In Sider Gu Ide to Sal, C Ape Verd E
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INS MORRINHO DE ACUCAR I DER GU DER BURACONA PEDRA ESPARGOS DE LUME I DE TO PALMEIRA AMILCAR CABRAL AIRPORT BAY OF PARDA SAL, CAPE VERDE SERRA MONTE NEGRA LEAO BAY OF MURDEIRA SANTA MARIA KITE BEACH PONTA PRETA KEY Photo spot Salt pans Surfing Turtle nests Mountain Swimming Fresh fish Windsurfing Port SANTA MARIA Live music Kite surfing Fishing Sunset spot Diving Humpback whales Local crafts Lemon sharks INS couple built a holiday home in Santa Sal is one of ten islands that Life is still natural make up the Cape Verde Maria, attracted by the climate. The I Vinckyers provided accommodation for here. I feel no stress. DER GU DER archipelago, 350 miles off the visiting airline crew and their home I feel free. It’s a Cape the coast of West Africa in was later renamed Hotel Morabeza – it is Verdean feeling. still one of the most well-known hotels in the Atlantic Ocean. More and Neusa Gonçalves, Tour Guide more visitors are attracted to Santa Maria. this undiscovered gem by its GET OUT AND ABOUT I CULTURAL HERITAGE DE TO DE year round sunshine, long, The people of Sal come from a mix of Many of the locals use the Hyace, or sandy beaches and world African and European heritage, which minibus, to travel between Santa Maria class watersports. Enjoy Sal’s is reflected in their culture and customs. and Espargos – a one-way ticket is 100 famous ‘morabeza’ warm They have a strong connection to the escudos. Walking around Santa Maria, SAL, CAPE VERDE SAL, CAPE Espargos and Palmeira is the best way welcome during your stay. ocean and begin practicing water sports from a young age, particularly on the to take in the culture of Sal. You can hire beaches of Santa Maria, Ponta Preta and bicycles from Santa Maria to explore the A BIT OF HISTORY Cabeça de Salinas (also known as Kite island, and cycling and walking tours are Although Arabs and West Africans had Beach). also widely available. been aware of Sal since the 12th century, Hail taxis from the street, or your hotel the island was officially discovered DISCOVER THE REAL SAL can call you one. Journeys within Santa in 1460 by Genoese nobleman and For an island only 30km long and 12km Maria should be a maximum of 300 navigator, Antonio da Noli, probably wide, Sal holds great appeal for the escudos, and you’ll pay 600 escudos in the company of the Portuguese curious traveller. Pedra de Lume saltmine from Santa Maria to Ponta Preta or Kite explorer Diogo Gomes. Sal, or Llana is an essential starting point – discover Beach. (meaning ‘flat’), as it was originally how Sal earnt its name then float If you book a taxi tour to the South of Sal, named, remained deserted for more effortlessly in the salt lakes and enjoy be sure to agree a price with the driver than 300 years until in 1796 Manuel their revitalising properties. Viewing the before you set off, which will depend on Antonio Martins, a wealthy merchant sunset is an unforgettable experience the distance and number of stops, and living on nearby Boa Vista realised the in Sal – journey to Lion Mountain ‘Monte make sure they have a driving license. money-making potential of the Pedra Leão’, enjoy a cocktail at one of the many For more adventurous travellers, hire a de Lume saltmine. In 1834 he founded beach side bars in Santa Maria, or climb car and explore the dusty roads – be the village of Santa Maria next to a salt the dune at Ponta Preta. sure to ask for directions as some road pan, and Sal, as it became known after signs are missing. For budding photographers, take a trip to the Portuguese for salt, began to export Sugar Mound ‘Morrinho de Açúcar’ rising FLORA AND FAUNA 30,000 tonnes of salt to Brazil every year out of the desert, or watch the sun create for the next 50 years. a magical blue eye in the Buracona lava Despite its lunar scenery, Sal is rich in In 1935, Sal was chosen to host a central rock pools. biodiversity and has eleven protected Atlantic airport and in 1963 a Belgian landscapes and marine areas. In rocky places along the east coast look out for ospreys - birds of prey which use their expert vision to catch fish. Sixteen species of whales and dolphins inhabit the seas around Cape Verde and in Sal you might spot humpback whales passing the Bay of Murdeira from February to May, as well as small lemon sharks in the Bay of Parda. ENJOY THE LOCAL CRAFTS Many crafts on sale are imported from the West African coast and look quite different to Cape Verdean crafts, even though they might