TRAVEL - CAPE VERDE

No longer able to book in flight meals

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:38:00 GMT

You may have noticed that since Nov.2011 you are no longer able to buy inflight meals for short haul flights from UK to Cape Verde with Thomsons/First Choice.

If you are flying out of Sal, you are able to buy some food items from the cafe bar at Sal International Airport for your return journey or you can have a meal there. However you will or may want to buy large bags of crisps or biscuits before you travel up to the airport as they currently only stock small packets of crisps and there is no other shop there that sells other snack items, small packs of crisps may only be found in the internal cafe bar after passport control. Don't forget you can't take drinks though with you. The drinks may be a bit more expensive in the inner snack bar than pre-passport control.

I am not sure if they have now provided more options at the airport on Boa Vista, they didn't have much choice when I was there in October 2011.

A visit to Senegal - Jan.2010 - by Bev Chadwick

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:05:00 GMT

Anyone who tells you that Dakar, Senegal, is not a good place to visit (maybe they put it in more frank terms than that) either needs their head tested, or their eyes opened, to the colourful, bustling, exciting, culturally diverse city that this is.

OK, it's not pretty like Santa Maria, there are not beaches to compare to ours here, it is polluted, it is very busy, there are a great deal of cars (none without dents as far as I could see), and yes, you are hassled in the streets by people who want you to buy things, but (i) they immediately leave if you say no and (ii) they are only trying to make a living in this highly competitive city.

I had to go to Dakar mainly to visit the British Embassy with my companion, and here is the story of the trip which might interest anyone who is thinking of going over.

Getting to Senegal from Sal is easy, but of course, difficult...

The Santiago experience:
You have to fly from Sal to Santiago, the capital island of Cape Verde in order to take the flight to Dakar, and in our case this involved an overnight stay in Praia. The first flight was straightforward enough, Sal to Praia, approximately 45 minutes, arriving in Praia at around 11p.m. We had previously decided to sleep at the airport for fun as the flight to Dakar the next day called for an early check-in. On arrival and viewing the customary hard airport chairs we decided to check in to Residence Hollanda on Achau, San Antonio thinking that 5 hours sleep was better than none. Which it was.

Hardly a moment had elapsed from my head hitting the pillow, the alarm sounded, my dreams of Tony my cat on the plane were disrupted as I staggered half awake into the waiting cab and arrived exactly at the appointed time of 06.10 at Praia airport.................. (empty!).......to be told, no flight to Dakar today. 'Here we go' I thought, remembering previous TACV incidents too stressful to contemplate.

On further investigation we were informed that there was a flight to DAKAR but at 11am, not 8.30a.m......... 'it was delayed'!

Thoughts of the hastily departed clean warm sheets and the included breakfast that we had not had time to eat filled my head. So did the fact that we were asked to check in at the SAL desk , and again, remembering previous TACV incidents I had visions of our luggage going back to Sal and not having our paperwork for the Embassy appointments at 8am the next day (the whole reason for our trip.)

I cheekily asked the desk official if TACV would pay for a taxi back to my warm hotel bed for 3 more hours sleep, and the aforementioned breakfast, and was told 'no' but given a voucher for breakfast which was gracefully accepted.

After managing to fill 5 hours wait at Praia airport it was time to board the plane. We encountered several 'problems' regarding visa issues/leaving the country, which do not need to be detailed here. A few tears and 60 euros later we were allowed to board, blissfully unaware of what was to happen at arrival in Dakar...........

Dakar airport experience:
The one and a half hour flight from Praia was pleasant enough and we dined handsomely on a triple-decker cheese sandwich and lumpy banana yoghurt. Dakar airport is large and official and our first human contact was a charming uniformed gentleman who waved us through all the officials to the toilet, after which we returned for customs and passport and that was where the trouble started...

For more on our trip click here: Onward and out in Dakar

Sailing from Sal Island to Sao Nicolau

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:14:00 GMT

Blog by Jean Etridge:

Well we are now back in Sal and still on a high.

Oh my God what an amazing experience.

Santa Maria pontao

From the minute we stepped on board we were made so welcome and felt so at home. Robin showed us around then we all chose our cabins and settled in. We set sail about 10am on Friday and headed up past Ponta Preta and across to Sao Nicolau.

We were all wandering around deck and trying to find our sea legs and navigate the cabins and toilet. Amazingly Robin and Mikey were running around the deck doing their work. There was a 3 to 4 meter swell which was comfortable and we all settled in nicely. At one point we could see Sal and also Sao Nicolao in the distance. The fishing lines were out all the way and we caught wahoo and tuna.

We reached Sao Nicolao around 9p.m. and it was pitch black dark with a few lights on in the small village of Carrical. Robin has never sailed into the harbour before (or to the island) so he jumped on his dinghy and shot into the bay. Five minutes later he was back assuring us we can we can sail in a little further. Once the anchor was down he set about making dinner which was fresh tuna. After a few glasses of wine we all went to our cabins.

Saturday morning and a little cloudy we all came up out of our cabins to the amazing sight of Carrical. After breakfast Robin went ashore to meet the locals who were very intrigued by their new visitors. He came back and arranged that a jeep could take us to Juncalinho and anywhere else we would like to visit. So we set off on a very bumpy dusty road to the next village. Men in the back, women in the front of course! The scenery was fantastic with locals working in the corn fields. After a really bumpy track we reached Juncalinho and of course had a beer and then off to Ribeira Brava.

The bumpy track turned into a main road which is really a cobbled road. This has been washed away in about six different places where the rivers run down from the mountains. After two hours we reached the capital and set off to explore. Unfortunately most places were closing for siesta so all us girlies sent the men off for a beer whilst we visited the local salon to get our hair washed!

So time to get back to the boat and see what Robin has made for dinner after a hair raising journey back through the mountains. Back on board we enjoyed more beers and wine while Robin made a fish dish freshly caught and a veggie curry for me.

Sunday we explored Carrical and visited the remains of the tuna factory which closed 13 years ago. The beach is a volcanic black and we were led by four little locals who sang to us along the way through the trees and up to the hills.

After Helen and Yvonne gave all the children sweets we said our goodbyes and headed off to the next bay with a lovely white sandy beach and clear waters. Here we spent a few hours snorkelling and sunbathing while Robin went to catch dinner.

Mikey & Robin

Time to make the return journey which we were told would be wet and a little rough in places. So all dressed in dry suits, wetsuits and weatherproofs we started out at 4pm. The swell was big, especially leaving the headland but Robin and Mikey werent at all bothered and Robin casually said shall I make pot of coffee!

Watching the sunset out at sea with friends is a must, it was amazing (even if it was a little rough). The flying fish going through the waves is unbelievable. After another fresh fish and pasta dish we were advised by Robin to get some sleep. We were happy to stay on deck with Maria the dog but Robin said it was going to be a long night and said that it would feel better to lie down in bed.

So once again Robin was right, once you navigated the stairs and then climbed into bed it did feel better and we got some sleep. After what seemed like a long journey we awoke to a lovely sunrise and Sal in the distance. We arrived back on the pier about 11am Monday morning.

We can all honestly say that we have really enjoyed our journey with Robin, Mikey and Maria so a big thank-you for making the trip so enjoyable. Simile is such a wonderful catamaran, it was spacious and comfortable. We will definately be booking another trip.

From Sal sailors Jean, Adrian, Linda, Peter, Helen, Steve, Yvonne & Dave.
Photos by Linda Aspden.

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Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:56:00 GMT

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