Across the border
Trip Start
Nov 06, 2004
1
17
25
Trip End
Apr 30, 2005
Diebougou,
Ghana
Thursday, December 9, 2004
It was just after this that I discovered my first problem - I'd blithely assumed that I would be able to change Euros into CFA, and had spent basically all of my Ghanaian Cedis, only to discover that because it was such a small border, this wasn't possible. This meant that I had to change my last remaining Cedis, giving me a grand total of about 4000 CFA (or 8 US dollars). At this point I got a bit nervous, as the next town, Diebougou, was itself pretty small, and I was a bit unclear about whether I could change any money there (although re-reading my guidebook later I discovered that I could). Compounded by the fact that it was Friday, I had the prospect of a long and moneyless weekend ahead of me.
As a result I set off as fast as my little legs could carry me, and aided by the fact that after about 20 kilometers I reached a tar road I got to Diebougou just before 1, only to discover that the bank was closed for lunch, and would open at about 3. I then bought a couple of precious beers in an attemt to cool off, and found out that there was a place for me to stay at the local autogare (French for bus station, as I found out later).
Returning to the bank at about 2:30, just in case I misunderstood the time, I sat down on a bench outside with a couple of locals to wait. A nice old gent then joined us, and promptly gave me a packet of peanuts, dismissing my suspicious question of 'Combien?' with a wave of his hand, promptly making me feel dismayed at my cynicism. Needless to say the bank finally opened at least an hour late, but I was finally able to change some money and was safe!
