Ghana

:00:00. > :00:00.Coming up at 6am, Breakfast, with Jon Kay and Sally Nugent.

:00:00. > :00:08.But first on BBC News, The Travel Show.

:00:09. > :00:10.This week, celebrating Ghana's 60th birthday.

:00:11. > :00:11.I'm drinking to the country's independence.

:00:12. > :00:27.Boxing is massive, they love it here.

:00:28. > :00:31.And meeting some of its cutest residents.

:00:32. > :01:13.I am amazed how much banana a little monkey like that can eat.

:01:14. > :01:19.I could be in any of the big, lively west African capitals,

:01:20. > :01:22.but I've come to one country that is celebrating a very

:01:23. > :01:38.NEWS REEL: The name Gold Coast passes, long live Ghana.

:01:39. > :01:41.60 years ago in 1957, the British Gold Coast broke away

:01:42. > :01:55.It was a peaceful transition, and Ghana's independence,

:01:56. > :01:57.the first to be declared in sub-Saharan Africa,

:01:58. > :02:05.inspired other states to do the same thing.

:02:06. > :02:08.Today, it is seen as a largely peaceful entry point into this

:02:09. > :02:19.The simple strife and terrorism that affects some of its neighbours

:02:20. > :02:23.And by the way, Ebola never crossed the Ghanaian border.

:02:24. > :02:32.As it plays a crucial role in the country's colonial past.

:02:33. > :02:35.This is Jamestown, and it's the first place that the British

:02:36. > :02:38.came to when they arrived here on the Gold Coast.

:02:39. > :02:41.And while relics of that time still dominate the skyline,

:02:42. > :02:46.Jamestown's managed to carve itself a little sporting niche.

:02:47. > :02:49.For some reason, these few streets have churned out champion

:02:50. > :03:07.Ghana's produced seven world champions, and most of these

:03:08. > :03:22.On Sunday evenings the streets become packed.

:03:23. > :03:24.Makeshift rings are set up and people come to

:03:25. > :03:34.What is it about Jamestown, why do you create such good boxers

:03:35. > :03:39.The main is, we have the boxers, the musicians and the dancers.

:03:40. > :03:49.This is great, but they look very young to me,

:03:50. > :04:14.Sometimes you see their parents, their parents have been

:04:15. > :04:17.Many families here see sporting glory as a quick

:04:18. > :04:32.How much does the anniversary of independence, the 60th year

:04:33. > :04:39.In Jamestown, we really like each other, people on the streets, happy.

:04:40. > :04:42.Each and every one has to enjoy themselves because it is very happy

:04:43. > :04:52.for them to see their 60 years, so everyone has to celebrate.

:04:53. > :04:54.This is Osu, it is a commercial district, and if ever

:04:55. > :04:57.you were looking for a taste that symbolises Ghana's independence

:04:58. > :05:12.It's a celebration of the independence movement

:05:13. > :05:21.and specialises in a drink that has got a unique connection to 1957.

:05:22. > :05:23.This drink is called akpeteshi, which means the almighty,

:05:24. > :05:28.It utilises cane spirit, which is in our local slang for...

:05:29. > :05:30.When the British were colonial authorities here in Ghana,

:05:31. > :05:34.prior to dependence it was outlawed, it was deemed as unfit to drink,

:05:35. > :05:48.Do you mind if I try some on its own?

:05:49. > :06:17.I can feel the heaviness of that and it is spicy! It is spicy. Do you

:06:18. > :06:26.feel this is like a symbol of gunmen independence? I believe it should be

:06:27. > :06:29.the criminalised by Ghana's president. He actually passed

:06:30. > :06:37.legislation to make the consumption of it legal. So that definitely gave

:06:38. > :06:47.the liberty to indulge in their own, content -- to consume there on. Look

:06:48. > :06:53.carefully and you can see signs of this anniversary year everywhere.

:06:54. > :06:58.Not least in the art world, which has used 1957 as a source of

:06:59. > :07:12.inspiration and reflection. This is a really powerful piece of work.

:07:13. > :07:19.This stands at the mausoleum of Gardner's independence leader and

:07:20. > :07:24.argues that Ghana is still not properly read of slavery and

:07:25. > :07:33.colonialisation. It just exists in a different form these days. The thing

:07:34. > :07:37.that really hits me is you just can't stop looking at all of their

:07:38. > :07:41.faces. They've all got individual expressions of pain and it's quite

:07:42. > :07:52.sobering, actually. Ghana was right at the centre

:07:53. > :07:56.of the slave trade until it was It's most powerful remnants lie

:07:57. > :08:01.a few hours east of here, in the old colonial capital

:08:02. > :08:04.Cape Coast, which is where I'm going next, in that most African

:08:05. > :08:09.of transport options. So this is a bit interesting,

:08:10. > :08:12.travelling in this tro tro They haven't got any

:08:13. > :08:19.regulated stops, they just In London.

