HOTEL CROWN PRINCE OFF CASTLE ROAD
That is what I should have written before I left the hotel at 1pm, If I had then I would not have spent five hours lost and looking for it. More specifically, I would not have had to trek the entire frikkin city looking for my luggage that I left in the hotel room with no lock on the door.
I would like to blame my arranged escort from Siasko Beach Hotel who was meant to be waiting for me at the airport but never showed. Or I would like to blame the taxi driver who chose this crappy, out-of-the-way place that nobody knows about. Or I would even like to blame the guy at flight center who timed my stop-overs so badly that I was traveling, and thus sleepless, for over 36 hours! But I cant. I only have my vague, thoughtless, useless self to blame!
Who goes to Africa, alone, a woman, and on their first day goes wandering aimlessly without taking note of the address or even the name of the place they are staying??
ME!!
Eventually, after hours of exasperated walking, with the sunset now threatening me with the imminent presence of darkness, I decided to get in a cab. I told the driver that I lost my hotel and I need him to help me find it. This was followed by a series of questions from him and mostly 'no' answers from me:
"Do you know the name of it?", "The area it is in?", "Any land marks near it?", "Did you get the business card?", "You don't have much experience traveling do you?"
I did however remember that it had white walls... or pink. Definitely either white or pink walls.
But somehow we found it. An hour of driving around in circles in the dark we found it! And I was so grateful I promised him a date the next night. I could do worse, a) he helped me in my time of need b) he was not ugly and c) he wanted a date with me even though I am clearly stupid... or maybe that is why he wanted a date with me? Anyway, I took his number but wont end up doing anything with it. I had at least 83 guys in the first day try to hit on me and ask for my number. Actually, I think that was a gross understatement. It is hard work being the only white girl in Accra. Though at one stage, like seeing a mirage on the horizon in the desert, I thought I saw a white man off in the distance, but as quickly as I saw him he was gone.
I would like to blame my arranged escort from Siasko Beach Hotel who was meant to be waiting for me at the airport but never showed. Or I would like to blame the taxi driver who chose this crappy, out-of-the-way place that nobody knows about. Or I would even like to blame the guy at flight center who timed my stop-overs so badly that I was traveling, and thus sleepless, for over 36 hours! But I cant. I only have my vague, thoughtless, useless self to blame!
Who goes to Africa, alone, a woman, and on their first day goes wandering aimlessly without taking note of the address or even the name of the place they are staying??
ME!!
Eventually, after hours of exasperated walking, with the sunset now threatening me with the imminent presence of darkness, I decided to get in a cab. I told the driver that I lost my hotel and I need him to help me find it. This was followed by a series of questions from him and mostly 'no' answers from me:
"Do you know the name of it?", "The area it is in?", "Any land marks near it?", "Did you get the business card?", "You don't have much experience traveling do you?"
I did however remember that it had white walls... or pink. Definitely either white or pink walls.
But somehow we found it. An hour of driving around in circles in the dark we found it! And I was so grateful I promised him a date the next night. I could do worse, a) he helped me in my time of need b) he was not ugly and c) he wanted a date with me even though I am clearly stupid... or maybe that is why he wanted a date with me? Anyway, I took his number but wont end up doing anything with it. I had at least 83 guys in the first day try to hit on me and ask for my number. Actually, I think that was a gross understatement. It is hard work being the only white girl in Accra. Though at one stage, like seeing a mirage on the horizon in the desert, I thought I saw a white man off in the distance, but as quickly as I saw him he was gone.
"I was lost in Accra' somehow doesn't have the same ring to it as "I was lost in France" but then again you are too young to even remember the last reference.
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I used to work with your sister, she posted the link on facebook AGES ago, and I was intrigued so started to read. I read these a while ago, but didn't get all the way through, so I am starting again. Whenever I have a quite moment at work, I read a post. I am already enjoying re-starting, and I am looking forward to reading the entire series of posts.
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