Location: Accra, Ghana

Blog Summary

My Tuesday in Accra was all about connections and momentum. Between a visa application at the Congo Embassy, a long-awaited in-person meeting with Aaron from Bern Design Lab, and catching up with the Reliant guys fresh off a BBC interview, the day was a reminder that flexibility, patience, and good people are what really keep a journey moving forward.

Location: Accra, Ghana

Blog Summary

My Monday in Accra was all about reconnecting through old travel threads, settling into a safe and welcoming place to stay, and beginning the practical work of planning visas and next destinations. Between navigating Accra’s unique traffic logic and wandering through Accra Mall and its surrounding street vendors, the city slowly started to make sense.

Location: Elmina Beach → Accra, Ghana

Blog Summary

On a slow, traffic-filled Sunday drive from Elmina to Accra, I took my time, met strangers who quickly felt like friends, picked up an unexpected travel companion, and finally arrived at the capital feeling equal parts exhausted and amazed. One of those days that reminds me why I travel this way.

Location

Elmina & Cape Coast area, Ghana

Summary

Good day, December 6th. After a comfortable night at Yes Lord Guest House, I continued west toward Accra, deciding to stretch the journey with one more overnight stop. Road construction slowed things down, but it also gave me time to stay curious and flexible. Instead of pushing on to Cape Coast, I stopped early in Elmina and checked into a beach resort that turned out to be less about swimming and more about discovery.

What I didn’t expect was to stumble into deep Dutch colonial history, a local football-watching spot, and an impromptu guided tour of working fishing boats led by a man I met over a beer. From castles and forts to pepper fish soup shared with a fishing crew, this was one of those days where saying yes led to experiences I never could have planned.

Location Ivory Coast → Ghana (road trip, border crossing day)

Good day, December 5th. This episode is about the quiet math of travel—sandwiches versus boat tours, patience versus speed, and the real cost of crossing borders. I talk through leaving Ivory Coast, navigating an unmarked and time-heavy border process, a brief run-in with border photography rules, and finally entering Ghana. Along the way, I give rides to students, conference-goers, and complete strangers who turn into guides for the night. It’s a long road day filled with slow construction, pricing lessons, unexpected generosity, and eventually finding a hidden hotel just when daylight runs out. One of those days where nothing goes exactly to plan—but everything works out.

Location

Abidjan → Assini Mafia, Côte d’Ivoire

Podcast Summary

It’s December 4th, and this is finally the day I’ve been waiting for. I walk through what I thought would be a simple Ghana visa pickup that nearly turned into another delay, thanks to equipment issues at the embassy. While waiting, I explore Abidjan one last time—checking out of my hotel, navigating the massive Treichville market, and visiting the modern St. Paul Cathedral. Just when it looked like I might be stuck until Monday, the visa came through, and I hit the road. I share my decision to take things slowly on the way to Ghana, heading instead to the coastal town of Assini Mafia, where beaches, palm trees, payment surprises, and a relaxed evening wrapped up a long but satisfying day.

Key Moments & Timestamps

00:00 – December 4th begins I open the day hoping this will finally be departure day.

01:10 – Hotel checkout and loose ends I check out, pay 5,000 CFA for the lost key, and get ready to leave Abidjan.

02:20 – Exploring the Treichville Market I visit the massive market, even finding my way to the second floor where custom suits and dresses are made.

04:00 – Anything you could possibly buy I reflect on how there’s almost nothing you can’t find in this market.

05:10 – St. Paul Cathedral I stop by the modern St. Paul Cathedral, finished in 1985, and quietly observe part of a service.

06:30 – Embassy uncertainty I arrive early for my 2:00 PM Ghana visa appointment and am told I might need to come back Monday.

07:50 – Equipment problems and patience I explain the issue with printing visa stickers and decide to wait it out.

09:20 – Meeting a fellow traveler I chat with Mary, an American-Italian traveler dealing with her own visa frustrations.

11:00 – Visa success at last The waiting pays off—my passport comes back with the Ghana visa inside.

12:10 – Leaving Abidjan I officially start heading toward Ghana, taking smaller steps rather than rushing.

13:20 – Choosing Assini Mafia I decide to spend the night in Assini Mafia, a coastal town known for its beaches.

