like!
De Woop is a beautiful reserve with sand dunes up to 300 feet tall. (When we left on the boat a few days later you could see them on the coast and everyone was envious when we said we were there!) We had a picnic lunch there and walked around the sand dune in awe. After a few hours there we hopped into the car again and went to Gansbaai, where the next day we would go shark diving! We Arrived around 8oclock got into our hostel and went to the local pub for dinner which was delicious. We stayed around talking to the locals for a while then went back to our hostel to go to bed. We had a little trouble getting in because the locks are a little different there!
DAY 5 – WE’RE JUST TRYING TO GO SHARK DIVING!
In the morning we woke up at 6:15 to go to the dock for shark diving. Half the other people we were supposed to meet us didn’t make it because the night before the times changed a little. We made it over to the dock ate a little breakfast and then went SHARK DIVING!!!! Let me tell you Steph and I had the greatest experience out of everyone. A shark came up with a fish in its mouth and rammed our cage 5 inches from our faces. It was sooooo cooool. We came up from the water screaming “did you see that, did you see that ahhhh” and then went right back down in the water. When we came up so many people were like you guys are so lucky to get to see that, even the dive masters told us that we were some of the lucky ones.
I must add to all this that before we dove the head guy told us that we were about to see something that our children will never see! There are less that 1000 great white sharks in the world left and only 300 in the area left. The sharks are going extinct because people are killing them solely for their jaws. On the black market these jaws can go for a lot of money. The other thing they are killed for is their fins in order to make shark fin soup. The only thing they use this massive animal for is its jaw and fin and throw the rest out. How sad is that! So unnecessary!!!
After shark diving we went back to the ship for the first time in days stopping at a beach quickly on the way back for a rest stop. These beaches are so cool they have about 6 levels of different waves it’s pretty amazing.
When we got back we quickly changed and Andy, Bruno, Steph, and I (our little family could not separate now) went and hiked Table Mountain. Table Mountain is amazing, on the way up we walked through a cloud. My hair was getting wet because all the perspiration that the cloud was holding, all the plants were dripping with water as well as I. Getting to the top was the coolest except we didn’t know which way to go, finally we figured it out and watched the sun set over the city. It was gorgeous. We met up with a few friends at the top and road the cable car down which was cool in itself because as it went down it spun around and you got a 360 view of the city and its surroundings!
When we got down we went to Mama Africa, a restaurant, with a bunch of people. I had ostrich, kudu, springbuck and crocodile! It was cool to try all of them I liked springbuck the best everyone should try this one day! So GOOD!!! We ate and drank South African wine and danced to the African music! We liked it so much we even bought the CD!
DAY 6 – BUT I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO SEE!!!!
Katie, Eric, Bruno, Andy, Steph, and I started our day by going to bolder beach to see the penguins - the whole scene of it was awesome! But there is not much I can tell you about it so I will try and post some pictures of it up soon.
Next we went to the Cape of Good Hope. When we first got there we hiked up to the light house to see the view but because it was a little foggy we could not see much but when we were up there it was neat because when you went to the edge the wind would blow so hard that you thought you might blow away. Also on the side of the light house there was a post that told you how far everything was away from the point we were standing. We were able to see how far places such as New York that we live near are but also places such as Beijing which we are going to. You just felt so caught in the middle of everything. I found it really awesome to see how far we have come around the world. You could say it helped reality seep in a little deeper.
We walked back down and went to the actually point of the Cape of Good Hope which is the most southern tip of Africa. The furthest south you can possibly go! This is a very touristy spot and is somewhat frustrating to be at because if they say Americans are rude well then whoever they are never met any Europeans. We left the cape and went wine tasting. South Africa is known for their wine and now I know why. We tried 7 different types of South African wine and they all had very different taste. I have to apologize here mom - I attempted to send a bottle of red wine home to you as I knew you would have loved it but they do not ship to America because of labeling issues! Oh well!
The wine tasting left us all a little silly and as we made it back to the boat we chatted about the amazing time we had all had in South Africa! So pleased that we did so much! South Africa is definantly a place to go in your life time!
can you find me?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Ghana
Day 1 – Drumming and dance workshop
The first day in Ghana our ship was greeted by drummers, singers, and dancers outside on the port as the pilot was docking our boat. It was pretty cool, especially because that was what we were going to be doing that day. So we finished eating, got ready quick and made our way to the gangway which was off the 2nd floor and not the 5th floor. If you ask me they make a lot more work for the crew when the gang way is on the 5th floor. Anyways, I was one of the first people off…..3rd off actually, and I walked down the port a little, even though I was supposed to get right on a bus, but come on who steps off a ship in Ghana and the first thing they do is get on an air conditioned coach bus. So I walk down the dock a little and I was immediately bombarded with men trying to sell me things!!!! Being the first person to make it this far I was also the first to meet “Mr. Quality,” “Mr. Cheap”, and Joseph. They told me I needed to get their stuff it was better than the guys stand who was right next to his and selling the exact same thing. One of them gave me a bracelet for free, “because I was the first person he met and I was so nice,” so that I could be a human billboard for him.
So I walked back and got on to the bus and made my way into town. On this bus ride I realized how far the port actually was and OMG was it long! To get out of the port it was a mile walk (at least) and it wasn’t until the third day that they got us a shuttle to get out to where the taxis could go.
We arrived at a hotel where we first watched people drum and dance for a while. They would make us get up and dance with them in the morning and we were tired before lunch time. The heat in Ghana is almost unbearable it really dehydrates you and you don’t realize it is happening. One girl even got a little too dehydrated and was not able to continue with the second part of the day. After we danced to the drumming for a few hours we left on our bus and went to a hotel for lunch. The hotel was a completely different style hotel then we had just been at and it was sort of an oasis. We had a buffet lunch and this is where I first had Pepe sauce and Shitto sauce and there was one more that starts with an “M”. These sauces will change your approach to food. You can put them on anything and even if you don’t like spicy food you will still love this sauce! Something I am learning and I don’t understand it is; why does every other place in the world have Amazing fruit besides America. I mean every place!
Well after we re-hydrated we went back to the hotel. We learned how to do a traditional dance and play the drums and a song that would go with it all! We also learned that the hotel we were at was not really a hotel but a brothel, which we would see a lot more of as our stay in Ghana continued.
After the day was through we went back to the boat refueled and SHOWERED. I have never appreciated showers as much as I have since I been to Ghana!
Day 2 – Ghana – School and market visit
Day 2 was the first day me and Steph split apart on this trip. It was a sad day but we learned to manage. I got up ate breakfast and went to visit a school.
When we got there we were addressed by the head master who was a little old lady with a thick Twee accent ( the language of the Ashanti people).She told us that we would break up into groups and go to different class rooms. I asked to go to a class room of younger kids. I ended up in a class room with 3 year olds. They loved everything about my camera and all they wanted to do was play with it until they discovered my hair. Then my hair became the main attraction. I was swarmed by about 20 three year olds and that was only because all 50 touch my hair at 1 time. Their hands were all rubbing my head feeling my hair and I was on the floor not able to see anything. I couldn’t understand how it went from 2 little girls to playing with my hair to 20 kids all rubbing my head. After 10 minutes of this hilarious epidemic the teacher finally broke it up and I looked like I was straight out of the 70s. I don’t think a hair dresser would know how to give my hair that much body it literally stood 4 inches off my head! You never realize how different you are in another country until it is brought to your attention. Even the teachers wanted to feel my hair at one point because if being a white person in Ghana isn’t different enough having blond hair is jaw dropping.
As the day continued on, Melissa (the girl I was in the class room with) and I taught them the hokie pokie, opened countless water bottles, played countless games, help teach the ABC’s and much more. We left around lunch time and went back to the boat. We all quickly took showers because we were surrounded by coughing kids all day and then went to the market circle. Elizabeth and I broke away from the group because traveling in groups of 8 is just way too much. We were once again bombarded by the many vendors, one of them being Alex whom Elisabeth bought into a little too much. I don’t think she realized that all they wanted was her money not her friendship! Finally we were able to continue into town
The walk into town is not so pleasant; it is filled with open holes in the ground where you see sewage statically floating there, and you must watch your step because you could easily fall into one at any point. It smelt horrible for the most part (and people say New Jersey smells)! We got to the market and had no clue how to approach it, there was no feasible way to go about this strategically.
