Preamble

We are a family of three; Andrew, Jodie and Jessica (aged 18) from Tasmania, Australia who are currently serving in Douala, Cameroon, Central Africa on the M/V Africa Mercy, the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world, through Mercy Ships International. God has called us on a journey that has been many years in the making. For this season we call Africa home, as we seek to bring hope and healing to the poorest of the poor.



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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Big Day Out # 2


It was high time for another adventure in Freetown. Once again we ventured out with our good friends, the Koontz family but somebody forgot to tell us that it was another clean up day which meant that nothing was open until noon. So Peter took us on a lovely tour of Freetown that included the "tourist" areas of Abeerdeen and Lumley Beach-lots of nice, but expensive (even by our standards) restaurants and lovely beaches that we can't swim in-lol. Peter stopped by the National Stadium. Above is a photo of the outside of the pool gate that was burst open on our mass screening day and the site of carnage. It was sobering to see it from the other side and it brought back strong, disturbing memories as I recalled walking along the inside and being scared for my own safety as the crowd pushed hard against the gates. I could see all the feet under the gate and there were too many feet for the space available. Some days you will never forget...
                               

We did manage to find a supermarket, Monoprix, open and we had a bit of an excited look round before we got all depressed by the over inflated "white man" prices. Oh well. We then went to lunch at a little gem of a place called "Rooster", the Freetown version of KFC??? We had fried chicken and chips and a coke for a whopping $3.50 each! However, after driving round all morning in the hot land rover the kids were a little tired and bored-lol.


"Rooster" menu. Ten thousand Sierra Leone Leones is about $2.50 AUD.
                               

We found a coconut vendor and decided in true Aussie tradition to "give it a bash". Jessica and Andrew gave it a valiant efffort whereas I just gagged as Andrew decided to poetically descibe the taste as warm saliva just as I was about to take a swig.             


Trying the flesh. Yuck! 


You can buy just about anything on the streets in Freetown. Here we are at the Big Craft Market. We were hunted and hounded to death and almost sparked a bit of a catfight between stallholders when one lady offered below "white man" price to us. This lady was more than happy to pose for photos after we bought material from her to make Jodie a dress.


Then you can get your dress or whatever made!     


You can get coconuts.....


Fruit..........

Eskys...........
                   

I don't think I want to know what this shop sells???


Torches and lanterns.


Andrew juggling the traffic in the land rover on the way home.   


Freetown traffic!!


All in all a good day out-a real day of culture! See Jessica's class blog: www.msa4th5thgrade.blogspot.com for her thoughts on the day.
                     

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