Santiago Island, Cabo Verde, Oct 2023

1 Comment / Africa

My summer stay in Europe was over. I took a break and went to Madagascar for 2 weeks at the end of August-beginning of September, then returned to Bulgaria for 3 more weeks. From there, I traveled to Belgium and Barcelona with a side trip to Andorra. After that, it was time to start moving towards home in Colorado. Before I could get there, I had a rendezvous with my husband who finally took a few days off work. We were meeting in Praia, Cabo Verde, for a vacation together. He flew to Praia from Denver and I came from Barcelona. His flight arrived first. My husband checked into the hotel, then returned to the airport to pick me up.

Cabo Verde is a former Portuguese colony. When the Portuguese arrived in the mid-15th century, the islands were inhabited. The newly acquired territories needed a workforce and the colonists populated them with slaves from continental Africa. The slavery was abolished in 1878. Cabo Verde became an independent country in 1974, Portuguese remained the official language.

The capital city, Praia, is very hilly. Points A and B may look close on the map but the actual distance is a lot greater. Walking from A to B requires going down the steep steps, a short walk to the next hill and climbing up the steps which is not easy in Cabo Verde’s hot and humid climate.
The capital city, Praia, is very hilly. Points A and B may look close on the map but the actual distance is a lot greater. Walking from A to B requires going down the steep steps, a short walk to the next hill and climbing up the steps which is not easy in Cabo Verde’s hot and humid climate.

We stayed in a modest ordinary hotel in Praia, bought groceries at local shops swam at local beaches and took local minibuses to travel all over the island. The country is quite highly developed for Africa – excellent roads, good cars, and fast Internet. The lifestyle is typical for a hot country – nobody is in a hurry. The Cabo Verdeans are friendly, polite, and respectful.

Sitting in the minibus shoulder to shoulder. Children are on parents’ lap. No timetables. The bus leaves only when all seats are taken including folding seats in the aisle. If at least one seat is vacant, the entire bus waits for one more passenger as long as it takes for him or her to show up.
Sitting in the minibus shoulder to shoulder. Children are on parents’ lap. No timetables. The bus leaves only when all seats are taken including folding seats in the aisle. If at least one seat is vacant, the entire bus waits for one more passenger as long as it takes for him or her to show up.
The city beach in Praia
The city beach in Praia
The beach in Cidade Velha is also black volcanic sand
The beach in Cidade Velha is also black volcanic sand
The only white sand beach on Santiago Island is in Tarrafel. These big tuna fish were just pulled out from the sea.
The only white sand beach on Santiago Island is in Tarrafel. These big tuna fish were just pulled out from the sea.
This is the third thickest tree in Africa. The Kapok tree is located near Boa Entrada, its girth is almost 30 meters, the age is over 500 years.
This is the third thickest tree in Africa. The Kapok tree is located near Boa Entrada, its girth is almost 30 meters, the age is over 500 years.
In the old Portuguese fortress in Cidade Velha
In the old Portuguese fortress in Cidade Velha
Walking in Praia
Walking in Praia

My physicist-but-poet-in-soul husband wrote a small poem dedicated to our stay in Cabo Verde:

“Sleeping volcanoes and black sand beaches,

Giant trees and quaint colonial towns.

Does Cabo Verde have all of these features?

Just come here and see around.”

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