The market is a giant wooden circle that people have small shops built into them, then there are little stands in the center crammed together so that as many people as possible can have a stand. These stands are filled with raw fish that has just been caught, or that has been caught a few days ago and has not been refrigerated or kept cool in any fashion. There were also pig’s feet hanging from wooden bars ( I definitely thought they were human arms at first, they looked fleshy and dead and hey who knows what they do in other countries). We went to one stand in the market and met the people running it. One lady was older and more traditional and she was selling some form of drink that you drink from a bag.
(They drink everything out of bags I am not quite sure why but they do and its kind of cool. You cannot reseal these bags so you need to drink everything at the same time and the way you open it is by biting off one corner and suck.)
The drink was really good and she gave us a little sip out of a cup because we were not sure if we should drink it as it did not seem like the most sanitary of all things. But it was really good and I wish I got more. Anyway we stayed and talked with Mary and Ellen for a little, Ellen was younger, she asked me if I had a brother and if she could come home with me and marry him. I told Ellen that I did have a brother but I was sorry he had a girlfriend and I didn’t think Mary (Thomas’s girlfriend) would be happy with her marrying him (don’t worry Mary I got your back haha). Ellen also told me because I was born on a Sunday that in Ghanaian tradition my “fancy” name was ESI. However I don’t have a clue what it means because when I asked they just said it means you’re born on Sunday.
One thing that I must warn any woman that goes to Ghana and goes to the Takoradi Market Circle is that make sure you are wearing long short or pants. I felt awful when a woman started pinching my legs. At first I was like what the heck are you doing why are you pinching and slapping my legs? Then Ellen explained to me that the older woman do not like it when you can see your legs and that next time I should wear longer short but next time I should bring her back my short shorts because she wanted to be a sexy lady too.
We made our way out of the market circle and did a little more shopping and walked back to the boat. We did not buy too much but we got a lot of experience. It was quite a different experience and it was just the beginning! When we went out that night I was taught how to balance a large plate of Peanut bread on my head by Simon my new Ghanaian friend. I also became an African waitress!
Day 3 – Ghana – Cape Coast Castel
We get off the boat and make the same walk toward the market circle. I made sure to wear longer shorts this time. We do a few things that some of our group needs and while we are at the post office we meet up with Dorian and Dick, a professor and his wife, who also want to go to the Cape Coast Castle. So our group just got a little bigger which is actually perfect when you are trying to get on to a tro-tro. A tro-tro is a “private” bus system which really means a rundown van that 12 people can fit in. The reason it is better to have a larger group is because this van will not leave until the entire thing is filled. It only cost 3 Cedie (Ghana currency) so they have to make their moneys’ worth. Even when we already had 9 people it still took about a half hour to start moving.
Finally we set out on the hour bus ride, with the windows wide open and the breeze blowing in our faces taking plenty of pictures of the reoccurring country side. We finally made it toward the coast which was an amazing change of scenery. When we made it to Cape Coast Castle we got out and were in awe.
The castle was something to marvel at but something you also felt horrible calling a castle. It was a grand structure that had lasted so many years but terrible things happened here. The Portuguese originally designed the castle to hold gold, as Ghana is considered the Gold Coast. However, after realizing they needed more help then they could afford they started recruiting slaves and eventually just selling them. That is when they converted the castle into holding cells for slaves. The male dungeon was a series of 5 rooms. Each room was about 15 x 20 feet long and in total of these 5 rooms there were, at times, 1000 slaves. The amount in the holding cells all depended on how long it took the ships to make it there and back. For the most part the trip took 2 months but could be extended to 3 if brought off course or hit by a storm.
Each of the other the 5 rooms had barrel vaulted ceilings with 3 very small (1’ x1’) windows at the tops, this was the only light able to get into these room. There is 1 room that has a slightly bigger window but that is only so that the captors can see the slaves so that they could brand them. They said they had only found the floors a few years ago because the feces was so high that they could not get to the floor.
The female slave dungeon was a bit smaller as less females were captives. The females had 2 small room about 20 /20 that were to hold 400 women at a time. Also if any slave acted out of line or tried to escape they would put them in the suffocation room. It was a small room with no windows. They would not be given food or water just left there to die.
Lastly, there was the “Door of No Return”. Once the slaves passed through these doors they were to never return back through the doors or to Africa. This was the door to the beach where they would row out on small boat and row out to meet a large ship that they would be transported on to either Europe, the Americas or Brazil. 1/3rd of them going to Brazil alone.
This was a very hard place for me to be because I was not sure how to act. I knew you were not supposed to speak loudly or much at all but just listen to what was being said. I also did not feel right smiling, which I smile most of the time. There was so much that was hard to react to especially when you are among such a horrible place in such a beautiful setting.
After this I split off from the original group I was with and traveled about a half hour and went to Hans Cottage Hotel. This was a really cool restaurant and hotel, there were a bunch of bungalows that were on stilts above the water. The water was muddy and filled with crocodiles. We all had lunch and there were 7 girls and 1 guy (Ben ) aka protector haha. We had lunch and mine tasted like it was cooked over garbage although some how everyone else’s tasted great (not fair)! But here is the exciting part of lunch time! We got to pet a crocodile. My heart and adrenaline was racing as I walked up to a wild croc. This croc was pretty big and it had just strolled up out of the water and now this man was telling me it was safe to pet him. Personally I thought he was a little crazy, but of course I did it. When else can you pet a big croc and let me tell you this was no caiman!!!!
Then we got back, went in a taxi to the tro-tro station loosing Ben on the way and took the tro-tro back to Takoradi (which seemed to take forever). Hopped in another taxi then get on a port shuttle that would bring us back to the boat!! Longest process ever and to think I had to get up at 3 am to go to an orphanage.
Oh yeah when I saw Stephanie I jumped on her!!!! I missed her!!!!
PORT RULE: NO SLEEP!!!!!!!!
Day 4 – The Orphanage!
Me: Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie wake up I say at 245 am after she feel asleep for 2 minutes! WE HAVE TO GO!
Stephanie: IM UP!!!!!!!
We then race down to the gang way in order to meet our group. Our friend Jen organized the whole thing and it was a daunting task for her. Any way we get on the bus at 3 am and this bus is more like a van then a bus and has exactly 20 seats which is the amount we need. Steph tosses and turns in about 25 positions trying to get comfortable until we are all contorted (Staphanie, Ben and I) so in about 20 minutes we end up with Stephanie on the 3 seat sprawled out, Ben laying one way on the floor while I am laying in the opposite direction using his back as a pillow. Oh also mind you I met Ben about 13 hours ago. All 20 of us wake up in the middle of nowhere laughing hysterically over all the different positions that we have gotten ourselves into not knowing how it happened.
It took us a total of 7 hours to get to the orphanage after all the traffic and the driver got lost. We get off in the middle of nowhere with just one small house. This is where I am surprised and realize I might not have been paying as close of attention as I thought I was. The orphanage holds 21 kids, but in reality this orphanage was just really a house where a married couple had rescued 21 kids from Child slavery. Their names were Stacy and John and they were 2 of the most amazing people I have ever met. They have devoted their lives to helping, saving and feeding children. When we arrived, there was no sign of the children as we ate breakfast and helped prepare meals for the 1200 kids that we would be feeding at the fishing village. After a tour of the house and a little introduction we were brought to the school where the kids were learning. They were outside playing games when we walked up. We looked in the school for a little introduction to what they were learning and even though there were some 15 year olds they were still learning at an elementary stage because of the slavery they were put into at young ages instead of getting proper educations.
We split up into two groups. There was one group that played with parachutes and another who were playing futbol!! Of course I choose soccer! I haven’t played in 2 years and now all of a sudden I get to play with Ghanaian kids and their dad ( who played pro for Nigeria). How awesome is that? Well we played for about an hour and then we took a break and got some water.
During “halftime” I talked with John and he was telling me about a few of the things they are doing to help the people of Ghana along with everything they do for the kids. John told me that they were setting up an organization that they would give women 100 bags of water for free to sell. They could then go out and sell these waters to make money to buy more and continue this process. They then would teach these women how to finance their money and about banks and how to open accounts to save their money. He also told me that I should really rejoin my school team because I can beat all the boys. J We then continued the game playing for about another hour and a half having a great time. Although I cannot fully describe this to you I must say it will be one of the most memorable things. You can really gain some ones trust by being their teammate. Out of this game not only did I get a great time but I got some new friends, I gained some of the kids trust and they really opened up to me, telling me their stories and myths of Ghana.
