Even in a popular tourist destination like Turkey, you will find uninhabited areas where only small gravel roads lead…

Thunderstorms In Bodrum: Was Our Beach Holiday At Risk?

After our road trip through Cappadocia, we wanted to explore the beautiful coastal region, which would give us a couple of more sun-days before autumn really hit Austria. After a short pit-stop (which turned into a night stop) in Pamukkale, Bodrum was our goal destination. For the last 50 kilometres, a really (!) dark cloud kept following us – this meant nothing good for sure. And this is how it came: That night, Bodrum was hit with the worst thunderstorms of the past 50 years. Three hours of stop-and-go traffic gave us the rest. We ended up at the hotel completely soaked from tip to toe. One thing was sure: our beach holiday would not start here. So we continued our trip the next morning with Dalyan as our final stop before heading back to Antalya.

Pine Woods And Small Bays Along A Picturesque Coast.

The drive along the coast would quickly let us forget the bad weather. The further we drove, the more sun-rays we got. This made us stop frequently in between for short swimming breaks. The water along the southern Turkish coast is crystal clear and super clean (even when you’re at more densely populated areas), which makes swimming here absolutely beautiful. Just before we got to Akyaka, we came across a small bay, which was perfect for the afternoon sun. We decided to spend the night in Akyaka so that we could also enjoy the morning sun here before hitting the road again.

The water along the southern coast of Turkey is crystal clear and perfect for a beautiful beach holiday.

You will come across many small bays along the coastal road of southern Turkey.

Dalyan: Lycian Tombs And An (Almost) Endless Beach.

You won’t believe how strong the sun actually is down here at the end of September. To avoid getting completely burnt, we continued our trip after a few hours. After all, we still had a long way to go. Up to this point, the beaches were nice, but pebbles to get annoying as well. Thanks to Google Earth, we had our eyes set on Iztuzu Beach near Dalyan.

It takes about 15 minutes to get to Iztuzu Beach from the city centre of Dalyan by car. For sports enthusiasts, you can also rent bicycles to get there. Although more people come to this beach, they spread out on the three kilometres pretty nicely and you can be all by yourself if that’s what you’re in to. Apart from Iztuzu Beach, we were also interested in the surrounding area of course. Especially a building that could be seen from the distance, that seemed to be the highest point of the region.

The way up there was quite easy to find and we were rewarded with an amazing view of the area. And not only that: we came across an even more remote and beautiful sand bay where we would spend the next hours. You can only reach this beach by boat or if you decided to take a leap down the steep gravel road.

Dalyan offers beached, but also other interesting highlight. For example impressive Lycian tombs carved into the cliffs, seen right from the river promenade or the several waterways that can be explored by boat.

The view of Dalyan and Iztuzu beach was pretty impressive.

The lagoon around Dalyan offers beautiful sceneries.

Above the river’s sheer cliffs in Dalyan are the façades of Lycian tombs cut from rock.

The sand beaches near Dalyan where a great change to the gravel beaches along the way.

Resume Of Our Adventurous Turkey Trip.

After 2.452 kilometres across Turkey, we collected lots of great impressions. But the especially the marvellous coast along isolated gravel roads fascinated us. Here you will come across several remote villages, beaches and forests that make a trip down here well worth it!

Longing For Sun-Rays.

Springtime, longing for sun-rays and a long weekend at the beginning of May meant that we needed to fly somewhere South. Trapani in Sicily made the cut.

Unless you fly with a European budget airline, getting to Sicily from Vienna is impossible without a stop-over in Rome. But since Bratislava is less than an hour away from our capital city, we booked a Ryan Air flight from here directly to Trapani. Less than two hours after take off, we landed smoothly on the west coast of Sicily.

Ciao Regione Siciliana.

A short walk around the area after checking into the apartment and a glass of red wine at one of the open bars brought the real holiday feeling, which was exactly what we were after.

Trapani begins where the sea ends. The city is an important fishing port, being set on a low peninsula stretching in an arc. The fish market is one of the top spots in the city and the place where the people of Trapani meet every morning. You’ll find all sorts of fresh fish here, from tuna (the largest tuna fishery in Sicily is here), swordfish, shrimps, sardines, squids to other sea creatures. Since we had an apartment with a nice kitchen, it was clear that one of these fresh fish would land on our dinner plate. You really can’t visit Trapani without trying the local cuisine. It’s influenced by Trapani’s role as a marine town, therefore menus are dominated by fish, especially recipes including tuna, which is prepared in many different ways: fried, grilled, baked, boiled or used in the preparation for sauces.

