Quote of the day: “The only real happy people are those who have learned how to serve.” –Albert Schwweitzer
Journal by: Angie Drees
“Team Senchi Ferry” woke up in Cape Coast to a nice breakfast of eggs, delicious bread and coffee. It was nice to sleep in until 8:00 AM. We left at 10AM to visit the Cape Coast Castle we had heard so much about. After a short detour from the Elimina Castle, we arrived and were welcomed by our guide. He showed us to the museum where we started before the group we would join was ready to go.
The museum was very informative and I think we all came away with something new that we had learned. We had to cut our museum tour short, but were sure to go back and finish after the tour.
Our guide was excellent and really gave an amazing tour. He started us off in the men’s area, we stopped in the opening and he shared a brief introduction and history to how the castle started and how the slave trade started. We proceeded down the extremely dark and intimidating tunnel with a few flashlights and cell phones to help guide us. The group stopped in the men’s cell. A tiny little square of light peeked through a hole way above our heads. Our guide explained that many of the slaves had gone blind due to the light conditions they had for 3 months in this cell. The “unsanitary conditions” stated in the museum put it lightly for what these men and women had to endure.
Our guide proceeded to show us the tunnel and explained the church above where the Portuguese would worship, RIGHT above the men they have enslaved are being tortured. He said it best as “Heaven over Hell.” We were shown the women’s area, the torture room and the “Door of No Return”, the last place the slaves were pushed through before heading to the ships to be sold. They brought back two slaves and walked their coffins through the “Door of No Return” and have since renamed it, “The Door of Return”.
We left the castle with heavy hearts but appreciating the lesson we had learned. Certainly this was a memorable experience to help share with our students when we return home.
The team went to the restaurant next door that overlooks the Gulf of Guinea and enjoyed a pizza, some “red-red” and a club sandwich, as well as a nice “Coke Light”. J
Next, it was back to the van for our long ride home. We were welcomed back by Bless and her amazing cooking. She had chicken and rice with a delicious sauce waiting for us and the most wonderful surprise of RUNNING WATER! J
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