Aron and Mesha won’t play on a team because they believe that other teams use prayers and make sacrifices to shrines in order to get magic. This magic can turn the ball to fire and kill or seriously injure the other team. Aron told me his story later when we went to the fishing village. He pointed at the boats and said that’s where he was a slave. His parents sold him and his brother into slavery as young boys. Their job was literally to catch fish. They were pushed into the water and could not get back onto the boat until they caught a fish. If they did not catch a fish they would tie a necklace around them that had a large rock on it so they would stay under the water longer. Aron watched his brother drown next to him. These kids all have stories ones that are way beyond anything we could have ever imagined. This may sound stupid but I didn’t know. I had no clue that there is more slavery today than ever before in the history of the world, and yes this includes the slave trade. Just because it doesn’t surround us doesn’t mean it’s not happening. We cannot hold our selves responsible for not knowing but we can hold our selves responsible for knowing and not doing anything. I have trouble writing this because I know these kids, I’ve looked into their eyes and talked to them hearing their story and they have changed me, informed me, and taught me. I hope that at one point I can be the turning point in some ones story, that I can help someone like Stacy and John help all these kids! So that one day I too can give someone a second chance!
We were later brought to see the new school they were building for not only their kids but also some kids of the village. We then went back to the house finished preparing the meals and went to the fishing village. We were feeding 1200 kids here and it was intense. We had to form a wall with our bodies and pass out all the meals we had prepared earlier that day. The meals consisted of Rice with Pepe sauce on top and a hardboiled egg. The kids were fighting to get the food pushing through each other and we figured out that some of the kids were trying to take seconds which we only had enough for every child to have one meal. There were women passing around 1 baby trying to get meals in front of the kids. It was like nothing I could compare it to, there was no order just everyone fending for themselves. When we finally ran out of food John brought the attention away from us and handed out the last 2 meals while we just watched so many kids not eat. There were some remarkable things that I did see. I saw some of the older kids giving their food away to some of the younger kids who did not get to eat. Also the kids who did not eat were not mad but they thanked us for doing what we could. I did not feel like we did that much. We did what any decent human being would do and it was rewarding but honestly I fell like it was not as much about the feeding as John and Stacy informing us. They could have handed out the food themselves but to bring us meant that we might join this battle they are fighting. After taking some pictures with the kids we went back to John and Stacy’s house hung out with the kids there a little more, ate dinner and made our way back to the ship, finally getting there at 3 am.
If anyone would like to see any more about the organization the John and Stacy run called City Of Refuge, please go to www.cityofrefugeoutreach.com
Day 5 – The Beach
We went to the beach the last day we were told it was a little bit of paradise which was exactly correct. We all needed a little detox from the heavy event from the prior days. Busua beach was gorgeous. Chelsea, Stephanie, and I walked the entire thing which we figured out was a lot longer than we expected. It was about 3 miles there and back. So we got back, I went in the water and then ate some lunch. It was amazing as always! We then made our way back to the boat making out taxi driver stop for fan ice. Fan Ice is Ghanaian ice cream it comes in a pouch which you bite the corner off and eat. It’s amazing!!!! Vanilla being the best flavor. I think I might make my wedding cake out of it someday. We got back to the port bought a few last minute things, got on the boat and said good bye to Ghana.
The first day in Ghana our ship was greeted by drummers, singers, and dancers outside on the port as the pilot was docking our boat. It was pretty cool, especially because that was what we were going to be doing that day. So we finished eating, got ready quick and made our way to the gangway which was off the 2nd floor and not the 5th floor. If you ask me they make a lot more work for the crew when the gang way is on the 5th floor. Anyways, I was one of the first people off…..3rd off actually, and I walked down the port a little, even though I was supposed to get right on a bus, but come on who steps off a ship in Ghana and the first thing they do is get on an air conditioned coach bus. So I walk down the dock a little and I was immediately bombarded with men trying to sell me things!!!! Being the first person to make it this far I was also the first to meet “Mr. Quality,” “Mr. Cheap”, and Joseph. They told me I needed to get their stuff it was better than the guys stand who was right next to his and selling the exact same thing. One of them gave me a bracelet for free, “because I was the first person he met and I was so nice,” so that I could be a human billboard for him.
So I walked back and got on to the bus and made my way into town. On this bus ride I realized how far the port actually was and OMG was it long! To get out of the port it was a mile walk (at least) and it wasn’t until the third day that they got us a shuttle to get out to where the taxis could go.
We arrived at a hotel where we first watched people drum and dance for a while. They would make us get up and dance with them in the morning and we were tired before lunch time. The heat in Ghana is almost unbearable it really dehydrates you and you don’t realize it is happening. One girl even got a little too dehydrated and was not able to continue with the second part of the day. After we danced to the drumming for a few hours we left on our bus and went to a hotel for lunch. The hotel was a completely different style hotel then we had just been at and it was sort of an oasis. We had a buffet lunch and this is where I first had Pepe sauce and Shitto sauce and there was one more that starts with an “M”. These sauces will change your approach to food. You can put them on anything and even if you don’t like spicy food you will still love this sauce! Something I am learning and I don’t understand it is; why does every other place in the world have Amazing fruit besides America. I mean every place!
Well after we re-hydrated we went back to the hotel. We learned how to do a traditional dance and play the drums and a song that would go with it all! We also learned that the hotel we were at was not really a hotel but a brothel, which we would see a lot more of as our stay in Ghana continued.
After the day was through we went back to the boat refueled and SHOWERED. I have never appreciated showers as much as I have since I been to Ghana!
Day 2 – Ghana – School and market visit
Day 2 was the first day me and Steph split apart on this trip. It was a sad day but we learned to manage. I got up ate breakfast and went to visit a school.
When we got there we were addressed by the head master who was a little old lady with a thick Twee accent ( the language of the Ashanti people).She told us that we would break up into groups and go to different class rooms. I asked to go to a class room of younger kids. I ended up in a class room with 3 year olds. They loved everything about my camera and all they wanted to do was play with it until they discovered my hair. Then my hair became the main attraction. I was swarmed by about 20 three year olds and that was only because all 50 touch my hair at 1 time. Their hands were all rubbing my head feeling my hair and I was on the floor not able to see anything. I couldn’t understand how it went from 2 little girls to playing with my hair to 20 kids all rubbing my head. After 10 minutes of this hilarious epidemic the teacher finally broke it up and I looked like I was straight out of the 70s. I don’t think a hair dresser would know how to give my hair that much body it literally stood 4 inches off my head! You never realize how different you are in another country until it is brought to your attention. Even the teachers wanted to feel my hair at one point because if being a white person in Ghana isn’t different enough having blond hair is jaw dropping.
As the day continued on, Melissa (the girl I was in the class room with) and I taught them the hokie pokie, opened countless water bottles, played countless games, help teach the ABC’s and much more. We left around lunch time and went back to the boat. We all quickly took showers because we were surrounded by coughing kids all day and then went to the market circle. Elizabeth and I broke away from the group because traveling in groups of 8 is just way too much. We were once again bombarded by the many vendors, one of them being Alex whom Elisabeth bought into a little too much. I don’t think she realized that all they wanted was her money not her friendship! Finally we were able to continue into town
The walk into town is not so pleasant; it is filled with open holes in the ground where you see sewage statically floating there, and you must watch your step because you could easily fall into one at any point. It smelt horrible for the most part (and people say New Jersey smells)! We got to the market and had no clue how to approach it, there was no feasible way to go about this strategically.
The market is a giant wooden circle that people have small shops built into them, then there are little stands in the center crammed together so that as many people as possible can have a stand. These stands are filled with raw fish that has just been caught, or that has been caught a few days ago and has not been refrigerated or kept cool in any fashion. There were also pig’s feet hanging from wooden bars ( I definitely thought they were human arms at first, they looked fleshy and dead and hey who knows what they do in other countries). We went to one stand in the market and met the people running it. One lady was older and more traditional and she was selling some form of drink that you drink from a bag.
