We're here!

So we arrived at the airport in Accra and right away you could feel a HUGE difference between this airport and the mall-like one in England. One example: the first emloyee we saw had his feet up on the table and was sleeping.

After we went through customs and all of that we had our first big problem: Our luggage never came. NONE of the luggage from the flight arrived. And this is particulary imporant because it has some important stuff like bug spray (NO MALARIA FOR ME PLEASE!) sunscreen ( our malaria meds make us really sensitve to the sun) and pretty much everything else lke clothes, medicine (for headaches, stomach problems, etc), and heigene items. They said it woudl come in 24-48 hours and that they would call us, but we realized today, a day and a half later, that they never even took a phone number! SO we are going to head to the airport after we are done here at this internet cafe (which is really nice actually. Air conditioning and everything!)

So anyway, it took us forever to deal with all this stuff with teh luggage. There was a big crowd around the lost and found and some how we ended up beign literally the very last to fill out all teh appropriate paper work. By the time we got outside to meet Mike and Chelsea ti was late and things were not looking good. Because we got out so late, our original plans about whre to stay did not work out. Most decent hotels stop checking ppl in that late adn teh ones that do are too expensive. So we didnt' know whre we goign but MIke and chelsea knew of a good tasi driver to take us wherever it was so tehy called him up and we waited.

While we were waiting every taxi that drove by would honk their horn or stop to try to give us a ride but we kept telling them no, that we were waiting. When our driver finally came we began to pack up our carry on bags thena ll of a sudden someone came up with a huge spiked club and it put it in front of the wheel. HE then put a big clamp on teh last wheel. Chaos ensued. Apparently taxi drivers aren't aloud to pick up ppl at the curb there (even though while we were waiting plenty other drivers picked up ppl) . Next thing we kenw ppl were running from across the street to get invovled. They were all yelling and screaming and everybody had a side adn something to say. According to chelsea this was all very normal and no one was in danger. We just had to wait it out and eventually they let us go.

Mike and Chelsea were able to find a hotel in our guidebook that was still open, so they called up and made plans for us to check in. When we go there there was a man wearing only a towel at the front desk. HE seemed confused when we said we needed a room but finally said we coudlf ollow him. He grabbed a key and said he'd take us to teh room. WE followed him up stairs into a dark hallway. At the end of the hallway he opened a door into a room. He turned on the lights to reveal a slept in bed littered with dead bugs. Luckily, I didn't hav to look in disgust for very long before he said he woudl show us another room. This room appeared to be pretty clean (with exception to the conected outside (but private) bathroom which was pretty nasty. But it was good enough for the night.

The next day we spent walking around the city. We went to the cultural center which has a bunch of crafts and cool items. I'm already having some gift ideas. My fav. part however was when we got to play with a bunch of drummers. They played for us a bit, and then taught us a part to play along. It was great.

We spent much fo teh time after this looking for a hotel. WE finally foudn one (we bargained down 10 cedi but it was still overpriced at 35) took quick showers, and then at around 2:00 went to sleep. and pretty much slept until morning. We were pretty exhuasted but probbly didn't help our jet lag out by giving in.

Anwyay, my minuted are about to run out at teh internet cafe so I better get going. I'll be sure to try and keept his updated! Love and miss you all. =)