Gateway to the Aegadian Islands.

Apart from the salt and fish production, Trapani is also the main gateway to the nearby Aegadian Islands. We took the Hydrofoil to Favignana, the largest of three islands. This fairly easy access hasn’t spoiled the island (yet), because it’s a pretty low-key destination. Visitors are mostly Italians.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with the lovely smell of flowers. The entire vegetation was blooming this time of the year and the scent of lavender, thyme and many other flowers will accompany you throughout your stay here.

Travellers who come here are happy to fit in with the leisurely island way of life. Simply rent a scooter and you’re good to go. Small bars and typical Italian restaurants are the perfect spot to stop by after a long day out in the sun. One of the charms of this island is that it has never been populated with villas, nor frequented by high society, so compared to the crowded tourist island of Capri for example, Favignana has a refreshing simple authenticity.

Locking the harbour where Peter III of Aragon landed in 1282, Trapani still gives the impression of simple Sicilian authenticity. .

When walking along the Admiral Stati in Trapani, you will notice the ancient castle “Castello della Colombaia”. Hannibal’s father, built the tower around 260 B.C. called “Peliade” at the same spot where the castle lies today.

The fish at Trapani’s fish market is as fresh as you can get it. We highly enjoyed watching the locals barter for their fish and visit with each other during this morning ritual.

The real action happens at around 5.00am in the morning when the fisherman come in with their catch, while most of the locals go and do their shopping after 8.00am.

The fish market in Trapani has all kinds of shellfish and other sea creatures besides just fish.

Trapani’s fish market is colourful and noisy and a great possibility to get to know a bit of Trapani’s daily life. You will get to see some really bizarre fish – and also human – examples.

Favignana is a great place to absorb the islands idyllic atmosphere.

Even though life on the island of Favignana, the younger generation knows how to have fun – here in a cute little Piaggio.

Cala Rossa beach on Favignana island lies a pretty bay with turquoise sea and is one of the most visited beaches of the island.

It’s quite a scramble to get down the rocks of Cala Rossa beach, but determined holiday-makers don’t this obstacle keep them from it.

My trip began in Auckland, and I continued to the Coromandel Peninsular, Hobbiton, further onwards to the Tongariro National Park, and finally reached Wellington. But before I got to the capital city, I had two days along the coast on Cape Palliser.

A ferryman and his hotel.

Lake Ferry is a sleepy little village that sits next to Lake Onoke. Following a drowning back in 1850, a ferry service was established across the lake. The ferryman needed accommodation and so he opened the Lake Ferry Hotel in 1851. This is where I would stay the next 48 hours.

Driving down to the hotel already gave me a good impression on what I would get the next two days: Peace and quite. Zero tourists, very few locals and no sounds other than the wind & ocean. Lake Ferry mostly consists of holiday homes and only a few permanent residents, therefore don’t expect a lot of action here.

Sheep, a scenic ocean road and a lighthouse.

Before reaching the coastal road, you drive through an amazing field landscape, with sheep as the only living thing in sight. European settlers brought sheep and cattle into this area in 1844. After about 20 minutes of driving, you’ll reach the winding road along the coast. It’s truly a ridiculously scenic drive with steep cliffs on one side and an endless ocean with black-sand beaches on the other.

Fields decorate the landscape along the road down to the coast on Cape Palliser, New Zealand.

You won’t find many people on Cape Palliser; instead, the fields are full of sheep along the road to the southernmost area of the North Island.

The dramatic weather scene along the coastal road on Cape Palliser was a great photo opportunity.

As a solo traveller through New Zealand, you can really feel ‘alone’ from time to time. Cape Palliser was definitely one of the loneliest places I have to.

I got the most amazing impressions and was overwhelmed with the atmosphere of the area. Therefore I was ready to drive down even further, all the way to the famous lighthouse I read about many months before.

Cape Palliser lighthouse – the southernmost point of the North Island – would test my fitness. To reach the candy-striped lighthouse, you must climb up the 254 (very steep) steps. Being up at the top, you really get the feeling of pure remoteness, combined with stunning views that extend all they way to the South Island on a clear day. But not only the the landscape was unreal; at one point the power of the wind was so strong, I was unable to stand up straight.

