Cape Coast

Cape Coast is the capital of Central Region in Ghana. It's only about 80km from Takoradi, and super easy to reach from here. Trotro-ride there takes about 1-1,5 hour and costs only 12 cedes. Went there few weeks ago, only for one night though, so didn't have chance to see that much of Cape Coast. Not that it has very long list of tourist attractions anyway. The two main things there are the University of Cape Coast, which I sadly did not have chance to visit, and then the Cape Coast Castle.

Our accommodation was on Cape Coast beach, about 5km from the "city center", or sort of center nearby the university, where all the trotros go. The accommodation location was PERFECT. We were right at the beach, right next to the castle, and the place, Orange Beach Resort, was great. Owner, or the manager, of the resort was super chill local dude, who has very kind and helpful. Rooms were very basic, clean and served their purpose. Food was great, and overall the atmosphere was awesome. So, if you are looking for affordable accommodation at Cape Coast, I'd highly recommend Orange Beach. Amazing beach views guaranteed!

Another great thing about Orange Beach is, that it's located close to Baobab House. Baobab (btw, they also have cheap accomodation!) is vegetarian/vegan restaurant, but also so much more than that. Baobab is children foundation, aiming to give children who are coming from illiterate families, and children with special needs, a good education. Besides the restaurant, Baobab has school, where they teach children traditional arts, and the school is inclusive, meaning that they also have students with for example physical disabilities. Some of the students work at the Baobab house restaurant, and they also have a shop at the restaurant where they sell products the students have made, bought cute stuff from there, such as pouches made out of water bags, great way to reuse those horrible plastic bags. Food was really good at Baobab, as well their smoothies and coffee. So so good. Sadly, they did not have the "black bread", which is in my understanding, similar to rye bread. Would have loved to have some, so I guess I have to go back! By the way, I have never ever in my life had as good tofu as at Baobab house, absolutely delicious. 

Cape Coast castle was impressive experience. The castle itself is very beautiful, on a very beautiful spot facing the sea. It's crazy how something so beautiful can be so appalling! The basement, where they kept the slaves, were horrifying. Living conditions have been absolutely horrible for the slaves, and awful things have been happening in that castle. It was so weird to walk around there now, knowing that all those horrifying things have been happening there. The castle was built by the Swedes (haha!), but originally for trade of timber and gold, and later on it was used for transatlantic slave trade. This castle, and its dark, grim and disgusting basements were the last thing slaves experienced in their home country before being shipped off to Atlantic and to their new home country. Cape Coast castle is just one of the forty (?) slave castles built on the Gold Coast. 

I would also love to see the Elmina castle, which I have heard is bigger than the Cape Coast castle. Hopefully, I get to go to Elmina (which is right next to Cape Coast), in few weeks!