(They drink everything out of bags I am not quite sure why but they do and its kind of cool. You cannot reseal these bags so you need to drink everything at the same time and the way you open it is by biting off one corner and suck.)
The drink was really good and she gave us a little sip out of a cup because we were not sure if we should drink it as it did not seem like the most sanitary of all things. But it was really good and I wish I got more. Anyway we stayed and talked with Mary and Ellen for a little, Ellen was younger, she asked me if I had a brother and if she could come home with me and marry him. I told Ellen that I did have a brother but I was sorry he had a girlfriend and I didn’t think Mary (Thomas’s girlfriend) would be happy with her marrying him (don’t worry Mary I got your back haha). Ellen also told me because I was born on a Sunday that in Ghanaian tradition my “fancy” name was ESI. However I don’t have a clue what it means because when I asked they just said it means you’re born on Sunday.
One thing that I must warn any woman that goes to Ghana and goes to the Takoradi Market Circle is that make sure you are wearing long short or pants. I felt awful when a woman started pinching my legs. At first I was like what the heck are you doing why are you pinching and slapping my legs? Then Ellen explained to me that the older woman do not like it when you can see your legs and that next time I should wear longer short but next time I should bring her back my short shorts because she wanted to be a sexy lady too.
We made our way out of the market circle and did a little more shopping and walked back to the boat. We did not buy too much but we got a lot of experience. It was quite a different experience and it was just the beginning! When we went out that night I was taught how to balance a large plate of Peanut bread on my head by Simon my new Ghanaian friend. I also became an African waitress!
Day 3 – Ghana – Cape Coast Castel
We get off the boat and make the same walk toward the market circle. I made sure to wear longer shorts this time. We do a few things that some of our group needs and while we are at the post office we meet up with Dorian and Dick, a professor and his wife, who also want to go to the Cape Coast Castle. So our group just got a little bigger which is actually perfect when you are trying to get on to a tro-tro. A tro-tro is a “private” bus system which really means a rundown van that 12 people can fit in. The reason it is better to have a larger group is because this van will not leave until the entire thing is filled. It only cost 3 Cedie (Ghana currency) so they have to make their moneys’ worth. Even when we already had 9 people it still took about a half hour to start moving.
Finally we set out on the hour bus ride, with the windows wide open and the breeze blowing in our faces taking plenty of pictures of the reoccurring country side. We finally made it toward the coast which was an amazing change of scenery. When we made it to Cape Coast Castle we got out and were in awe.
The castle was something to marvel at but something you also felt horrible calling a castle. It was a grand structure that had lasted so many years but terrible things happened here. The Portuguese originally designed the castle to hold gold, as Ghana is considered the Gold Coast. However, after realizing they needed more help then they could afford they started recruiting slaves and eventually just selling them. That is when they converted the castle into holding cells for slaves. The male dungeon was a series of 5 rooms. Each room was about 15 x 20 feet long and in total of these 5 rooms there were, at times, 1000 slaves. The amount in the holding cells all depended on how long it took the ships to make it there and back. For the most part the trip took 2 months but could be extended to 3 if brought off course or hit by a storm.
Each of the other the 5 rooms had barrel vaulted ceilings with 3 very small (1’ x1’) windows at the tops, this was the only light able to get into these room. There is 1 room that has a slightly bigger window but that is only so that the captors can see the slaves so that they could brand them. They said they had only found the floors a few years ago because the feces was so high that they could not get to the floor.
The female slave dungeon was a bit smaller as less females were captives. The females had 2 small room about 20 /20 that were to hold 400 women at a time. Also if any slave acted out of line or tried to escape they would put them in the suffocation room. It was a small room with no windows. They would not be given food or water just left there to die.
Lastly, there was the “Door of No Return”. Once the slaves passed through these doors they were to never return back through the doors or to Africa. This was the door to the beach where they would row out on small boat and row out to meet a large ship that they would be transported on to either Europe, the Americas or Brazil. 1/3rd of them going to Brazil alone.
This was a very hard place for me to be because I was not sure how to act. I knew you were not supposed to speak loudly or much at all but just listen to what was being said. I also did not feel right smiling, which I smile most of the time. There was so much that was hard to react to especially when you are among such a horrible place in such a beautiful setting.
After this I split off from the original group I was with and traveled about a half hour and went to Hans Cottage Hotel. This was a really cool restaurant and hotel, there were a bunch of bungalows that were on stilts above the water. The water was muddy and filled with crocodiles. We all had lunch and there were 7 girls and 1 guy (Ben ) aka protector haha. We had lunch and mine tasted like it was cooked over garbage although some how everyone else’s tasted great (not fair)! But here is the exciting part of lunch time! We got to pet a crocodile. My heart and adrenaline was racing as I walked up to a wild croc. This croc was pretty big and it had just strolled up out of the water and now this man was telling me it was safe to pet him. Personally I thought he was a little crazy, but of course I did it. When else can you pet a big croc and let me tell you this was no caiman!!!!
Then we got back, went in a taxi to the tro-tro station loosing Ben on the way and took the tro-tro back to Takoradi (which seemed to take forever). Hopped in another taxi then get on a port shuttle that would bring us back to the boat!! Longest process ever and to think I had to get up at 3 am to go to an orphanage.
Oh yeah when I saw Stephanie I jumped on her!!!! I missed her!!!!
PORT RULE: NO SLEEP!!!!!!!!
Day 4 – The Orphanage!
Me: Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie wake up I say at 245 am after she feel asleep for 2 minutes! WE HAVE TO GO!
Stephanie: IM UP!!!!!!!
We then race down to the gang way in order to meet our group. Our friend Jen organized the whole thing and it was a daunting task for her. Any way we get on the bus at 3 am and this bus is more like a van then a bus and has exactly 20 seats which is the amount we need. Steph tosses and turns in about 25 positions trying to get comfortable until we are all contorted (Staphanie, Ben and I) so in about 20 minutes we end up with Stephanie on the 3 seat sprawled out, Ben laying one way on the floor while I am laying in the opposite direction using his back as a pillow. Oh also mind you I met Ben about 13 hours ago. All 20 of us wake up in the middle of nowhere laughing hysterically over all the different positions that we have gotten ourselves into not knowing how it happened.
It took us a total of 7 hours to get to the orphanage after all the traffic and the driver got lost. We get off in the middle of nowhere with just one small house. This is where I am surprised and realize I might not have been paying as close of attention as I thought I was. The orphanage holds 21 kids, but in reality this orphanage was just really a house where a married couple had rescued 21 kids from Child slavery. Their names were Stacy and John and they were 2 of the most amazing people I have ever met. They have devoted their lives to helping, saving and feeding children. When we arrived, there was no sign of the children as we ate breakfast and helped prepare meals for the 1200 kids that we would be feeding at the fishing village. After a tour of the house and a little introduction we were brought to the school where the kids were learning. They were outside playing games when we walked up. We looked in the school for a little introduction to what they were learning and even though there were some 15 year olds they were still learning at an elementary stage because of the slavery they were put into at young ages instead of getting proper educations.
We split up into two groups. There was one group that played with parachutes and another who were playing futbol!! Of course I choose soccer! I haven’t played in 2 years and now all of a sudden I get to play with Ghanaian kids and their dad ( who played pro for Nigeria). How awesome is that? Well we played for about an hour and then we took a break and got some water.
During “halftime” I talked with John and he was telling me about a few of the things they are doing to help the people of Ghana along with everything they do for the kids. John told me that they were setting up an organization that they would give women 100 bags of water for free to sell. They could then go out and sell these waters to make money to buy more and continue this process. They then would teach these women how to finance their money and about banks and how to open accounts to save their money. He also told me that I should really rejoin my school team because I can beat all the boys. J We then continued the game playing for about another hour and a half having a great time. Although I cannot fully describe this to you I must say it will be one of the most memorable things. You can really gain some ones trust by being their teammate. Out of this game not only did I get a great time but I got some new friends, I gained some of the kids trust and they really opened up to me, telling me their stories and myths of Ghana.
