The Bride and Groom are now united. It was a great night and the blog post below explains the events in great detail. This post is about our journey home and the link into something that hapened earlier today. The journey back to Haatso was no where near as bad as the journey out of Accra earlier. Mind you, this evening it was gridlock. Whereas tonight's hold up was caused by several Police armed check points. Vehicles were being pulled over and people questioned. They beckoned us through the first one, but an armed police officer at the second checkpoint took an interest in the white guy. We slowed down as instructed, he clocked us and ambled past. Suddenly the colour caught his eye and he turned back towards the passenger door. He shone the light from his torch at Jeff and Tamara. He was checking them out, I thought it was a rich European thing, but as Jeff pointed out he was just checking that I was safe. It's nice to have someone on the road side that cares. Normally they just want to sell you something. "Plantain" is yelled by those selling the crisp like bags. Apples, CDs, chewing gum, whatever. If it can be sold then there is a buyer somewhere. The lanes are often packed by these road sellers. Some carrying their stuff on their head, some not. Our seller had a tie rack. An observant fellow, he realised that I was interested. Like the policeman, he missed me the first time, but maybe the colour prompted the change. He spun around and headed back. Yeah I was interested, I like a good tie. So it seems does Jeff, given the number he bought. But then again I am a Cardi and every penny or peswar counts. He swiveled the tie rack, the seller that is, not Jeff. Yeah, he had me hooked, now came the negotiation. Just like the Wedding a price had to be agreed. I wound down the window, so and so Cedis the seller shouted. I wasn't listening, I already knew what I wanted to pay. That's the problem with a negotiation, you both have to contribute. I flashed him a smile, "how much? You got to be joking". The car moved off, he ran after us. A good run, maybe not Olympic 100m standard. But fairplay, he was carrying a tie rack. The negotiation continued. We hit 3 Cedis, well he did, I had 2 cedis and 50 Peswar in my hand. Not too close to the window mind you, after the incident with the mobile phone. He held out for 3 Cedis (£1.50) and I wound up the window. Well who in their right mind would pay £1.50 for a silk tie with a HB lable? No not the sauce silly, Hugo somebody or the other. The tie rack moved swiftly to the other side and to the front of the car. Like the policeman he checked out my companions. Only this guy wasn't armed with an automatic rifle. "3 Cedis, 3 Cedis, it's a good price." Jeff went to buy it, I leant forward and handed over the money. All 3 Cedis, but you know what? It was a good price. And for the tie rack guy a good sale, Jeff bought three. I wish I had now. Oh why, oh why did I become a Cardi?
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