Shama

Earlier this week I took a trip to Shama district, and visited four coastal communities about 45 minutes from Takoradi, in order to view study sites in preparation for my return to the area with surveys.  The areas were: two fishing areas in the town of Shama proper, and the villages Abuesi and Aboadze.  This visit took place on a Tuesday, the fisherman's holiday, so the canoes and smoking equipment was not in use and I was able to take a bunch of cool pictures of them.

The smallest, craziest road I've ever been on (also this was taken in torrential rain)

View from the car

Canoes!  After reading about the canoe fishing industry for so many years, seeing them in person was sort of breathtaking.  They are larger than I thought they would be!  I saw a few people making canoes but was unable to get a picture. 

Beach.  The lines you see are how the canoes are tied up. 

Poverty.  Many of the houses in the fishing community looked like this. 

Fort San Sebastian, where African slaves were held before being shipped to the Americas.  A sobering sight. 

Racks used to smoke fish

Inside of an indoor fish smoking unit

I love this picture

Outdoor smoking ovens - more susceptible to not being able to be used during the rain, which visited us in torrents at the end of our visit.  They are not in use today because, since no fish are landed on a Tuesday, no fish are processed that day. 

Trash: the beach was littered with it.  Sad. 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures, dear reader!