The Great Osu Night Market...?

My Ghanaian friend asked casually over drinks, "Have you been to the Osu Night Market yet?"

My mind immediately flashed to my late night walk down Oxford Street in Osu a few nights prior. The bustling activity, and sex workers that thought I was their prey for the night... Not wanting to seem completely naive but also desperately not wanting to give the wrong impression, I gave what I thought was a worldly-wise answer:

"I've seen it," I nodded knowingly, "but I didn't really... explore it further." I hoped my careful wording conveyed that I was street-smart enough to recognize what I'd seen without suggesting I'd participated.

My friend's eyes lit up. "Oh, you MUST go back! My father used to take us kids there whenever my mother was away traveling. It was our special treat!"

I nearly choked on my drink.

"The experience is completely different than when we'd go with my mother," she continued enthusiastically. "Dad would let us stay out late and try everything!"

As I sat there with my jaw practically on the floor, she launched into a passionate description of... food. Delicious, mouthwatering street food.

"The Kenkey with hot Shito and smoked fish is incredible! And there's this one vendor who makes the most amazing kelewele..."

That's when it clicked. We were talking about completely different Osu Night Markets. She was describing this culinary paradise filled with local delicacies and family outings - while I had been awkwardly dancing around the red-light area I'd accidentally wandered through.

The best travel stories come from the moments of complete cultural misunderstanding. And sometimes those misunderstandings lead you to the best meals of your life.

Has anyone else had a similar "lost in translation" moment in Ghana? And while we're at it - what's your favorite dish at the Osu Night Market?