Cape Palliser lighthouse was the reason I came to this area in the first place, and it made every minute being there worthwhile. The most photogenic lighthouse in New Zealand was a true highlight!

The ocean road along the coast of Cape Palliser is dramatically scenic. It was one of the most impressive drives during my trip through New Zealand.

Cape Palliser Lighthouse; the southernmost point of the North Island – it’s in fact considerably further south than Nelson or Blenheim in the South Island – and one of the most remote places in New Zealand.

It’s hard to convey the feeling I had up at Cape Palliser lighthouse. Happy and content would describe it best … and I’m sure that the atmosphere was a great factor for this.

While driving along Cape Palliser road, you will come across wonderful creatures along the rocks just off the side of the road.

On your way to or from the Cape Palliser lighthouse, you must keep your eyes open for the nearby seal colony.

It’s easy to see why this area of ocean was known for seafaring disasters. This storm came quicker than I had hoped for and the ocean turned into a ravaging element.

When I saw a storm approaching, I quickly packed up my camera gear and headed back down the stairs. The Putangirua Pinnacles had to wait until the next morning, because just as I reached the Lake Ferry hotel, it started pouring cats and dogs…

Just before flying across the Tasman Sea, I spent two weeks in and around Sydney, which pretty much meant “beach, more beach, and even more beach”. This would give me the rest that would be needed before completing treks like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Milford Track or Rangitata Valley trip.

But, before I started my hiking adventures across New Zealand, Cathedral Cove (also known as Te Whanganui-A-Hei) was on my agenda – yes, I saw the movie Narnia. That large pinnacle that looked like the sail from a boat made quite the impression on me. So after two days in Auckland, I drove off to the Coromandel Peninsula.

I passed the beautiful Hot Water beach before arriving at the car park near Hahei beach. From there it was a nice walk down to the Cove. It took me 40 minutes, but I was pretty fast since I needed to continue to Matamata on the same day. It usually takes about 1 – 1 1/2 hours. The walk itself is nice and should be enjoyed, but due to heaps of people, I’d rather recommend to just get down to the Cove. Here you won’t be alone, since Cathedral Cove is one of the most visited places in the area. Yet is was still a real highlight and if I return there (which I will for sure), I’ll give myself more time to explore the region even more…

The striking rock is known as ‘Te Hoho’. It’s a large pinnacle at Cathedral Cove. Over centuries this has been sculpted by wind and water.

From Hahei Beach you can walk to Cathedral Cove, where a naturally formed archway are a real eye-catcher.

The famous Cathedral Cove. The cathedral-like arch makes quite an impression…

Cathedral Cove is one of the most picturesque spots on the Coromandel Peninsula.

A one-hour walking track leads through forest along the cliff top and then descends to the Cove.

Coogee to Bondi Beach.

Since my aunt and cousin live very close to Coogee beach, I started from here at around 6.00am (yup, I was still a bit jet-lagged). From there it was just a short walk towards Clovelly beach. I passed Waverley cemetery – also well worth a visit – and then continued towards Bronte beach. Pretty steep stairs will lead you down to one of my favourite Sydney beaches where I spent at least 30 minutes taking photos and watching the surfers near the rock pool (it was a pretty rough day, which made watching even more exiting).

Then I walked up the stairs on the other end of the beach to continue to Tamarama beach, which is right around the corner. It was early in the morning but there was quite a lot of action happening town there because someone had drowned just minutes before I arrived. Yes, Bronte and Tamarama have super strong currents and unfortunately quite a few people drown here each year my aunt told me. Mostly they’re tourist who misinterpret the currents and waves.

Heading towards Bondi beach, I passed by Mackenzie’s Point beach, which is only accessible at low tide and not recommended for swimming – but surfers love catching a wave here. The walk then ended at the iconic Bondi Icebergs, just above the Bondi Baths at the southern end of the beach. Personally, I don’t know what all the Bondi beach fuss is all about, but tourist tend to love this beach the most…

Then I just sat down on a park bench, let the sun shine upon my face and simply enjoyed beautiful Sydney…

Don’t Miss This.