Aron and Mesha won’t play on a team because they believe that other teams use prayers and make sacrifices to shrines in order to get magic. This magic can turn the ball to fire and kill or seriously injure the other team. Aron told me his story later when we went to the fishing village. He pointed at the boats and said that’s where he was a slave. His parents sold him and his brother into slavery as young boys. Their job was literally to catch fish. They were pushed into the water and could not get back onto the boat until they caught a fish. If they did not catch a fish they would tie a necklace around them that had a large rock on it so they would stay under the water longer. Aron watched his brother drown next to him. These kids all have stories ones that are way beyond anything we could have ever imagined. This may sound stupid but I didn’t know. I had no clue that there is more slavery today than ever before in the history of the world, and yes this includes the slave trade. Just because it doesn’t surround us doesn’t mean it’s not happening. We cannot hold our selves responsible for not knowing but we can hold our selves responsible for knowing and not doing anything. I have trouble writing this because I know these kids, I’ve looked into their eyes and talked to them hearing their story and they have changed me, informed me, and taught me. I hope that at one point I can be the turning point in some ones story, that I can help someone like Stacy and John help all these kids! So that one day I too can give someone a second chance!
We were later brought to see the new school they were building for not only their kids but also some kids of the village. We then went back to the house finished preparing the meals and went to the fishing village. We were feeding 1200 kids here and it was intense. We had to form a wall with our bodies and pass out all the meals we had prepared earlier that day. The meals consisted of Rice with Pepe sauce on top and a hardboiled egg. The kids were fighting to get the food pushing through each other and we figured out that some of the kids were trying to take seconds which we only had enough for every child to have one meal. There were women passing around 1 baby trying to get meals in front of the kids. It was like nothing I could compare it to, there was no order just everyone fending for themselves. When we finally ran out of food John brought the attention away from us and handed out the last 2 meals while we just watched so many kids not eat. There were some remarkable things that I did see. I saw some of the older kids giving their food away to some of the younger kids who did not get to eat. Also the kids who did not eat were not mad but they thanked us for doing what we could. I did not feel like we did that much. We did what any decent human being would do and it was rewarding but honestly I fell like it was not as much about the feeding as John and Stacy informing us. They could have handed out the food themselves but to bring us meant that we might join this battle they are fighting. After taking some pictures with the kids we went back to John and Stacy’s house hung out with the kids there a little more, ate dinner and made our way back to the ship, finally getting there at 3 am.
If anyone would like to see any more about the organization the John and Stacy run called City Of Refuge, please go to www.cityofrefugeoutreach.com
Day 5 – The Beach
We went to the beach the last day we were told it was a little bit of paradise which was exactly correct. We all needed a little detox from the heavy event from the prior days. Busua beach was gorgeous. Chelsea, Stephanie, and I walked the entire thing which we figured out was a lot longer than we expected. It was about 3 miles there and back. So we got back, I went in the water and then ate some lunch. It was amazing as always! We then made our way back to the boat making out taxi driver stop for fan ice. Fan Ice is Ghanaian ice cream it comes in a pouch which you bite the corner off and eat. It’s amazing!!!! Vanilla being the best flavor. I think I might make my wedding cake out of it someday. We got back to the port bought a few last minute things, got on the boat and said good bye to Ghana.
Friday, February 11, 2011
The next 9 days – The Atlantic Ocean
The next 9 day we are on the boat, our home. This is the longest span of time that we will ever be on the boat for which is really exciting! We have class every day but 1 which is the sea Olympics. This is the time where everyone is really falling into their group of who they are going to be good friends with for the rest of the trip Stephanie and I including. Of course we are together in the same group of friends.
My cousin Stephanie and I are roommates and we have always been friend being that we are only born 20 hours apart but as we grew older we saw less of each other. Now we are on this amazing ship in a little room together and we have become in separable! Our one friend calls us cousintry while most ask if we are apart where our other half has gone. We are having a great time together and really getting to know each other. <3
Sea Olympics - Day 7 at Sea! – Let’s go Mediterranean Sea!
Green Team – You know
The sea Olympics are a day of fun and games and unity on the boat. It’s a good time for all and a way to break up the 9 days on the boat where we have straight classes. On the 6th day at sea we have opening ceremonies. This is where we display our banner and do our teams cheer and a few speeches are given. It’s all in good fun and it’s very loud!!!!
There are games such as crab soccer, volley ball, basketball SAS (horse), tug of war car stacking trivia and many more. However, I did not sign up for any of those events, I signed up for the main event which I did not realize it was until the night before. I was in the synchronized swimming event. The entire 7th deck was cover with students watching a recording us as we were the first event to go on and perform. Our routine was with 6 people. Stephanie, Maria, Kelly, Colby, Scott and myself and we did a dance and swim to the song Wannabe by the spice girls. This was absolutely hilarious as we had only practice twice and we were only given 2 days to come up with a routine. We had a great time doing it even though the night before we were all regretting signing up for it. As soon as we did it we realized how much fun it was and we could laugh through the whole thing! We ended up getting 3rd out of 10 teams so all in all I think it was a success! And we even go barbeque for dinner which it was amazing to have ribs, burgers, and hotdogs, along with countless bowls of ice cream!
Check back for more soon as I will be in Ghana where Stephanie and I part ways for the first time………….. : /
My cousin Stephanie and I are roommates and we have always been friend being that we are only born 20 hours apart but as we grew older we saw less of each other. Now we are on this amazing ship in a little room together and we have become in separable! Our one friend calls us cousintry while most ask if we are apart where our other half has gone. We are having a great time together and really getting to know each other. <3
Sea Olympics - Day 7 at Sea! – Let’s go Mediterranean Sea!
Green Team – You know
The sea Olympics are a day of fun and games and unity on the boat. It’s a good time for all and a way to break up the 9 days on the boat where we have straight classes. On the 6th day at sea we have opening ceremonies. This is where we display our banner and do our teams cheer and a few speeches are given. It’s all in good fun and it’s very loud!!!!
There are games such as crab soccer, volley ball, basketball SAS (horse), tug of war car stacking trivia and many more. However, I did not sign up for any of those events, I signed up for the main event which I did not realize it was until the night before. I was in the synchronized swimming event. The entire 7th deck was cover with students watching a recording us as we were the first event to go on and perform. Our routine was with 6 people. Stephanie, Maria, Kelly, Colby, Scott and myself and we did a dance and swim to the song Wannabe by the spice girls. This was absolutely hilarious as we had only practice twice and we were only given 2 days to come up with a routine. We had a great time doing it even though the night before we were all regretting signing up for it. As soon as we did it we realized how much fun it was and we could laugh through the whole thing! We ended up getting 3rd out of 10 teams so all in all I think it was a success! And we even go barbeque for dinner which it was amazing to have ribs, burgers, and hotdogs, along with countless bowls of ice cream!
Check back for more soon as I will be in Ghana where Stephanie and I part ways for the first time………….. : /
Brazil- Day 4 – Rio
We started the morning off with breakfast then on to the bus quickly and went to a canopy walk and zip lining. We first went through a series of horizontal ladders which Paige and I teamed up and zoomed right though it while we did balancing acts and a little ballet on each rope or ladder.
We then went over to the zip line area. The zip line was cool and you could see out into the city. It was an amazing view. After that we went had snacks at the bottom and then went back to the hotel and ran to the beach! Stephanie and my goal is to swim in every body of water that we port at and since we swam in the black river only 400 feet away from where we went piranha fishing I think we are on our way to success. So we made our way to the beach where the sand was hot and the water was perfect.
After that we explored some local markets and stores searching for a few things that we knew we wanted coming back from these countries. We learned that people in Brazil don’t really bargain especially in the tourist district of Rio.
Now being from New Jersey and coming from a large Italian family, tomato sauce is something you learn to crave. On the ship we aren’t served this ever! So while in Rio we needed to get some pizza. So we walked along the strip of restaurants looking for good cheap food. We finally found a place that fit our budget and walked in and ordered a pizza for the 2 of us. Prepared to stuff our faces we anticipate this pizza coming to us. What comes to us but a dominoes sized pizza, but wait where’s the sauce
Me: "uhhhhhhh"
Stephanie: "Where’s the sauce?"
Me: "I feel like I’m eating cheesy bread?"
Stephanie: "I can’t eat this I’m going to be sick like what the heck?"
So the next 15 minutes of our time while our pie crust with cheese is getting cold was devoted to asking a man who speaks nothing but Portuguese to bring us a bowl of tomato sauce. The first time we ask he came back with a basket full of ketchup packets.