:08:20. > :08:42.In the UK. Yes, the way they do

:08:43. > :08:47.it is very, very nice. A sunny and beautiful spot

:08:48. > :09:02.now, with palm trees A far cry from the traffic

:09:03. > :09:13.and chaos of Accra. And at its heart lies

:09:14. > :09:17.this imposing castle. This place looks beautiful

:09:18. > :09:20.on the outside, but inside it's got It's estimated that in total,

:09:21. > :09:31.around 11 million people were taken All along this coastline were forts,

:09:32. > :09:36.where men, women and children would be held in miserable

:09:37. > :09:38.conditions, before their dangerous Yes, the men were

:09:39. > :10:00.separated from the women. This dungeon was designed

:10:01. > :10:08.for 1,000 people. They stayed here for about

:10:09. > :10:11.three months on average. Occasionally they were let out to be

:10:12. > :10:14.fed, and also to crack stones A few years ago, during restoration

:10:15. > :10:25.works, archaeologists took up and examined some of

:10:26. > :10:29.the materials on the floor. So they left a small portion of it

:10:30. > :10:33.here, to probably tell the rest So this is made up of faeces,

:10:34. > :10:37.blood, decomposed bodies, clothes, food, vomit, sweat,

:10:38. > :10:39.urine and many materials that So this is, this is

:10:40. > :10:46.the product of human despair. Yes.

:10:47. > :10:54.And toil. And if they survived their stay

:10:55. > :10:59.in the dungeons here, then it was through the door of no

:11:00. > :11:02.return, ready for loading Between the harbour and the ship,

:11:03. > :11:11.one of them might have decided not to go, so he would just

:11:12. > :11:14.jump into the ocean, Wow - because they were

:11:15. > :11:20.all chained together. They were all chained together

:11:21. > :11:23.and they were all drowned here. Either they wanted to escape

:11:24. > :11:30.or just to commit suicide. And this is after being held

:11:31. > :11:33.captive in the dungeons? After being held captive

:11:34. > :11:35.in the dungeons for what, It's your 60th anniversary

:11:36. > :11:48.of independence. Yes, for over 400 years we have

:11:49. > :11:52.struggled in slavery. We have struggled in colonialism,

:11:53. > :11:55.we have come out as a nation stronger than before,

:11:56. > :11:58.and so we see it as an experience So people can get courage

:11:59. > :12:02.in whatever they are doing, whatever level they are,

:12:03. > :12:05.they can rise up through the ashes, use the ashes as

:12:06. > :12:07.fertilisers to grow. Words of hope from a man whose job

:12:08. > :12:20.brings him face to face with unimaginable horror

:12:21. > :12:22.on a daily basis. If he can be optimistic,

:12:23. > :12:24.there's inspiration for us all. The Travel Show, your essential

:12:25. > :12:54.guide where ever you're heading. Welcome to the slice

:12:55. > :12:57.of the show that tackles your I'm here at St Pancras station

:12:58. > :13:04.in London, where the UK's rail connection to continental

:13:05. > :13:07.Europe begins. First, an update on the new

:13:08. > :13:10.rail link in Florida. Brightline, as the express

:13:11. > :13:14.train service is known, is on schedule to connect down town

:13:15. > :13:17.Miami with Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach from the summer,

:13:18. > :13:21.with a high speed extension to Orlando International Airport

:13:22. > :13:22.following next year, cutting the journey between the two

:13:23. > :13:25.cities to just three hours, compared with the driving time

:13:26. > :13:34.on a good day of four hours. Next, Henry is travelling

:13:35. > :13:37.to the city of Cadiz in south-west Spain, but he's flying

:13:38. > :13:39.into the British possession of Gibraltar, and wants to know

:13:40. > :13:42.how to travel onward. "Can we take a rental

:13:43. > :13:44.car across the border, or is it better to cross into Spain

:13:45. > :13:48.on foot and hire a car Henry, it's a delightful journey

:13:49. > :13:53.from Gibraltar to Cadiz, which I have made many times

:13:54. > :13:56.and it's very straightforward. From the airport, simply head

:13:57. > :13:59.straight to the Spanish frontier. It's a two minute walk -

:14:00. > :14:02.just simply aim away from the rock. You will find yourself

:14:03. > :14:05.in the town of La Linea, and five minutes from the border

:14:06. > :14:13.there is a bus station. If there's no imminent

:14:14. > :14:15.departure direct to Cadiz, hop on any bus to the city

:14:16. > :14:19.of Algeciras, where you will find Iceland is the impending destination

:14:20. > :14:27.this summer for Angela, and for thousands of other

:14:28. > :14:29.travellers attracted by the proliferation

:14:30. > :14:34.of air links to Reykjavik. "Where is the best

:14:35. > :14:39.place to change money?" In Iceland, but only

:14:40. > :14:42.a little at a time. The Icelandic krona is a minority

:14:43. > :14:46.currency, and the spread - that's the difference

:14:47. > :14:48.between buying and selling rates - is wide, meaning a poor

:14:49. > :14:52.deal for travellers. So sign up for a card with no

:14:53. > :14:55.fees for overseas use, if you don't already have one,

:14:56. > :14:58.and obtain a small amount of Icelandic currency

:14:59. > :15:01.when you arrive, but rely on plastic Finally, Lynne says she likes

