Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde Islands – April 19, 2018

I was not overly impressed with today’s tour.  We were told in advance that the buses might not have a/c or a PA system and ours did not but since it was a cool day and we only had 13 on the bus it was not a problem.  What the problem was is that we did not do many of the things on the itinerary.

The EXC description says that the top three reasons to book were:

1.  The Santo Domingos village arts and crafts cooperative

2.  The Cape Verdean Botanic Gardens in San Jorge dos Oragos

3.  The vibrant wholesale market of Assomada

We did not visit any of these.  When someone complained the guide told us that the arts and crafts cooperative had been closed for two months, that because of the drought there was nothing to see at the Botanic Gardens, and said the road was torn up so we couldn’t get to the wholesale market. 

Because of the drought they substituted a visit to Eco Centro (basically a plant nursery with a few animals) for the gardens.  Unfortunately, it was at the bottom of a steep cobblestone slope that some of us did not want to chance.  Most of those who attempted it said we did not miss anything.

We went to Assomoda for a bathroom stop at a bakery.  We did not see anything else in town.  The road was torn up but no idea if the market was still there or not.

The only two things that went as advertised was lunch and the visit to the former concentration camp in Tarrafal.  The camp was used by the Portuguese for opponents to the fascist regime in Portugal from 1936 through to 1974.  It was modeled on the Nazi concentration camps. 

We had lunch in a nice restaurant on the water.  The food was good.  We were told that there was a market nearby but when we walked there it had only one stall selling souvenirs and nobody was there to take money.  We then had an almost 2.5 hour drive back to the ship.  Definitely not the best tour ever.

When I got back on the ship I decided to go up to the Lido Deck and get a seat for the sail-away party.  The lure of free alcohol had many people with the same idea.  It was 4:35 and the place was packed (the party did not start until 5).  As I was finding a seat Ed came over and asked me to join them.  Ed and Cyndi were seated with John and Margaret (from the dinner table).  We had a good time talking, listening to the Station Band, watching people dance, and of course, drinking.  I was drinking rum punch but they were very weak.

After the party we all ate dinner in the Lido together.

I did not go to the show.

We gain an hour tonight and we have five days at sea before our final port.

From my deck…

Street scenes…

monkeys at Eco Centro

the steep slope (the first three buses went down - ours did not)

what the island should look like if it were not for the drought

water cistern - people bring their containers for non-potable water - they have to buy bottled water for drinking

the torn up street in Assomoda

we saw lots of used clothes for sale - our guide said that family overseas send these back to help their family survive with the high unemployment

people have carved up this hill for building materials

lots of people were seen carrying tree branches - our guide said most houses do not have gas for cooking so they have wood fires

where we ate

my lunch

the beach in front of the restaurant

the public market

and the only stall in it

Concentration camp…

the kitchen

the torture room

the medical building

each of these rooms held up to 200

the toilet

the courtyard

Sail-away party…

The Station band setting up

Mark brought out his lemur suit again

YMCA

After the party a number of people decided a swim (in their clothes) was in order

Smooth sailing until next time!