Me: "un bowlo? (I said making a hand motion and then pointed to the menu at tomato sauce.)"
He shakes his head ...it’s like a light bulb went off in his head! Ahhh ha! He goes away for a little and comes back with yet a second basket of ketchup packets. Stephanie and I start cracking up! Our waiter, who has been laughing this whole time especially after I cupped my hands and said bowlo hoping it may be the Spanish word for bowl, goes and gets a waitress who can speak some Spanish. We go through the whole process again and she finally understands leaves and comes back with yet a third basket of ketchup. Now Stephanie is getting frustrated and I’m trying to figure out how to explain this we any way after a long time we finally got our red sauce and dunked cheese on what was essentially pie crust into a big bowl of sauce!
Travel tip: don’t think you can get pizza equivalent of jersey pizza in brazil… you can’t! so I suggest not trying!
The plane ride home the next morning was long and exhausting. But we finally made it back and came right back to the boat where we stuffed our faces and said good bye as our boat slowly pulled away.
Coming away from this trip I know a few words in Portuguese
Obregata – thank you
Gi nada – you’re welcome
Conoodoo – straw
Descupa – sorry
Poco - little
And I wish I could remember the other ones I was taught but it’s a lot to take in!
We then went over to the zip line area. The zip line was cool and you could see out into the city. It was an amazing view. After that we went had snacks at the bottom and then went back to the hotel and ran to the beach! Stephanie and my goal is to swim in every body of water that we port at and since we swam in the black river only 400 feet away from where we went piranha fishing I think we are on our way to success. So we made our way to the beach where the sand was hot and the water was perfect.
After that we explored some local markets and stores searching for a few things that we knew we wanted coming back from these countries. We learned that people in Brazil don’t really bargain especially in the tourist district of Rio.
Now being from New Jersey and coming from a large Italian family, tomato sauce is something you learn to crave. On the ship we aren’t served this ever! So while in Rio we needed to get some pizza. So we walked along the strip of restaurants looking for good cheap food. We finally found a place that fit our budget and walked in and ordered a pizza for the 2 of us. Prepared to stuff our faces we anticipate this pizza coming to us. What comes to us but a dominoes sized pizza, but wait where’s the sauce
Me: "uhhhhhhh"
Stephanie: "Where’s the sauce?"
Me: "I feel like I’m eating cheesy bread?"
Stephanie: "I can’t eat this I’m going to be sick like what the heck?"
So the next 15 minutes of our time while our pie crust with cheese is getting cold was devoted to asking a man who speaks nothing but Portuguese to bring us a bowl of tomato sauce. The first time we ask he came back with a basket full of ketchup packets.
Me: "un bowlo? (I said making a hand motion and then pointed to the menu at tomato sauce.)"
He shakes his head ...it’s like a light bulb went off in his head! Ahhh ha! He goes away for a little and comes back with yet a second basket of ketchup packets. Stephanie and I start cracking up! Our waiter, who has been laughing this whole time especially after I cupped my hands and said bowlo hoping it may be the Spanish word for bowl, goes and gets a waitress who can speak some Spanish. We go through the whole process again and she finally understands leaves and comes back with yet a third basket of ketchup. Now Stephanie is getting frustrated and I’m trying to figure out how to explain this we any way after a long time we finally got our red sauce and dunked cheese on what was essentially pie crust into a big bowl of sauce!
Travel tip: don’t think you can get pizza equivalent of jersey pizza in brazil… you can’t! so I suggest not trying!
The plane ride home the next morning was long and exhausting. But we finally made it back and came right back to the boat where we stuffed our faces and said good bye as our boat slowly pulled away.
Coming away from this trip I know a few words in Portuguese
Obregata – thank you
Gi nada – you’re welcome
Conoodoo – straw
Descupa – sorry
Poco - little
And I wish I could remember the other ones I was taught but it’s a lot to take in!
Brazil - Day 3 – RIO
I wake up as the plane is landing and I look out the window to see that the sky is completely red!!! This is no exaggeration! The sunrise was making the entire sky red it was beautiful! Well we got off that plane in Brasilia and got immediately on to the next one to Rio.
Once we reached rio we were informed that we would not be staying at the same hotel as the other groups but it would be okay we would still have fun. So we changed in the airport and made our way on to a tour bus where we were driven to breakfast on the beach. Along the way Patricia told us all about the city!
Now when I originally thought of Rio I thought it was not going to be that nice I mean it is the second most dangerous city in the world and I was a little scared but while driving around at was absolutely beautiful!!!!!! They told us there was nothing to be afraid of but just to not walk on the beach side at night!
After breakfast by the beach we walked around the corner to where we were to meet jeeps (which looked like converted pickups) to tour the city! The jeep I was in had a tour guide with the softest voice I have ever heard, so I sat right next to her to make sure I would be able to learn something about the city. We went through a few of the districts of Rio starting in Cococabana where our hotel was to be. Cococabana is the safest of all the places with rio it is the most touristy and not as much affordable to live in however there were some places, such as in the favelas. A favela is essentially a slum. It is government property that people do not have to pay taxes on however these places are not the most desirable to live in. There is a lot of killings, crime and drugs within the favelas. It was even stated that the favelas use different color roofs to determine which kind of drugs each place sells which is quite inventive but not a place you want to go in to…so we looked from afar.
While on the jeeps we took a look at the town and scenery and proceeded first to Cocovado or Christ the redeemer. This is one place every one should go in their life. Not only is the statue amazing in itself but the view around is remarkable. Rio is an urban jungle meaning that it has extensive city though out the rainforest and from Cocovado you can see everything. This is the most amazing view I have ever seen in my life; however, I have a feeling I will be saying that a lot during this trip. This statue of Christ stands on a 20 foot platform and then is 100 feet tall after that. Christ the redeemer is amazingly huge and quite remarkable to be in the presence of.
After this we went to a few other places such as the botanical gardens, waterfalls in the rainforest and a gazebo that overlooked so much in the city it was a place where the chineese were originally supposed to plant and grow tea. We stopped our jeep tour at the botanical gardens and then were able to tour the city at a slower pace which was by bike. We rode about 10 miles to our hotel riding along the beach for a large portion of the time. We finally got to our hotel and were all so exhausted but instead of sleeping…..because you don’t sleep while at port while on semester at sea….we showered and got ready quickly and walked over to the other hotel to meet up with friends for dinner.
When we got to the golden tulip hotel we broke off and went separate direction with most of us going to a Brazilian steak house. Now I know I talk about food a lot but…. I need to emphasize how good this food really is. Man you must go here! You get all you can eat food anything your heart desires. They come around to your tables and carve meet from a spear right on to your plate. Now in Brazil they don’t serve you any old meat - these cows are massaged every day to make sure that it is the best you can have. So basically we stayed here for a long time eating anything we could get our hands on. We tried weird foods such as chicken hearts, ostrige, heart of palm, and ewww anchovies. Oh and did I mention there was all you could eat sushi as well. Everything was so good and this was the best food I have ever had!
Once we reached rio we were informed that we would not be staying at the same hotel as the other groups but it would be okay we would still have fun. So we changed in the airport and made our way on to a tour bus where we were driven to breakfast on the beach. Along the way Patricia told us all about the city!
Now when I originally thought of Rio I thought it was not going to be that nice I mean it is the second most dangerous city in the world and I was a little scared but while driving around at was absolutely beautiful!!!!!! They told us there was nothing to be afraid of but just to not walk on the beach side at night!
After breakfast by the beach we walked around the corner to where we were to meet jeeps (which looked like converted pickups) to tour the city! The jeep I was in had a tour guide with the softest voice I have ever heard, so I sat right next to her to make sure I would be able to learn something about the city. We went through a few of the districts of Rio starting in Cococabana where our hotel was to be. Cococabana is the safest of all the places with rio it is the most touristy and not as much affordable to live in however there were some places, such as in the favelas. A favela is essentially a slum. It is government property that people do not have to pay taxes on however these places are not the most desirable to live in. There is a lot of killings, crime and drugs within the favelas. It was even stated that the favelas use different color roofs to determine which kind of drugs each place sells which is quite inventive but not a place you want to go in to…so we looked from afar.