• Each year in spring, a section of this amazing coastal walk is transformed into a seaside art gallery known as Sculpture by the Sea. Don’t miss this spectacular show which is really unique.

The Sydney Coastal Walk is a highlight not only for tourist. Local walkers and runners use it on a daily basis and also as a reminder of how lucky they are to live in such a wonderful city!

The ocean pool at Icebergs next to Bondi Beach has been a swimming institution for over 100 years.

Not a bad place to do some yoga, right next to Bondi Beach.

Surfers and Sydney go hand in hand. Sydney as many legendary surf breaks, including Bronte and Tamarama, yet these waves are nothing for beginners.

Bronte Beach is a small but popular recreational beach on Nelson Bay in Bronte in the eastern suburbs of Sydney and one of my personal favourite beaches.

Whether you want to do some yoga, catch a few waves, swim in one of the many ocean pools, work out a little, or simply lie in the sun, the beaches in Sydney are the best to do so.

Bronte beach lies between Coogee and Bondi beach. A paved coastal footpath along the rocky clifftops connect them and are much frequented by tourists, local runners and walkers.

Waverley Cemetery is noted for its largely intact Victorian and Edwardian monuments and it contains the graves of many significant Australians.

If you want to surf at one of the beaches of the Easters Suburbs, you need to be patient. The simple pleasure gained from one good turn, a cover up, or the chance to meditate upon the day, belies the stark reality of crowded line-ups, localism, injuries, and competition for waves.

The daily newspaper was the decisive factor: The front page showed a photo with the line “Antique boat washed up on Kuakata beach”. This definitely sounded interesting but we had absolutely no idea where Kuakata was. A local friend quickly enlightened us … Kuakata was the southernmost tip of Bangladesh, where all the rivers flow into the ocean. We didn’t hesitate a second and went straight to the harbor. With our friend’s help, we managed to book ourselves into a nice cabin on one of the launches for the same evening.

Getting there.

River travelling is a very relaxing way of travelling because there’s no real danger like with the buses. We arrived in Barisal early in the morning and from there we had to continue with the bus to Kuakata. The trip took a couple of hours, because rivers also needed to be crossed by ferry, so there was a lot of waiting time involved. Anyway, the road to Kuakata was in a bad stage, but the government is working on it and things should get better soon. The positive side of such roads is that the bus drives can’t hit the speed pedal as much.

Arriving in Kuakata.

Every journey comes to an end after a while and when the the bus driver stopped in front of a hotel and said “Kuakata”, we got out … but there was no beach in sight. After walking around a little, some guy told us that the beach was still another kilometer away. After getting there, we checked into the “Seabreeze” hotel. It wasn’t a real flashy place, but the room on the first floor  was huge, with windows into all directions and a big terrace facing the ocean. All that for just 5oo Takas (around 5 €)!

The terrace was great for lying in the sun a little bit. It’s absolutely uncommon for women in Bangladesh to wear swimsuits on the beach and since we already got enough attention by just being there, we figured that this wasn’t turning into a typical beach vacation. But there were other things for us … for example the antique boat.

The beach.

Getting around Kuakata is really easy. Once simply needs to hire a motorcycle with a driver. This is exactly what we did and made our way along the beach. We first drove down to “Crab Beach” where thousands of red crabs (gecarcoidea natalis – a species only found on the Christmas island as well) ran around. After this, we finally came across the new found antique boat.

Also something you’ll see along the beach front are lots of destroyed buildings. When Cyclone Sidr hit the coast hard in 2007, half of the Sundarban nature was badly damaged and many lives were lost, but the strong Bangladeshi people made the infrastructure work again. Since then, disaster shelters have been built in case such a tragedy occurs again.

Kuakata itself is a very interesting town, but more about this in another article…

Departure from Sadarghat harbour in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Playing kids at Kuakata beach in Bangladesh.

A group of people at Kuakta beach, Bangladesh.

Fishermen at Kuakata beach, Bangladesh.

Red crab on the beach in Kuakata, Bangladesh.

Antique boat washed up on Kuakata beach, Bangladesh.

Producing fishing nets by hand in Kuakata, Bangladesh.

The only ones lying on beach chairs in Kuakata were goats…

Fishermen on the beach in Kuakata, Bangladesh.

Palm trees on the beach in Kuakata, Bangladesh.

