Travels in Ghana [Kindle Edition]

Marie McCarthy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This travelogue was written by a former Peace Corps Volunteer who lived in Togo for two years. Eleven years later, a visit to friends in Accra in September 2009 included a road trip from one end of Ghana to another. From the capital city of Accra to the traditional painted village of Sirigu in the far north, the people, the adventures and the sights are described, as well as tourist facilities for those interested in traveling in Ghana. There are insights and explanations of Ghanaian customs, culture, cuisine and daily life.

Among the places visited are the slave castle at Elmina, the stilt village of Nzulezu, Mole National Park, Sirigu village, an unexpected find at Bolgatanga, the monkey sanctuary at Boabeng-Fiema, and the kente weaving village of Adanwomase. Also illustrated are the making of a variety of local products and crafts with photos by the author.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1291 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004C44LUK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,528 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #23 in Books > Travel > Africa > Coastal West Africa

More About the Author

Like countless others I'm passionate about travel, capturing images of my travels, and sharing stories of what I've seen and experienced. Other interests are foreign languages and intercultural studies. I like to know what the culture in the country that I visit is about. I still make cultural mistakes when I travel, but respect and a smile go a long way to repairing any faux pas I may have made.

I received a Master's Degree in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute for International Studies in 1996 and a B.A. in Economics from California State University (Sacramento).

From 1996-98 I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa. I still keep in touch with friends that I made during that time and have dreams of returning to spend more time there after I retire.

When not traveling, I live near Washington, DC.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ghana Travels, January 2, 2011

By 

Robert Downey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Travels in Ghana (Kindle Edition)

We are twice yearly missionary visitors to Ghana West Africa. Travels in Ghana recreates the sights, sounds and flavors we've experienced. Marie McCarthy also does a marvelous job of accurately describing Ghana's wonderful, warm people. The book will make you want to experience Ghana for yourself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, but a Bit Naive, January 30, 2012

By 

Douglas J. La Rose "Douglas" (San Diego, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Travels in Ghana (Kindle Edition)

"Travels in Ghana" doesn't read like a travelogue as much as a day-to-day diary of someone's passing impressions of Ghana as they quickly made there way through it. There is no overall message or goal here, just a picture of a trip. And that would all be good and great if the narrative wasn't littered with unnecessary criticisms of people's driving habits, hotel room beds, and ATM machines that don't work. The book would have been at least twice as good if all that had been left out.

All that being said, it is still an entertaining book written by a former Peace Corps volunteer from Togo. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana (and currently still live in Ghana) and I found some of the impressions to be ill-informed at best. That being said, the story is sufficient for illustrating the country to someone who has never been there or will never go there. There is definitely an observer-observed problem that makes you feel like the author created quite a wall around herself during the trip. There are very few moments where she strays from her comfort zone. Her sense of being "shocked" that her driver wouldn't wear his seat belt would be humorous to anyone who has ever spent time in Ghana.

As there are few books on traveling in Ghana, it is a welcome addition.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing and Pleasant Read, December 23, 2010

By 

Jaidis Shaw - Juniper Grove Blog (South Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Travels in Ghana (Kindle Edition)

I normally do not read many travel books, not because of my preference to them, but because I want to read so many books that books such as Travels in Ghana by Marie McCarthy are often pushed lower on my to-read list. However, once I got the time to read this particular book, it was very refreshing and a delightful read. Travels in Ghana is the re-telling of Ms. McCarthy's trip to Ghana and all the sights along the way. This book is written very much like a journal would be, and was a pleasant change from the normal books I read. There are also several pictures along the way that help you feel as though you were on the trip with Ms. McCarthy. I personally do not travel much, as I'm not big with the unfamiliar, especially in reference to travels to such places as Ghana. Though if I ever did find myself traveling, I believe I would enjoy going to a place like Ghana. Ms. McCarthy shared with us all the ups, and downs, of the trip and if you are planning on traveling to Ghana, I would definitely read this book. It prepares you for such things as food preferences, ATM usage, and tipping (even though some times it was repetitive) and I feel as though reading it from someone's personal experience is better then reading it in a mass marketed book that is strictly based on statistics. I do know that if I ever were to travel to Ghana, I would come home a much poorer woman as I can envision myself buying several souvenirs, like from the bead shops that are talked about in the book, though most women would probably feel the same way. Even if you aren't planning a trip to Ghana, this book would be a great way to learn about the variety of people the world as to offer and how the things that most people take for granted are only things that some could ever dream of.