Since our arrival, a haze has enveloped Accra. We’re told it is not smog. Rather, it is the Harmattan haze caused by a trade wind from the Sahara bringing small particles of dust (< 10 microns) southward into our air. Layers of dust are deposited on Accra, covering everything. Because of the dust particles, the sun is never direct, and there are few distinct shadows.
At 6:30 this morning, I went for a run in the Harmattan haze. And the heat: the temperature was pushing 80 F. I came back after 40 minutes thoroughly drenched. While recovering, I drank a full bottle of my Sawyer filtered water. I drank two more throughout the day in a mostly-successful attempt to stay hydrated.
This evening, Mark and I obtained Vodaphone SIM cards for our phones. We’re slowly getting things in place.
—Matt
