Sunday

The best West African destinations

CC™ Travel Scope 

1. Ghana

Hailed as West Africa’s golden child, Ghana is an ideal destination if you’re looking to relax, immerse in the authentic African culture and learn more about African history – no wonder it’s called ‘Africa for beginners. 

For a more exciting getaway, visit the country’s capital – Accra.  You’ll find beautiful beaches (like Labadie beach), luxury hotels and fascinating museums. Don’t forget to stop over at the marketplaces where you can shop African prints, jewellery and souvenirs.

Also read: Epic adventures in Ghana

Amaiashome Beach, Ghana

Image Source: @amaiashome on Instagram

2. Cape Verde

With an abundance of spectacular views and rich culture, Cape Verde is one of the most beautiful countries in West Africa. Located on the west coast of Africa, it’s an archipelago out in the north Atlantic, consisting of 10 islands and several islets. 

Be sure to visit the beaches, the restaurants for amazing seafood and the local market for some artefacts. A visit to the salt lake (Salinas de Pedra de Lume) is a must if you’d like to try a mud bath.

Also read: 12 Reasons to visit Cape Verde

Sal, Cape Verde

Image Source: @rivo_lution on Instagram

3. The Gambia

Despite being the smallest country in Africa, The Gambia is regarded as West Africa’s best-kept secret. Surrounded by golden beaches backed by swaying palms sprinkled with scenic lagoons, an abundance of wildlife, vibrant history and culture, it offers visitors an opportunity to get in touch with nature.

The Gambia has amazing reserves, such as Abuko National Reserve, Gambia National Park and Bijilo Forest Park, where you can see various animals and rare species of wildlife.

Gambia-Travelstart

Image Source: flikr

4. Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast is one of those undiscovered countries in West Africa – a hidden gem. It’s a country surrounded by picture-perfect palm-lined beaches, offering incredible attractions for visitors. The food in Ivory Coast is incredible. A bite of kedjenou and poulet braise will have you begging for more!

Explore the oldest park in Africa, the Comoë National Park, where you can see the lions, waterbucks, hippos and other animals frolicking in their natural habitat. It’s an ideal destination for a family vacation.

Also read: Six amazing things to do in Ivory Coast

kedjenou

Image Source: @cheffe_naomi_a on Instagram

5.  Nigeria

Dubbed as the “giant of Africa” Nigeria is one of the most beautiful countries in West Africa. Its subtropical climate, wide beaches, superb restaurants, excellent shopping malls, exciting craft markets and lively nightlife make Nigeria a year-round destination. 

Nigeria will captivate you with its rich and multicultural society. It boasts beautiful tourist spots such as Olumirin Waterfall in Erin-Ijesha, Ife Museum in Enuwa Square, the Olumo Rock, Agbokim Waterfall and plenty more. 

Also read: 10 Romantic honeymoon destinations in Nigeria

Civic Centre, Lagos

6. Senegal

Home to the Monument de la Renaissance Africaine, Senegal has come a long way in its fight for independence.The African Renaissance Monument, which was built in 2010, is a statue expressing a rebirth of Africa and commemorating Senegalese independence, so be sure to check it out. 

Like many countries in West Africa, Senegal is also famous for its food. The Senegalese glean their culinary inspiration from far and wide, combining French and North African influences with ancient local traditions. The staple dish for most families is thiéboudienne (fish and rice). You’ll find different variations around the country.

Senegalese food

Image source: 196flavours.com

7. Togo

Togo is part of the few countries in West Africa known for its white-sand beaches and perfect scenery. Its multistorey Grand Marché bazaar in Lomé (the capital) is also worth a visit, so be a tourist and do some sightseeing. Start with the Monument de l’Independance and learn about the end of the colonial rule in Togo. The national museum, the food market and the Lomé Cathedral are a must-see as well.

Lome beach

These are the best West African destinations you can visit for a nice holiday. Remember that any way you plan to spend your vacation, the most important thing is to enjoy yourself and stay safe. Don’t forget your camera at home because the memories should be documented in pictures.

travelstartblog

Friday

Two vehicle crash in Federal Way, Washington. No reported fatalities…..


CC™ Breaking News

Two vehicle crash around 10:10AM PST in Federal Way, WA involving a Tesla and a Toyota Camry. Police arrived on the scene shortly after and although there were no reported fatalities, there was significant damage to both vehicles. The accident occurred at the intersection of S336th and Pacific Highway.

Tuesday

16 Laws of Psychological Power

CC™ VideoScope

Saturday

7 best practices to keep you ahead in the workplace

CC™ Introspective - By Remi DaCosta

As a working adult, you spend more time at work than you do with your family, so it’s easy to then see your co-workers to an extent, as an extension of your family. 

Always have this in mind though; since they are colleagues, try to draw a line between normal and intimate conversations which you might regret spilling later. How professional you want to keep your relationship all depends on you. 

In order not to create problems for yourself professionally in the future, here are some things never to do with your colleagues.