A destroyed building from the cyclone in Kuakata, Bangladesh.

Mozambique had a civil war going on for many years (starting back in 1977) and still isn’t back to square one and this can make things a bit tricky. With only about 2 weeks on our hands, we couldn’t afford to take up too many challenges, like for example going overland for long distances, therefore – after flying into Johannesburg in South Africa – we took a plane to Vilanculos, which is a town right in front of the beautiful Bazaruto Archipelago.

Where to stay:

• The resorts on this archipelago were out of question, because they were simply too expensive and a bit too much out of the local action. And also, only a beach near by is not enough for our taste because we love to look above the blade’s edge. So we decided to stay “Aguia Negra” – which was a fantastic choice.

Aguia Negra hotel in Vilanculos, Mozambique.

At the adjoining diving facility, we booked trips out to the various islands. It’s not a long trip but of course you still need a boat … The scuba diving there is truly fantastic! The area is well-known for whale sharks and we were lucky enough to see one as well. After returning from the underwater world, we settled on the sandy beach for a while. It didn’t take long and some locals walked by. It turned out, that one of the resorts was not too far away and the locals used this stretch of the beach as “station”. They simply waited until a fishing boat spotted them and picked them up to sail back to the mainland.

The beach in front of our hotel was always sort of busy; whenever you walked down there, some fishing activity went on – which wasn’t a bad thing btw. Some really huge fish or lobsters were carried past us and one day a group of men came running towards the beach spot. It was the local running club, maybe exercising for a place in the Olympic team ;) These guys are really tough because it had about 40° Celsius in the shade.

Men running on the beach near Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Vilanculos itself is a sleepy coastal town which is a bit stretched out and with more or less non-existing public transport – one is confined to walk the area. The center is small, with a market, a pharmacy, a few shops and a bus station where minibuses depart to other villages.

One thing to be a bit cautious about are drunks or druggies, who wander around the area. During the daytime it didn’t bother us at all but going out at night would not be advisable … we really felt some sort of weird tensions and were told to rather not walk alone as soon as the sun went down. But other than that, our vacation in Mozambique was more than relaxing with great food, scuba diving and fantastic beaches.

Ladies walking along Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Fishermen near Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Fisherman around Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Waiting for the next ferry off Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Sailing boats near Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Fisherman on the beach near Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Fishermen at sea near Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Sailing along Bazaruto Island in Mozambique.

Mountains In Sumatra.

Gunung Kerinci is an active volcano and with 3.805 meters it’s also the highest mountain yet still (more or less) easy accessible. With the occasional eruptions, the walk through the rainforest is incredible because the flora there is so rich and beautiful.

National Parks In Sumatra.

Gunung Leuser National Park is still a true virgin rainforest – thanks to the difficult terrain. The park is a world heritage site since 2004 and a great choice for trekking or watching the wildlife. Bukit Lawang was the most famous Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, which adjacent to Gunung Leuser National Park, but since a torrential flash flood swept through the valley in 2003 (a few tourists and about 250 locals died & the entire village was destroyed) the Orang Utan (translates: Orang = person, Utan = forest) Center was relocated to Bukit Tigah Puluh National Park. This park is about 200 km East of Padang, where you can even see the rare Sumatran Tiger. This National Park is not so well known and a good way away from the beaten path so therefore everything is much more authentic and a bit more difficult to access. Unfortunately Sumatra is not spared from deforestation (of course). It is threatening the entire area around these wonderful National Parks. The land is cleared for planting oil palms (elaeis guinneensis) and teak.

Lakes In Sumatra.

Sumatra also offers you some really beautiful lakes: the most famous one is Danau (= lake) Toba with a very large island in the middle. Lots of guest-houses wait for exhausted travellers and it’s a a really nice area to rest for a couple of days. We visited Danau Singkarak on our last trip to Sumatra. We drove around by motorbike along the rice paddies – it was an easy ride yet we still got to see some wonderful impressions. For example we drive through a couple of villages where thousands of fish were dried along the road (I guess these lakes still contain a lot of fish).

Culture In Sumatra.

Sumatra is rich in culture and tribal heritage. People still use local methods for all kind of their daily routine. For example: to make yoghurt you simply need fresh bamboo, cut it in pieces and fill it up with fresh cow milk. Let it stand for a couple of hours (in the warm climate) and you get the best yoghurt. It was the best one we’ve eaten throughout our southeast Asia trip! Milk products are one of the few things that we really miss during our travels, so this is a good recipe.

