July 4-9: Accra Ghana

The flights with Austrian to Frankfurt and then Lufthansa to Accra were no problem despite the early start on Sunday. For once the transfer in Frankfurt was pretty good and I had time for a leisurely coffee in the lounge before it was time to board the A340 for thre flight to Accra. A daytime flight for once which made a change and also only a 2 hours backwards time shift so no jet-lag issues.
The arrival at Accra was OK - an airport that is looking a bit tired and we were bussed to the terminal as there are no airbridges. The immigration was quick and  then it was out to the humid air and my host was waiting. An easy drive into town of about 30 minutes and then the check in at the Villa Victoria Guest House; friendly people and  I was put in the Annexe which turned out to be a brand new house  on the next block. A vast palace of a place which I had all to myself until my colleague Jan Slezak arrived on Tuesday night.

This picture shows Jan standing on the front porch of "our" house

The first floor

The stair case

Jan at breakfast - furniture was a bit sparse

The weather is cloudy and humid but no rain - just very threatening skies from time to time with sunny spells in between.
The work is out at the research facility which sits in a large area of parkland about 15 minutes drive from the Villa. The drive is interesting as there is a lot of traffic and I am impressed by the high degree of courtesy that the drivers all show each other and predestrians - unlike other parts of Africa I have been in recently and certainly not like Europe!

The roads however are in a parlous state with only the main roads surfaced and then they are full of potholes which helps to keep the traffuc speeds down. There are also speed humps everywhere so the traffic scene is pretty calm.

Potholes and speedbumps together

Roadside barbershop, but he has lawnmowers outside- new meaning for a close shave?

Many of the mininbuses had semi-religious messages on them; this one says "God is in control" which could explain the driving bewtween potholes being so variable.

As always in Africa there is plenty of colour at the roadside with lots of market stalls

More potholes

Every day we drove to our work at the Nuclear Resesarch Centre along the main East-West feeder highway quaintly known locally  as "Atomic Road" and we were particularly taken with this sign for the "Atomic Road Pharamcy"

When the work was over we had a trip to the Arts and Crafts Centre downtown. This was rather sad as the area is run-down and the  "artists" are all very pushy and prices a real rip-off.

Friday evening saw us heading home to Vienna. Jan on KLM via Amsterdam and me on SN Brussels airlines , naturally via Brussels. A reasonable flight but delayed and no explanation or apology from the crew which was an indication of the indifferent service.

Brussels airport wasclean and efficient and the flight to Vienna on the HS 146 (RJ 85) was good with lots of memories of  the old days and flights out to the Indian Ocena Islands when I heard the screech of the flaps each time they deployed or retracted.