:15:02. > :15:08.to plan well in advance, partly to give her time

:15:09. > :15:11.to save up for her trip, but also something to look

:15:12. > :15:16.forward to, and she asks... "I want to go away this December,

:15:17. > :15:20.ideally after Christmas but in time Somewhere hot, with

:15:21. > :15:28.beautiful beaches." A Caribbean island, South Africa

:15:29. > :15:31.or India would meet those criteria, I've just checked flights

:15:32. > :15:35.from London to Barbados in the Caribbean, and travelling

:15:36. > :15:37.between Christmas and New Year for a week, the fare

:15:38. > :15:40.is already over ?1,500 So, if you want something

:15:41. > :15:49.a little closer to home, I strongly recommend Egypt

:15:50. > :15:51.for guaranteed winter sun For example, at the resort

:15:52. > :16:05.of Hurghada, you can stay for a week, all-inclusive,

:16:06. > :16:08.for around ?800 - less than $1,000 - and that includes your

:16:09. > :16:10.flight from the UK, Whether you're looking for sun

:16:11. > :16:20.or snow, I'm here to help. Just e-mail us and I will do my very

:16:21. > :16:24.best to find you an answer. From me, Simon Calder,

:16:25. > :16:28.the global guru, bye for now and see I'm travelling through Ghana

:16:29. > :16:43.on a mission to have a good nose around the country, that this

:16:44. > :16:45.year celebrates its 60th This definitely isn't the easiest

:16:46. > :16:54.of places to get round. The rainforest is not accessible

:16:55. > :16:57.and there aren't many hotels or places to stay, but what it lacks

:16:58. > :17:00.in amenities it makes up It's just, it's so beautiful out

:17:01. > :17:05.here and there's so many About four hours drive north

:17:06. > :17:17.of the second city of Kumasi lie a set of caves that I'm told show

:17:18. > :17:20.off Ghana's wildlife This is one of the hardest

:17:21. > :17:37.treks I've done. They are almost seven,

:17:38. > :18:08.eight, nine thousand. In fact, some estimates put

:18:09. > :18:19.the total number of bats inside the Buoyem caves

:18:20. > :18:21.at between 15 and 20,000. They have been shut

:18:22. > :18:24.to tourists for a few years Now these concerns are gone

:18:25. > :18:28.and the caves are open again, if you have got

:18:29. > :18:30.the stomach for them. But if you're keener on the kind

:18:31. > :18:34.of wildlife that makes you smile, rather than shriek, you want to head

:18:35. > :18:37.to the twin villages The people here have forged

:18:38. > :19:01.a unique relationship Amelia, who has lived around

:19:02. > :19:19.here for her whole life, I am amazed that how much banana

:19:20. > :19:59.a little monkey like that can eat! That monkey must have eaten

:20:00. > :20:03.at least ten bananas. The villagers here believe

:20:04. > :20:15.these monkeys are sacred. The cheeky Mona and the

:20:16. > :20:34.black-and-white Colobus, which is slightly more aloof,

:20:35. > :20:36.but with good reason. Declining numbers through habitat

:20:37. > :20:39.loss means they're currently listed There can't be many places left

:20:40. > :20:42.where you're virtually You can see the black-and-white

:20:43. > :20:46.ones up there. They will just watch us,

:20:47. > :20:55.but they won't come to us? No, they won't come

:20:56. > :20:58.to you because they are not friendly like the Mona monkey,

:20:59. > :21:01.the Mona monkey who will just come to you, but the black-and-white,

:21:02. > :21:04.they won't come, because they depend or leaves and insects,

:21:05. > :21:07.so they won't come to you. Harming either species is strictly

:21:08. > :21:15.forbidden under local law, which means these villages

:21:16. > :21:17.have become a sanctuary. In fact, the monkeys

:21:18. > :21:19.here are loved so much, that once they die,

:21:20. > :21:28.they are given a proper burial. Here the monkeys belong to the Gods,

:21:29. > :21:32.so the villagers have to stay If we harm or punish them,

:21:33. > :21:36.you have the same punishment from the Gods, so you have to stay

:21:37. > :21:39.with them peacefully, and that is why the monkeys,

:21:40. > :21:42.they are unique from other That's it for now, join

:21:43. > :22:14.us next week, when... Rajan heads for Jerusalem,

:22:15. > :22:17.to visit the place said to have been Christ's burial chamber,

:22:18. > :22:19.newly re-opened after extensive This is, for Christianity,

:22:20. > :22:27.the most important place Quite an incredible

:22:28. > :22:35.experience to be here. But in the meantime,

:22:36. > :22:38.you can keep up with us on social media, or visit our website,

:22:39. > :22:41.but for now, from me, Ade Adepitan, and all

:22:42. > :22:45.the Travel Show team here in Ghana,