Riding in Trotros and Traffic

One of the cool experiences here in Ghana has been riding the Trotros, which, again, are large vans glorified to bus status. They are often brightly colored, kind of dirty, and usually have some kind of title which is stated on the back window in stickers. Like many of the businesses here, many boast Christian one liners, such as "Man of God", "No Jesus, No Life", or "Blessed Assurance". Other personal favorites include "Take it Easy", or the one that takes the ironic cake "Be Still."

As far as I can tell the trotros are a two man operation: the driver, and the man working the door, who yells out the destination to the people waiting at the stops, and collects the money from them once inside. A trotro can "comfortably" seat about 20, but you'll see more situated, including some hanging from the back when traffic is really busy.

Once inside, you'll find yourself squished between people, but paying significantly less then for a taxi (we pay $0.20 to go to the orphanage). If you're lucky enough to get a window seat, you'll get a better chance at a breeze, and get to observe the going-ons in the street. Our route takes us from Legon, through Medina (which has a sizable market), to Adenta, where the orphanage is located.

Each stop is musical. You hear the trotro coming to a stop, the doorman yelling out the destination, usually too fast for recognition "Adenta, Adenta, Adenta, Adenta", and various sellers who come up to the trotro trying to sell anything from water, to ice cream, to plantain chips "Ey, Co-coo...ey, co-coo", "waata....waata..." The things they sell, by the way, are usually impressively carried on the tops of their heads, and even though we've seen ladies running with them, we've yet to see something fall.

As for the streets, the main streets are paved, but wander even a bit off, and chances are you'll hit dirt roads. Pot holes are more a norm than an exception, forcing you to dance as you sway back in forth as you go on your way.

Have I mentioned traffic before? It's pretty much awful. And as for Ghanaian drivers, I am still unsure whether to label them the best drivers I've seen or the worst. There is hardly any respect for traffic laws, or lanes, and yet I haven't seen a wreck and we've been here almost for three full weeks!