Jacque Kofi photo
The art, crafts and architecture were interesting in many places, including roadside on the way to the Sirigu artists' village.
Day 5
Each day here in Bolga, we awake to ringing church bells. Today, though, I woke up before the bells and couldn't go back to sleep. I went to the restroom and heard roosters crowing, so I grabbed my MP3 player to record them to use in my music.
I decided to capture as many early morning sounds as I could. I walked around the center, observing the goats tied to stakes and recording the birds, buses, bugs, children and cars, etc. Then I heard gutteral sounds in the distance. I followed them and found four young men going through an intense martial arts workout. They finished and came over to greet me, welcoming me to Bolga. Later, they tracked me down to say goodbye and exchange information to stay in touch. Cool.
Earlier in the trip, being here felt, among many other things, a bit familiar. Like it made sense in some kind of "I've been here before" way. I'm tired, but the trip is just getting better. Awesome
Random thoughts: Our guide reminds me of my youngest brother. ... the buckets and sheets of rain that fell as we neared Bolgatanga in the van was powerful. ... How the sun could get hot real quick and force you to quickly find some shade. ... The great panoramic view of the village and farmland from atop Francisca's home. ... Hearing how much of the family history revolves around a baobab tree still alive, just yards away from Francisca's home.

Day 6 
Great day! Got up early to visit CENSUDI. Was cool. Heard some sweet music coming from one of the many roadside businesses. Didn't have time to find out if they were selling it. Dag! Went to breakfast up the street and around the corner from the visitors' center, but left early to give Auntie and CENSUDI workers a copy of my CD. On the way, Gordon appeared out of nowhere on a moped, wagging his finger and smiling as he disappeared down the road into the traffic.
Too funny!
This brother, a teacher, is like a United Nations ambassador, speaks about seven different languages/dialects so he's at home everywhere in Ghana.
On the way back from breakfast, met an interesting young businessman/vendor named Roger and his friends. He's from Bolga, but works in Accra, about 10-12 hours away to the south. He had some very insightful and positive things to say about Pan Afrikan unity for my project.
We hopped the van and hit the bumpy roads to Sirigu, too, on this day. On the road to Sirigu is this amazing display of huge baobab trees and housing complexes with beautiful art designs on the outside. Sirigu is the home of SWOPA, the Sirigu Women Organization of Pottery and Art. The women make all the artwork, including pottery, fabric, bows and paintings. The decorations on the outside wall of their center matched the mudcloth-patched design on the shirt I was wearing. Very cool.

Ellen Blalock Photo
The sky in Ghana seems so much more vast, wide open, panoramic. We could see the patch of dark clouds and lightning in the distance coming long before the heavy rains actually arrived. It was almost surreal watching it arrive.

Jacque Kofi photo

SWOPA's success brought an historic 2002 visit from fellow Ghanaian Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General, which is commemorated in this statue at the center.

Later, many of us were interviewed by a young Ghanaian woman, who is a student at Temple University in Philadelphia. We also visited some of the artists and spent time picking out kente cloth from many stacks in a building behind the main gift shop. (Below). 

Jacque Kofi photo

Some of Sirigu's artists take a photo break.

Day 7 

Today is about the midway point of the trip. Started to daydream about getting back home and into a hot bath and being able to say, "Hey! I've been to the Afrika,'' and relive the wonderful moments of this trip.
Also cool to know we had eight more days of experiences awaiting. I was talking to another traveler when the young martial artists came into the courtyard. I thought they were passing through to the other side, then realized, there is no exit behind me, they were coming to greet ME and exchange information. Cool.
Following tradition, they greeted me first, then my friend, Ellen. They were going to ask me to join them in their exercises the following morning. That was cool of them. Problem was, we were leaving that day so I couldn't do it. Dag! I was so disappointed. That would have been great. Maybe next time I return. 

And I definitely want to return.