While on the jeeps we took a look at the town and scenery and proceeded first to Cocovado or Christ the redeemer. This is one place every one should go in their life. Not only is the statue amazing in itself but the view around is remarkable. Rio is an urban jungle meaning that it has extensive city though out the rainforest and from Cocovado you can see everything. This is the most amazing view I have ever seen in my life; however, I have a feeling I will be saying that a lot during this trip. This statue of Christ stands on a 20 foot platform and then is 100 feet tall after that. Christ the redeemer is amazingly huge and quite remarkable to be in the presence of.
After this we went to a few other places such as the botanical gardens, waterfalls in the rainforest and a gazebo that overlooked so much in the city it was a place where the chineese were originally supposed to plant and grow tea. We stopped our jeep tour at the botanical gardens and then were able to tour the city at a slower pace which was by bike. We rode about 10 miles to our hotel riding along the beach for a large portion of the time. We finally got to our hotel and were all so exhausted but instead of sleeping…..because you don’t sleep while at port while on semester at sea….we showered and got ready quickly and walked over to the other hotel to meet up with friends for dinner.
When we got to the golden tulip hotel we broke off and went separate direction with most of us going to a Brazilian steak house. Now I know I talk about food a lot but…. I need to emphasize how good this food really is. Man you must go here! You get all you can eat food anything your heart desires. They come around to your tables and carve meet from a spear right on to your plate. Now in Brazil they don’t serve you any old meat - these cows are massaged every day to make sure that it is the best you can have. So basically we stayed here for a long time eating anything we could get our hands on. We tried weird foods such as chicken hearts, ostrige, heart of palm, and ewww anchovies. Oh and did I mention there was all you could eat sushi as well. Everything was so good and this was the best food I have ever had!
Brazil – Day 2 – Manaus
Now let me just tell you my camera broke in Dominica! Very sad I know! Now let me also tell you we only have 2 hours to get a new camera in Manaus! Oh yeah one more fact I don’t speak Portuguese and my Spanish barely exceeds the word “Hola!” So we make our way through the port exit up the ramp and on to the streets of Manaus!
Stephanie: "I feel like everyone is staring at us"
Me: "That’s because everyone is staring at us"
When you’re the only natural blonds walking down the street in Brazil you tend to stand out! When there are 2 of you…..we’ll let’s just say you stick out. We walk through the streets of Manaus looking for any electronics store. We look like we know where we are going but really we have no clue! Finaly we see a shop for cell phones so we head there they have nothing but I say espanol o ingles? And say comprar (to buy) and then make motion as if I was taking a picture. She points me in the right direction and we see a big department store called C&A walk in and we see a little stand for cameras they have about 5 different kinds and they are way to overpriced but heck I needed a camera! So I make my way over to the woman who is guarding the case and tell her I want to buy the Sony one……in so many words. Now this is the funniest thing I have ever gone through not only was I laughing but Steph and the 4 other C&A employees that eventually came over to help in the attempt to have a conversation with using both our second languages. Well any way Carlos finally steps up and becomes the assertive one being the most helpful. We went through a bunch of other parts of the conversation apparently I asked what time it was at one point and there was another point where we were trying to talk about the trip. Something I am learning as this trip goes on is that it’s not as much about what you see but about the people you meet and converse with (or at least attempt to).
Any way we got my camera and made our way back to the ship as we had to eat and pack and hop on a bus so we could get on a plane and fly to RIO!!!!!!
Stephanie: "I feel like everyone is staring at us"
Me: "That’s because everyone is staring at us"
When you’re the only natural blonds walking down the street in Brazil you tend to stand out! When there are 2 of you…..we’ll let’s just say you stick out. We walk through the streets of Manaus looking for any electronics store. We look like we know where we are going but really we have no clue! Finaly we see a shop for cell phones so we head there they have nothing but I say espanol o ingles? And say comprar (to buy) and then make motion as if I was taking a picture. She points me in the right direction and we see a big department store called C&A walk in and we see a little stand for cameras they have about 5 different kinds and they are way to overpriced but heck I needed a camera! So I make my way over to the woman who is guarding the case and tell her I want to buy the Sony one……in so many words. Now this is the funniest thing I have ever gone through not only was I laughing but Steph and the 4 other C&A employees that eventually came over to help in the attempt to have a conversation with using both our second languages. Well any way Carlos finally steps up and becomes the assertive one being the most helpful. We went through a bunch of other parts of the conversation apparently I asked what time it was at one point and there was another point where we were trying to talk about the trip. Something I am learning as this trip goes on is that it’s not as much about what you see but about the people you meet and converse with (or at least attempt to).
Any way we got my camera and made our way back to the ship as we had to eat and pack and hop on a bus so we could get on a plane and fly to RIO!!!!!!
Brazil - Day 2 – The Amazon
We woke up at 5:30 am. It would have been a struggle if the sun hadn’t been rising over the water in such a gorgeous fashion. We were going piranha fishing! We all got on the shallow little boat again our group diving in 2 headed out to separate locations. Now when you fish for piranha, you fish with raw meat! Which unfortunately, Stephanie and I were the lucky ones who got to sit on the bench where they cut the meat. For cleaning purposes they whipped it with a rag. Let’s just say if it was unapparent that we were not in jersey any more it was perfectly clear now! Our guides told us not to count on catching anything because it didn’t always happen. No way not this time! We were all determined. So you put this meat on your line, which is a piece of string attached to a piece bamboo, throw it in the water then hit the water a few times with your stick, making a splashing sound in order to attract the fish. Well it wasn’t long until a few of us had caught some and guess what I was one of them! Mine was a red bellied piranha, which is the most aggressive kind! In total 6 were caught and flopping around at the bottom of the boat. We went back to the river boat ate breakfast hung out for a little.
We were not told that we were allowed to go swimming. There was only one thing going through my mind and it wasn’t I have to wait a hour after eating! I had just fished for piranhas in this water, is he CRAZY!!!! However, I just thought to m self…. When will I ever do this again? And ran over to the edge doing flips off the side of the boat! It was fun and pretty warm which was not expected! But it was fun even if the “black river” did make my bathing suit into a brown one! After this we headed back to Manaus all excited from everything we just did and everything that was yet to come…RIO!!!
We were not told that we were allowed to go swimming. There was only one thing going through my mind and it wasn’t I have to wait a hour after eating! I had just fished for piranhas in this water, is he CRAZY!!!! However, I just thought to m self…. When will I ever do this again? And ran over to the edge doing flips off the side of the boat! It was fun and pretty warm which was not expected! But it was fun even if the “black river” did make my bathing suit into a brown one! After this we headed back to Manaus all excited from everything we just did and everything that was yet to come…RIO!!!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Brazil - Day 1– The Amazon
How can I put Brazil into words! Amazing! This is one of the most amazing places I have ever been and also one of the most diverse. You can see everything here from city to rainforest to urban jungle.
The first day in Brazil we were docked in Manaus and got right off the boat and on to another. I was on boat number 2 with our guides Eddie and .....g (something). For the life i me i was not able to understand him when he said his name, but he was awesome. So after we stuffed our faces on the MV explorer in fear of not eating anything good that day we were immediately given breakfast.... And I am sorry mom, I don't know how they make that food but it was the most amazing food ever. We were given eggs, bread, fruit, chocolate bread, and plantains with cinnamon sugar on them. Any way it was delicious. If anyone gets a chance to have Brazilian fruit go for it. It is fantastic especially the guava and pineapple.
Any way continuing on from the food which if you know me was obviously my biggest concern; we went down the Rio Negro, the black river which is LEGIT BLACK. It is black from all the organic mineral deposits that sit in it. We only went down so far so that we could see where the two rivers meet. This should be one of the 7 wonders of the world. You can clearly see a distinct line were the two rivers meet yet do not mix! They won't mix because of the ph levels, density, temperature, velocity of the rivers.
Next we traveled back up stream and down a smaller part of the river were we passed floating villages. The villages are floating because of the rainy season the river will rise so high that any houses on the lower land will flood, another way the accommodate to these flooding are to build houses on stilts.