Beaches In Sumatra.

And then of course there are the beaches … lots of wonderful tropical beaches. We’ve seen many many amazing beaches during our years of travelling but Sumatra’s coast (plus the Mentawai Islands) truly is one of the best places for a beach adventure – without breaking your budget. The surf is abundant and one of the best surf spots in the world (Nias) can be found on these islands.

You should be a bit adventurous, flexible and curious to explore this part of the world because it is still not an area for a package tourist. Get in touch with us for further information and travel tips :)

Here Are Some Impression Of Sumatra:

Sumatra has thick virgin forests, lush vegetation, rice fields, mountain streams, rivers, waterfalls and sandy beaches.

Island hopping in Sumatra is a great way to explore the wonderful tropical beaches.

Striking evidence of the earthquake remains in the city of Padang in spots like Pasar Raya, the central market, a massive hulk of collapsed concrete around which vendors have set up hundreds of makeshift shops.

Fish is a staple food across the entire country. Fresh tuna can be bought at almost every local market in Sumatra.

Bemos are the local taxi’s all over Indonesia with Padang as a major hub.

And old abandoned typical house “Sumatra Style”.

Jembatan Akar is Indonesia’s Living Root Bridge. Located over the Batang Bayang river in West Sumatra, Indonesia, a bridge made of living tree roots connects two villages.

Fishermen in their typical fishing boat off the coast of Sumatra.

A woman glances up while working in a rice field in Sumatra.

Fishermen pulling in a catch at Bungus beach in Sumatra.

Padang Kitchen is the best cuisine in the world. You’re served several different dishes on small plates. Only what you eat has to be paid.

A sad-looking Orang Utan in the zoo of Bukittinggi in Sumatra. Stop animal captivity!

Wrecked tanker ship off the coast of Padang in Sumatra.

The people in Sumatra (and actually all over Indonesia) are friendly and welcoming.

The next day looked bright & clear and we were ready to hit the town to check out our driving options for out trip West. We decided on the bus to Takoradi; cheap, easy, reliable on a newly built road. No problem.
But before we left Accra, we of course had to visit the markets, so we hired a taxi for the day. A lot of things were on display and the more unusual stuff caught our attention immediately. For example snails, huge snails! We were told that they are a delicacy in Ghana. We refused politely, and the market woman didn’t mind that we took pictures of her merchandise.

Edible snails at a market in Accra, Ghana.

A market woman selling oranges in Accra, Ghana.

Market life in Accra, Ghana.

A pleasant accurate bus ride brought us to Takoradi, from there we continued by taxi to Busua. On the way you will see many people selling bush meat along the road. You mostly see squirrel or duikers and even monkeys are sold for the upcoming dinner table.

We simply wanted to go to the beach so as soon as we arrived at Busua Inn (run by a French couple) we hit the beach. The couple btw has another lodge about 20 km away in Ezile Bay on a beautiful unspoilt beach, with solar power and a few cabins. So this place was going to be our destination for our Easter Holidays.

The beach was really beautiful with white sand, blue water and a little village nearby. The village Akwiida has a little market, where you can get everything for your basic needs. You could go fishing, or if you’re not the sea-kind of person, fresh fish is available everywhere. The locals wrap it into banana leaves and grill it on the beach. Yummy!

A wonderful beach near Takoradi, Ghana.

Kids playing on Takoradi beach, Ghana.

Group picture on Takoradi beach, Ghana.

Walking along the long stretch of beach gave us an idea on daily life in Ghana, which was really nice. All in all it was a great two week trip down to the Black Continent.

Tip:

If you take a taxi back to Accra, stop along the way to visit Elmina castle. Dating back to 1492 it was built by the Portuguese and it has a very diverse past. Nowadays it’s a tourist attraction and a completely renovated fort along the Gold Coast of Ghana. The famous German director Werner Herzog used Elmina as location for his movie “Cobra Verde” and President Obama visited Cape Coast Castle during his visit to Ghana, which is just a few kilometers away from Elmina castle .

Elmina Castle in Ghana, Africa.

Inside Elmina Castle in Ghana, Africa.

The fishing boats near Elmina Castle in Ghana.