Capverdian Islands

460 km away of the west African coastline there are 9 habited and 9 “empty” islands, which are called the Capeverdian Islands. 450 000 Capeverdians are living on these islands and about 700 000 abroad, mostly in the USA and in Portugal.
Till 1974 the Capeverdian Islands have been a colony of Portugal. On 05th of July 1975 they got their independence.
The tourism on the Capverdian Islands is not much developed yet with an exception of the island Sal where you can find marvellous beaches. On the other islands beaches are rarely found but a mountain range is calling you for trekking tours. The bizarre mountain range of Santo Antao belongs to one of the most fascinating landscapes on this earth. The active volcano, Pico do Cano on the island of Fogo is the highest mountain of all the islands.
We did visit the island of Sal, Sao Vicente, Santo Antao, Fogo and Brava. The every day life on the Capverdian Islands is very easy going, totally different to the hectic life in civilised Europe. A ferryboat can leave in one hour time, one day, or even in one week. And the second time you ask the question “when is the ferryboat leaving?” it can happen that you get the answer: “ It did, five minutes ago”. The friendliness, helpfulness and home hosting of the inhabitants of the island is like paradise. Not only one time we got invitations for lunch or dinner just like that, and this even being in one of the poorest countries on this earth. This could be something for us, from the civilized countries, to think about!!

The Capeverdian people have a remarkable look: dark skin with blondhair or portugese features with short wrinkled hair. This remains from the last centuries, when the Portugese and sailor men that came by, hada kind of “selfservice” with the beautiful slave women.