As we traveled up the stream the river got smaller and we were able to see some more wild life such as the great white crane and some river dolphins. We docked at a small port ate lunch on the boat quickly. Our lunch consisted of fruit, as always, fish stews, fried fish, salad dishes, rice and pasta. We got off the boat and went on to a local market that was clearly put there for tourists to shop around a little and then made our way up to the Lilly pads. Now these lilly pads were massive! They were a little bigger than a typical round cafe table and most had budding flowers on them. Some of the caiman were resting on them. We looked around on what could be called a risen dock. On the way back to the boat I held back a little with one of our tour guides Eddie and I was lucky I did. Eddie pointed out to me a sloth in the tree and a pair of monkeys jumping from tree to tree. I was one of the lucky ones who got to see this..... I kind think everyone was a little jealous as I would be if the tables were turned.
We then got back on the boat and traveled 5 miles up the river to the spot where we would be staying and anchoring. The first thing we did while on our journey up river was to set up our hammocks which would be our beds for the night. We were to sleep as the locals would if they were traveling. Some people napped on the boat because we were on the river so long and slow trip up the black river while I just laid out on the back of the boat soaking up the hot Brazilian, equator sun. The sun here is amongst the hottest most dangerous sun in the world, so we made sure to lather up in sun screen.....and bug spray as malaria is very prevalent here. We have also learned at this point that the malaria medication does not protect us against malaria but just makes it a more treatable form. It is just an antibiotic, it makes it so that the malaria cannot get to your liver, hide out and eventually kill you.
On the journey up it was not all just talk and sleep. The guides, nurse and some other staff of our small river boat taught us how to Fuha dance. Oh what I gathered the Fuha is much like salsa but a little crazier and a little less structured, it's a blast. We all took turns as the Brazilian music played we grabbed the hands of the staff and just started dancing! I think the other 2 boats riding along us were a little jealous as we were dancing at the tip of the boat as we road into the sunset. Now a little off topic let me add in that the sunsets in Brazil are among the most amazing in the world. I thought these colors that the sky radiated were only possible in a painting. The clouds come and go so swiftly through the setting sky it is a sight only thought to happen in a dream.
After the long journey up stream we finally anchored. We got prepared, put on bug spray and long sleeves so that we would not get a million bug bites and went on to yet another boat to go caiman hunting. Now you can only hunt caimans in the dark because their eyes will glow red so when you flash a light on them you can see them with ease. However, it is a little nerve racking being on a shallow boat so close to the water when you know there are caiman and piranhas in the surrounding water and you can hardly see the person sitting next to you. Suddenly our guide spots one! We move toward it slowing the engine eventually turning it off and without so much as a splash our guide grabbed one out of the water I didn’t even know he saw one. He was holding it showing us all fun little things about it. He then asked who wanted to hold it and the three girls in the back of the boat raised their hands, of course myself, Stephanie and Katie. None of the boys would untill we went back to the big boat and the lights were on. I cannot lie -- I held it a few more times when we were on the lit boat again…… I mean who wouldn’t it was soooo cool!!!!! This was such an awesome experience that I would have been disappointed leaving with out. (THANK YOU MOM) I was the first to hold it and the one who put it back in the water. I’ve recently been thinking about going into the caimans business!!!!!!
We ate dinner, than hung out for a little, than made our way to our hammocks where me and Stephanie laughed historically with our new friend Jared. None of us could figure out the proper way to sleep in the hammock even after being taught by the guides. We listened to a few stories of friends around the boat....mostly Becca's car accidents which are hilarious. Then finally went to bed waking up multiple times from people snoring on the boat. Haha
Over all the first day was a success! There will be more to come, brace yourself and look back soon for more!
The first day in Brazil we were docked in Manaus and got right off the boat and on to another. I was on boat number 2 with our guides Eddie and .....g (something). For the life i me i was not able to understand him when he said his name, but he was awesome. So after we stuffed our faces on the MV explorer in fear of not eating anything good that day we were immediately given breakfast.... And I am sorry mom, I don't know how they make that food but it was the most amazing food ever. We were given eggs, bread, fruit, chocolate bread, and plantains with cinnamon sugar on them. Any way it was delicious. If anyone gets a chance to have Brazilian fruit go for it. It is fantastic especially the guava and pineapple.
Any way continuing on from the food which if you know me was obviously my biggest concern; we went down the Rio Negro, the black river which is LEGIT BLACK. It is black from all the organic mineral deposits that sit in it. We only went down so far so that we could see where the two rivers meet. This should be one of the 7 wonders of the world. You can clearly see a distinct line were the two rivers meet yet do not mix! They won't mix because of the ph levels, density, temperature, velocity of the rivers.
Next we traveled back up stream and down a smaller part of the river were we passed floating villages. The villages are floating because of the rainy season the river will rise so high that any houses on the lower land will flood, another way the accommodate to these flooding are to build houses on stilts.
As we traveled up the stream the river got smaller and we were able to see some more wild life such as the great white crane and some river dolphins. We docked at a small port ate lunch on the boat quickly. Our lunch consisted of fruit, as always, fish stews, fried fish, salad dishes, rice and pasta. We got off the boat and went on to a local market that was clearly put there for tourists to shop around a little and then made our way up to the Lilly pads. Now these lilly pads were massive! They were a little bigger than a typical round cafe table and most had budding flowers on them. Some of the caiman were resting on them. We looked around on what could be called a risen dock. On the way back to the boat I held back a little with one of our tour guides Eddie and I was lucky I did. Eddie pointed out to me a sloth in the tree and a pair of monkeys jumping from tree to tree. I was one of the lucky ones who got to see this..... I kind think everyone was a little jealous as I would be if the tables were turned.
We then got back on the boat and traveled 5 miles up the river to the spot where we would be staying and anchoring. The first thing we did while on our journey up river was to set up our hammocks which would be our beds for the night. We were to sleep as the locals would if they were traveling. Some people napped on the boat because we were on the river so long and slow trip up the black river while I just laid out on the back of the boat soaking up the hot Brazilian, equator sun. The sun here is amongst the hottest most dangerous sun in the world, so we made sure to lather up in sun screen.....and bug spray as malaria is very prevalent here. We have also learned at this point that the malaria medication does not protect us against malaria but just makes it a more treatable form. It is just an antibiotic, it makes it so that the malaria cannot get to your liver, hide out and eventually kill you.
On the journey up it was not all just talk and sleep. The guides, nurse and some other staff of our small river boat taught us how to Fuha dance. Oh what I gathered the Fuha is much like salsa but a little crazier and a little less structured, it's a blast. We all took turns as the Brazilian music played we grabbed the hands of the staff and just started dancing! I think the other 2 boats riding along us were a little jealous as we were dancing at the tip of the boat as we road into the sunset. Now a little off topic let me add in that the sunsets in Brazil are among the most amazing in the world. I thought these colors that the sky radiated were only possible in a painting. The clouds come and go so swiftly through the setting sky it is a sight only thought to happen in a dream.
After the long journey up stream we finally anchored. We got prepared, put on bug spray and long sleeves so that we would not get a million bug bites and went on to yet another boat to go caiman hunting. Now you can only hunt caimans in the dark because their eyes will glow red so when you flash a light on them you can see them with ease. However, it is a little nerve racking being on a shallow boat so close to the water when you know there are caiman and piranhas in the surrounding water and you can hardly see the person sitting next to you. Suddenly our guide spots one! We move toward it slowing the engine eventually turning it off and without so much as a splash our guide grabbed one out of the water I didn’t even know he saw one. He was holding it showing us all fun little things about it. He then asked who wanted to hold it and the three girls in the back of the boat raised their hands, of course myself, Stephanie and Katie. None of the boys would untill we went back to the big boat and the lights were on. I cannot lie -- I held it a few more times when we were on the lit boat again…… I mean who wouldn’t it was soooo cool!!!!! This was such an awesome experience that I would have been disappointed leaving with out. (THANK YOU MOM) I was the first to hold it and the one who put it back in the water. I’ve recently been thinking about going into the caimans business!!!!!!
We ate dinner, than hung out for a little, than made our way to our hammocks where me and Stephanie laughed historically with our new friend Jared. None of us could figure out the proper way to sleep in the hammock even after being taught by the guides. We listened to a few stories of friends around the boat....mostly Becca's car accidents which are hilarious. Then finally went to bed waking up multiple times from people snoring on the boat. Haha
Over all the first day was a success! There will be more to come, brace yourself and look back soon for more!
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