July 30th-

Hit up Tribes restaurant at our hotel for breakfast. Surprisingly, jetlag was minimal and the Ambien helped. Today, we started out with a run at the Labadi beach hotel. We had to pay a fee to do the treadmill, but we did it. Then, headed to the National Cultural Centre and the Makola Market. The Nationaly Cultural centre was filled with clueless whiteys (not that we weren't) wandering and trying to purchase rastafari gear. Prices of real goods including Kente and batik were through the roof. So we hit up Makola. Unfortunately, our guidebook was not very helpful as far as directions, as no African streets are actually marked with any names. So you basically have to look like an asshole, unless you are a local. Like those people in NEw York that stare up at the skyscrapers and get pick pocketed. Except we did not get pickpocketed.

We had read that taking pictures is sort of taboo, however, many locals say that it's okay. Don't believe them. Makola market was the busiest, most amazing market that I have ever seen in my life. Unbelievably crowded and selling all types of foods from "tiger nuts" to rats on a stick to peanut butter. They offered many tastes (by asking us to stick out our fingers). I guess all my Jewish nature went right to hell when I decided to lick my finger, but hey that's what travel is right? Hence the diarrhea (O:

I did manage to steal a few photos without too many glaring poses or in one person's words, "if you take picture, you will get a face slap", although pictures do not do this market justice. We were also lucky enough and apparently interesting enough to entertain some local vendors and get some help to find a chop bar. A rather brusk mid thirties woman with short dreads led us through the crowds of people carrying all sorts of items on the head from tied chickens to tampons. We kept getting cut off because we were being "too polite" and hence got yelled at by our "guide". Finally, we arrived at a tiny 6X6 room with one light and a small doorway. The vendor turned over a table and gave us a bucket with some soap. She asked us how much? We did not know what we were eating, but there was a small stand next to us with skewered rats. At that point, our "guide" went back to her stand, and we were left with the vendor and a number of other customers laughing and pointing at us. We went in our little blue room and waited for our food. We paid GH2 cedi (approx 1.50) for two dishes and got the best stew ever in a heaping, steaming plate. Feeling energized and more comfortable, we continued our exploration of Makola Market. We ended up purchasing some good highlife music, louis vuitton scarves and Star Beer as well as some batik by the yard. We learned our Ghanian names, I am "Yaá" (Thursday-born) and Jay is "Kofí" for Friday. And were allowed to take photos with some of the locals.

We stopped at the Wato Bar for a drink (a bar that is completely dark on the third floor of a circle). Some Pentecostal Christians led us there and wanted to "flash" us on their cell phones and befriend us on facebook. We exchanged numbers listening to some familiar Jamaican reggae pumping from the dance floor upstairs. They were excited to take pictures with us. After our Star Beer, we headed back to the hotel for a nice dinner of "red red" Fried plantains and spicy red sauce with rice and beans and fish. Then we headed out to Osu for some night market entertainmnet and live hiplife. Unfortunately, since our map was so mismarked, we could not find the live spot for music. However, we did find a Highlife bar that also had a dance hall and some locals dancing and playing pool.

Bed time!