1) Discussing your sex life. From experiences to escapades, it will land you in trouble if it gets to the wrong ears.

2) Telling your superior how you spent your weekend is an absolute no-go area, unless it is necessary and related to work. 

3) Gossiping about another colleague. It diminishes your integrity and credibility as a person and besides earning you negative marks on the character side of things, it ultimately does not encourage those you work with to confide in you or trust you. After all, if you would gossip about another person, they would expect you to do the same to them. Steer clear of office politics, gossip and chattercrawl altogether! 

4) Don’t form unnecessary cliques or sideline some people at work. People are really sensitive to issues like this. As the saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies even closer. 

5) Revealing big secrets to another co-worker. Talking about big mistakes you made in the past with a colleague or your superior could come back to haunt you. 

6) Be careful about whom you trust and confide in. Watch, learn, verify and document. 

7) Find at least one or two people that you can use as either references or resources from both a professional and personal standpoint, and do not pre-judge anyone until you have had the opportunity to get to know them, within reason. 

At the end of the day, always use your best judgement and understand that life continually evolves and is not determined by just one event, but a series of them. Make sure that at every turn, you are exhibiting the commensurate level of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) needed to ensure you are always at least one step ahead.

In closing, while the aforementioned steps are intended to help you navigate the slippery slopes of the work place, the best approach to staying ahead is to understand the underlying culture of your organization. That basic understanding will help you best ensure the preservation of both your (personal) brand and your career.

Wednesday

Liverpool take it on the chin again, fall apart at Anfield to Madrid after taking a 2-0 lead......


CC™ Sports

By Tom Gott 

Liverpool fell to their heaviest European home defeat on Tuesday as they were mauled 5-2 by Real Madrid at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah both scored early on to put Liverpool 2-0 up in a first half which was defined by goalkeeper errors, but Real fired back and doubles from Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema, with an Eder Militao header sandwiched in between, sealed a famous comeback for Los Blancos.

A high-intensity press from Liverpool forced a handful of errors from Real in the opening seconds and Cody Gakpo could have easily done better with a half-chance that came from one of those mistakes.

It didn't matter, however, as Nunez flicked Liverpool ahead after just three minutes, running onto Salah's cross and flexing his confidence with an audacious touch to convert past Thibaut Courtois.

Salah then struck wide ten minutes later, before Courtois handed him an absolute gift. The Belgian got his feet all wrong in possession and kneed the ball right to Salah, who could not miss.

There was nothing fortunate about Vinicius' strike soon after. The Brazilian cut inside and curled a glorious strike into the bottom corner of Alisson's net, giving Real a much-needed boost after a chaotic start to the game.

Vinicius equalized just after the half-hour mark, and this time, it was a howler from Alisson, who passed the ball right at his international teammate and could only watch on as the ricochet bounced into the back of his net.

Two minutes into the second half, Real's comeback was complete as Militao powered home a header from a Luka Modric free-kick. About as simple as they come.

Benzema was wheeling away in celebration soon after as his strike took a cruel deflection off Joe Gomez and left Alisson on his backside as it trickled into the net.

Real Madrid began to take control of proceedings and dominated possession, and they grabbed a fifth goal as Benzema sat Alisson down and picked his spot beyond three defenders into an unguarded net.

That fifth strike appeared to knock the stuffing out of proceedings, and while neither side slowed down, you could feel a sense of acceptance from both teams as Liverpool's focus switched to preserving their already-hurt reputation.

Indeed, there were just the seven goals for fans to enjoy on one of the most famous nights in the Champions League's recent history.

90min.com

Monday

"Woke" Companies Push Transgender Agenda

CC™ Opinion Monday

By Dr. James Dobson

Defying common sense, biological reality, and the beliefs of most Americans, senior leaders at companies including Mars, Inc., and Nestle USA, have gone all in on the LGBTQ agenda.

These companies are pledging to "us[e] our influence to advocate for policies that establish full equality at the federal and state levels, including swift Senate passage of the Equality Act."

What this really means is that these companies support gender mutilation of children through "gender reassignment" surgeries, believe that the religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment is inconsistent with a "progressive" America, and believe that Americans who think differently are bigots who should be silenced and expelled from society.

The question is, will conservatives and people of faith fight back? They should! Here is what Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said about this corporate posturing:

“With that much activism, who has time to sell candy? And in this heated climate, who will buy it? Considering the backlash against Coke, Delta, Major League Baseball, and Patagonia, this is an incredibly tone-deaf move for the makers of Twix, Starburst, and M&Ms. The American people have made it quite clear that they're fed up with corporations picking sides in politics. Just this week, three-quarters of the country said companies should stay out of politics, and a solid majority (64 percent) said they'd consider walking away from the ones who didn't. Obviously, that message didn't make it to Kit-Kat headquarters."

Maybe it's time that message did make it to headquarters. Stand with us—and for America—by contacting Mars, Inc. and Nestle, USA and let them know what you think about corporate activism.

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Sunday

Afro-Argentines: Black but invisible in Argentina

CC™ VideoScope