From Yeji to Tamale
got up early in the morning are Ben and I have been going on for the port if you can call in size so ever. On the way we came across another group of German volunteers, so we decided to have breakfast with them. To continue our journey to Tamale
, we had to the other side of the Volta Lake. We have a small passenger boat taken on the approximately 30 people had space. On the crossing we had a chat with a Ghanaian, who has us worried on arrival as nice places in the bus to Tamale. This was in fact now almost full. Fortunately, most people spoke good English in the region, because in the Volta Region is no Twi or Fanti speak what is called common in the south. The Volta Region and the northwestern part of Togo (the neighbor) is dominated by the Ewe language.
The trip to Tamale was relatively relaxed. The roads were very dusty, so we usually have to leave the windows and with the travel bag between the legs we sat not very comfortable. It was one of the more pleasant trips. Here and there we saw again burning bushes by the roadside and some people went through a shower of rust flakes.
The more we approached Tamale, the better were the streets and the faster it went ahead.
Finally arrived, we were very surprised at Tamale. We had our run down and poorly presented, as the north of Ghana is a lot poorer than the south. were contrary to our expectations, there were nice houses, the roads were good and there were curbs. The traffic situation in the center was compared to Accra very quiet and orderly.
A passenger who has traveled the same route of Yeji to Tamale is help us find a hotel was. As in Akosombo we walked from hotel to hotel and the prices were more expensive, instead of cheap. The sun was burning mercilessly down on us. The further one is in the north, the hotter it gets. In the end, we have the passenger, named Rebiu to be invited and said that we can stay with him for nothing. Rebiu was only 19 years old, but his father has built a new house near the center, where we could spend the night. It was just a shell and we slept on a mattress on the floor, but all we needed. Rebiu accompanied us the rest of the day on our exploration. We have the inner city, the market and the cultural viewed. In the cultural, there was not really much to see. It is more of an artists' market for tourists. Otherwise, we talked a lot and he told us something about the Ghanaian Muslims, since he himself is one, like most people in northern Ghana. It was also interesting people gathered at certain times in courts of houses or shops (standing, bowing, kneeling and bobbing) to pray to see.
Finally, we have invited him to dinner in a Fufubar. It was actually a real fast-food restaurant, as I have not often seen in the south. In the dark we are now running through the streets of tamales. Everywhere there were small stalls and pedestrian zones were no less fully than during the day. The city had a very atmospheric nightlife and you have always felt very safe (which was of course to our Ghanaian accompaniment).
counter later in the evening provided us Rebiu his family in the old house before. You have to say it was an extended family. We met the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a dozen children. Since we have all these people were a little too much, Rebiu brought us into his room. It was relatively comfortable, had a mattress next to another bed. He was even holding a small black and white television on which he had run a DVD with hip hop music videos. Against later his cousin past and made us company. She was just visiting there, because she studied in Washington (city in northwestern Ghana). You could tell her immediately that she studies, for they spoke very good English. At first we were a little confused, because it was us when his wife presented (eng wife). As it turned out, the cousin in the culture as a "wife" is called. Her name was Rebiu. Wait a minute, said he is not so! But, also ... they are both called the same - even more confused! The family is not typical, Ghana Muslim family. They have a Nigerian immigrant and are members of the Hussars. As we Rebiu, so the woman said she was married to her for 23 years before been. This made us somewhat puzzled and she moved out after a while that it was then forced to marry at 14 - and a 35-year-old. When she was 18, she has a divorce, which had serious consequences. She was banned from one side of her family and disinherited. Free from constraints, it has made up the senior high school and started studying it. This is for a Muslim woman in these countries is very exceptional.
The body shop, where we stayed was, although mosquito-free since we have turned on mosquito incense, but quite warm at night. The mattress was indeed broad, but still a bit tight for three people. The next Day was really just the fact of waiting for the bus to Larrabanga. Like so many times when you held out for hours with the saying "any moment from now" (~ every moment from now) ...
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PICTURES: From Yeji to Tamale
PICTURES: Tamale
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