14:40 – The drive south I describe the relaxed drive lined with coconut and palm trees—and the occasional massive pothole.

16:30 – Hotel reality check I arrive at the Jade Hotel and discover payment needs to be in cash despite online booking.

18:00 – Getting to know Assini I drive around town, take in the atmosphere, and explore a bit before nightfall.

19:30 – Evening in town I walk around after dark, enjoying the cooler air and lively streets.

20:30 – Dinner and reflection I settle for a freshly made sandwich and reflect on what turned out to be a really good day.

21:20 – Closing thoughts I wrap up the episode and look ahead to more travel tomorrow.

Location

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Podcast Summary

It’s December 3rd, and today finally feels like momentum. I talk about receiving my Togo visa electronically, submitting the Ghana visa in person, and paying for a 24-hour turnaround so I can keep moving. With a bit of free time afterward, I take an unexpected detour to a small local zoo, grab an overpriced cappuccino at Second Cup, and return once again to my now-familiar street sausage spot for dinner. I also share a small travel mishap involving a lost hotel key, reflect on the comfort of staying put a little longer, and describe the relaxed, lively nighttime atmosphere of my neighborhood in Abidjan as I prepare to move on.

Key Moments & Timestamps

00:00 – December 3rd begins I open the day by realizing I forgot to mention that I received my Togo visa yesterday.

01:15 – The Togo visa arrives I explain how the visa was emailed and WhatsApped to me and what I’ll need at the border.

02:40 – Submitting the Ghana visa I walk through going to the Ghana embassy at 12:30 and how simple the submission process was.

04:00 – Paying for speed I talk about paying 55,000 CFA (about $100) for the 24-hour turnaround and being told to pick it up tomorrow.

05:20 – Plans to head toward Accra I share my hope to leave town immediately after collecting the visa.

06:15 – An unexpected zoo visit With time to spare, I decide to visit a nearby zoo and describe how small and simple it is.

07:40 – Animals up close I talk about seeing monkeys, parrots, caimans, lions, an elephant, a camel, and even domesticated animals like donkeys, chickens, and turkeys.

09:10 – Coffee temptation at Second Cup I stop for an espresso and discover just how expensive a cappuccino can be.

10:30 – Comparing coffee prices I compare the 4,000 CFA cappuccino to the 200 CFA double espressos I’ve been getting elsewhere.

11:40 – Back to the sausage stand I return once again to the street sausage spot for dinner.

12:30 – The missing hotel key I realize my room key fell through a hole in my pocket somewhere along the way.

13:40 – Settling into Tranquil Residences I talk about enjoying my stay, meeting Francis the manager, and why it’s sometimes good to stay put.

15:00 – Nightlife in the neighborhood I describe walking around at night, the relaxed atmosphere, people eating, drinking, and watching football.

16:20 – Looking ahead I wrap up with hopes of reaching another town tomorrow and thank listeners for coming along.

Location

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Podcast Summary

It’s December 2nd, and today is all about persistence. I walk through another long day trying to complete the Ghana visa application—navigating strict file-size limits, multiple document formats, and the frustration of starting over after spotting mistakes. I also share a strange and unsettling experience with a fraudulent bank call that followed me all the way to Africa. On the lighter side, I talk about discovering a local evening food scene with barbecued chicken, fish, and sausages, as well as the vibrant culture of braiding that’s everywhere in Abidjan. I wrap up with reflections on how much more relaxed this city feels compared to other West African capitals, and look ahead to my embassy visit tomorrow.

Key Moments & Timestamps

00:00 – December 2nd begins I open the day with another attempt to finally complete the Ghana visa application.

01:10 – The 1MB document problem I explain how every upload has to be under one megabyte and how different file formats made things more complicated than expected.

02:45 – Starting over After catching typos and errors, I decide to scrap the first attempt and redo the entire application.

04:10 – Finally accepted I talk about the relief of being accepted into the system on the second try and securing a December 3rd appointment at 12:30.

05:40 – The fraudulent bank call I share a bizarre experience with a fake credit union call about fraudulent charges—and how common sense eventually kicked in.

07:20 – Scams follow you anywhere I reflect on how strange it feels to deal with U.S.-style banking scams while being in Africa.