have ‘Cape Verde’, ‘Sal’ or ‘No Stress’ painted on them. If you want to take something home that embodies Cape Verdean culture, venture deeper into the streets of Santa Maria and Espargos for the traditional craft shops, or ask a friendly local to point you the right way. Look out for jewellery made from shells, wood and coconut carvings, and pottery – many are inspired by the turtles of Sal and make great souvenirs. You will 2 Make Holidays Greener / Insider Guide to Sal, Cape Verde INS I DER GU DER LEARN THE LOCAL LINGO! Portuguese is the official language of Cape Verde but locals on each island speak their own version of I DE TO DE Creole. Impress the locals with your Creole skills. Good Morning Bom día SAL, CAPE VERDE SAL, CAPE Good afternoon Boa tarde Good night Boa noite Goodbye Txau find wallets and handbags made from inspired by the Brazilian cocktail. Fresh Yes/No a tartan-like fabric called pano-di-terra juices made from tamarind or the fruit Sim/Não which comes from the island of Santiago. of the baobab tree ‘calabaceira’ are How are you? Or buy a salt rock from Pedra de Lume delicious. Manera, tud dret? and benefit from its rumoured protective I’m ok and you? powers in your home. PARTY LIKE A LOCAL Un ta dret, e bo? Locals start congregating in bars, cafes AND FOOD... My name is… and yours? and pubs in the centre of Santa Maria Nha nome é… e de bossa? For a true Sal delicacy, try a giant or along the beachfront from 5pm every barnacle (or craca in Creole), and don’t evening for happy hour, and there’s live Where is…? leave Cape Verde without tasting the music every night from 10pm. Listen out Ondé ké…? national dish of cachupa – a slow cooked for the soulful mornas – a Cape Verdean How much is…? stew made with corn, beans and meat or style of singing with Creole lyrics based Tonté ké…? fish. Fish and seafood are plentiful in Sal on love, patriotism and mourning. Please and many of the locals enjoy fried moray Espargos is also well known for its live Por favor / Dfavor eel and mackerel with chilli as an early music scene and some bars specialise in Excuse me evening meal. playing traditional music. Com licença You can buy fresh fish directly from the Cape Verdeans flock to Sal from the Thank you fishermen at the pier in Santa Maria, other islands to party during Carnival in Obrigado (m) / Obrigada (f) Palmeira or Pedra de Lume between February/March, and for Santa Maria’s 10.30am and 12.30pm – watching the Festival in September. Now fishing boats come in is an experience Agora or grinhassim in itself. HELP TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT Later For something sweeter, try the papaya Water is a scarce resource in Sal – the Depos or más tarde jam with local goat’s cheese, or treats rainy season is short and all water for made from coconut, peanut, sorrel and domestic use has to be desalinated, guava. using vital energy. Reusing your towels and bed linen in your hotel, rather than People love to see the changing them every day, helps save beach and the pier, water, electricity and chemicals for the boats coming in laundry. Remember to switch off lights and air conditioning units when you leave with tuna and wahoo. your room, and don’t leave the TV on Ricardo Lobo, Flight Dispatcher at Cape standby. Verde Express There are no plastic recycling facilities in Cape Verde. Do your bit for the AND DRINKS environment by using reusable shopping Complement your meal with wine and bags, reusing plastic drinks glasses, and coffee from the fertile volcanic hills of only using straws when really necessary. Fogo, and ask for grogue, a sugar cane Remember to take all your rubbish back spirit, or honey ponche as a digestive. to the hotel from the beach, including Enjoy a grogue caipirinha at sunset, cigarette butts. 3 Make Holidays Greener / Insider Guide to Sal, Cape Verde INS I DER GU DER I DE TO DE SAL, CAPE VERDE SAL, CAPE DEALING WITH TOURIST HASSLE 3. Perfect the art of haggling - some Sometimes local communities find it hard market stallholders, taxi drivers and to access tourism jobs and income, and guides will expect you to negotiate so instead find less formal ways to make on the first price they give you. money, like selling souvenirs on the Think carefully about what’s a fair streets, or by offering unofficial guided price, then spend a few minutes tours. These informal approaches can politely haggling to that price, lead to some of the best, off-the-beaten- rather than going for the lowest track experiences of your holiday - but price possible.