The Ghana Coast is beautiful, but it has an ugly history. Europeans came here to trade the goods they produced for gold, spices, and other local products. But the focus shifted to slaves, and they built forts and castles to facilitate the trade. This is Cape Coast Castle - the largest fort along the Ghana Coast. Thousands of slaves passed through the Cape Coast Castle on their way to the Americas.

On a tour of the Cape Coast Castle.

Ghanaian fishermen sail by the old castle.

Just below the fort, fisherman come and go in their dugouts.

Fishing boats in Cape Coast

At the Castle Beach Restaurant, next door to the Cape Coast Castle, we had lunch, accompanied by this Rastafarian character who walked in and started playing.

This gentleman was weaving kente cloth on a Cape Coast street. He was happy to sell us a few pieces, and not to try to gouge us by demanding ridiculous prices.

Commercial Street, the main drag of Cape Coast

Catching the sunset from Fort Victoria, a partially ruined lookout just above the Mighty Victory Hotel, where we stayed for a night in Cape Coast.

Cape Coast street scene

Elmina Castle, just a few kilometers west of Cape Coast. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1482 (and later controlled by the Dutch and then the English), this is said to be the oldest structure built by Europeans in sub-Saharan African.

Elmina is quite lovely to look at. Aesthetics in the service of human trafficking.

Fort St. Jago, built on a hill to protect Elmina Castle from attack.

The Elmina fishing harbor is one of the largest on the Ghana Coast.

Elmina fishing harbor

Picasa - A busy street market in Elmina

Picasa - The fish market in Elmina

The fish market in Elmina

No, we didn't stay in the Lovers Inn, but it certainly is intriguing.