08:30 – Local evening food scene I describe discovering where locals eat at night—barbecued chicken, fish, and especially sausages.

09:50 – A new favorite meal I talk about how good the sausage was and how I ended up going back several nights in a row.

10:50 – Wine and street seating I mention the casual seating and wine options, and how wine seems surprisingly expensive here.

11:40 – The art of braiding I reflect on how popular and impressive braids are, learning that some styles take all day to complete.

13:10 – Getting around Abidjan I compare Abidjan to Monrovia and Freetown, noting how much calmer and easier it feels.

14:20 – Looking ahead I close by looking forward to the Ghana embassy visit tomorrow and seeing what happens next.

Location

West Africa

Podcast Summary

It’s Monday, December 1st, and today’s episode is a mix of small wins, delays, and a reminder of how complicated modern travel has become. I talk about stumbling across an inexpensive street food win after passing on overpriced restaurants, then dive into the reality of trying to secure visas for Togo and Ghana. Between missing visa approvals, strict document size limits, and hours spent compressing files, progress feels slow—but it’s still progress. I reflect on how much simpler travel used to be decades ago, and how different the world feels now, even as I push forward and try to keep momentum.

Key Moments & Timestamps

00:00 – Starting the day I set the scene for Monday, December 1st, and reflect briefly on the night before.

01:10 – Passing on pricey food I talk about finding great-looking restaurants that were out of my budget—and realizing I wasn’t that hungry anyway.

02:05 – Street food win I describe discovering a street vendor cooking sausages for 1,000 CFA (less than $2) and how that was all I needed.

03:10 – Hoping for the Togo visa I explain my plan to get the Togo visa so I can move forward with the Ghana visa application.

04:20 – Ghana visa requirements I walk through the document uploads, hotel reservation, passport copies, and the strict 1MB file size limit.

05:40 – File compression frustrations I share how much time it took to figure out compressing and reformatting documents—definitely not my strong suit.

07:10 – Progress… kind of I reflect on spending hours working without being able to fully submit anything due to the missing Togo visa.

08:20 – A different world now I compare today’s electronic-heavy travel process to how much simpler things felt decades ago.

09:30 – Reality check on Ghana travel I admit that if you’re looking for an easy destination, Ghana probably isn’t it—but I’m still committed to making it happen.

10:20 – Closing thoughts I thank listeners for coming along and promise to check back in tomorrow.

Location Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire → Jacqueville Peninsula → Banco National Park

Summary: It’s Sunday, November 30th, and I take advantage of the lighter traffic to get out of the city. I drive about an hour to Jacqueville, a small coastal town that feels surprisingly remote, almost like a peninsula oasis you reach by crossing a single bridge lined with palm trees. I don’t stay long, but I get a feel for the place—small hotels, busy beach spots, people swimming, drinks by the ocean, and plenty of photo opportunities.

From there, I decide to make one more stop and head to Banco National Park. I wasn’t expecting to be able to drive into it, but after paying the entrance fee, I find myself navigating a rough, muddy path straight through dense jungle. Bamboo, thick greenery, and water-filled holes surround the road. Eventually I reach an area where people have set up small stands and even a restaurant deep inside the park. I don’t go all the way to the end, but it’s enough to understand what the park is all about—raw, overgrown jungle right in the middle of the city.

I wrap up the day heading back to the hotel and figuring out food options. Another simple but satisfying Sunday adventure.

Key Moments

• 00:00 – Sunday on the road: I talk about enjoying lighter Sunday traffic and deciding to take a coastal drive.
• 02:10 – Arrival in Jacqueville: I describe the bridge, palm trees, and how surprisingly remote the town feels.
• 04:30 – Beach life & local vibe: I share impressions of the beach spots, swimming, drinks, and taking photos.
• 07:00 – Bakeries & moving on: I note the small-town bakeries and decide not to stay too long.
• 08:30 – Entering Banco National Park: I pay the entrance fee and realize I can actually drive into the park.
• 11:00 – Driving through the jungle: I describe the rough road, mud, water holes, and dense overgrowth.
• 14:30 – Life inside the park: I reach an area with people selling food and drinks deep in the jungle.
• 17:00 – Heading back & reflections: I head back to the hotel, think about food options, and wrap up the day.