Cape Verdes

After a 6 day downwind passage we have arrived at the Cape Verdes Archipelago. Our first island ‘Sal’ emerged from a mist of fine Sahara sand, carried by the notorious Harmattan winds, when we were just a couple of miles off. We continued from Sal westward and called upon much greener Sao Nicolau, and sailed past the much smaller, rocky and uninhabited islands Raso, Branco and Santa Lucia, to the capital of Sao Vicente; Mindelo. From a well run and efficient marina we have ventured into town, to experience a little bit of Africa. Streets are lined with colorfully dressed ladies, selling homegrown exotic vegetables and fruits. At the bustling fish market huge fish are being de-scaled with perforated recycled tuna tins, progress eagerly followed by a score of skinny cats. Beautifully dilapidated colonial style buildings face the boulevard where men play cards in the shade of some exotic trees. An overwhelming amount of impressions, which we can digest slowly during our upcoming two week Atlantic crossing.