Teepee For My Bunghole

Six hours later (most of which I slept) and I am on Boa Vista Island. I must say, this is more like it! It lives up to its name and has the harbour to the left, nice small city next to it, a small island just in front of it, some hills or mountains in the rear and a ridiculously long gorgeous stretch of beach off to the left bordered by sand dunes.

Boa Vista only has 3000 people and they’re all in this city, the rest of the island is unspoilt. Not that I’ll have much time to explore the further reaches with all the fishing we’re doing. Not that we’re catching much fish and that’s really sucks because it means we have to spend money on buying fish. Luckily, fish is cheaper on this island but is also the same price as a kilo of tomatoes or potatoes or an hour of internet (i.e. 3 Euro). 

We also managed to rent a tiny local fishing boat for quite cheap because our dinghy is too small. The first day we were here we tried to go four in it to the beach and turned around after 50 meters because the dinghy was converting into a submarine. So we went to the city, rented the boat and off we went fishing like little boys. The first time we went fishing we caught nothing and had to be towed back by fisherman because the motor died on us (we’re using our own motor).

I wasn’t too worried but realised during discussions afterwards that if the fishermen weren’t there we might have ended up adrift in the ocean discussing which body parts would be good to eat.

Anyway, the next day we were sure we knew where to go and set off into the very ocean we had to stalled in the day before. We caught very little fish (only one worth eating) and were very far out. I only realised when it took us so long to get back. Luckily the engine didn’t quit on us.

Tomorrow we try fishing off the small island in the bay. I’m starting to realise why the fishermen in the small villages are never fat – its because there’s never enough fish to feed you all the time. That’s my theory anyway and I’m sticking to it never mind all the different types of freshly caught fish in the market.

Okay, I’m still here on Sal Island. Which is okay since it gives me a chance to check out my options for when I want to leave Cape Verde (which aren’t much and mostly expensive). Also I take the taxi to Santa Maria every now and then and just go chill on the beach. Nice beach if you ignore the long stretch to the right expressly developed for tourism. It’s like this freaky movie set environment.

Sal has very little vegetation and I suppose that’s typical of these volcanic islands. It’s still beautiful though Palmeiras where the boat is anchored is kinda tiny and inductrial looking. The people in this village are good looking but in that hard life Cape Flats kinda way. They seem to be quite rough around the edges in demeanor too.

Anyway, I doing nothing much else except maybe catching no fish and learning how to ride the dinghy. It’s easy but it doesn’t help that the dinghy is tiny and takes on water and there is lots of wind. Will maybe also try diving with the bottle soon. And then…dum dum dum… it’s onto the spear gun. [Insert evil laugh here]

Yes mutherbitches I finally it made to Cape Verde. At 2 Euro an hour for internet I’m going to have to be very brief but first a note on vomiting…

Some people can do a polite spitting or mild little spew on the side, me, I don’t vomit much but when I do, I tend to go for the gut wrenching, tear-your-soul-out wretch. That’s exactly what my body decided to do just as we left Dakar behind our stern and settled down to relax. My body decided this was much better than trying to cope with wildly swaying horizon and tossing seas. I stopped the vomitting and went to lie down… for two days.

Third day and I recovered a bit and actually helped when we sighted land and had to pull into the anchorage that night. Strange how cognitively I liked the trip but my body rebelled.

Anyways, Sal Island is where I am (there are 9 islands and each one distincly different) and it’s pretty fucken cool. The vibe is more South American than African but with a unique flavour of its own. Things are actually pretty developed because of all the tourism but that also means pricey prices. As usual, I’m struggling with the currency change and sometimes dunno if I’m paying a lot or a little for items.

Yesterday, quite by chance I managed to check out the Winsurfing World Cup Final. And it was unbelievable! Let me add some exclamation marks so that you really check how great it was!!!!! I dunno how big the waves were but the windsurfboard mast is about 6 meters and the waves were higher by a meter or so. I reckon about 18 foot. The local legend, something Angula, won and he is a Legend (capital “L”). He rode the waves in huge conditions and harsh offshore wind like… like… like a bird skimming above a lake. Respec’!

Anyway, gotsta run, laters. Boa Vista island next which is less developed so expect to hear very little from me – except maybe if I catch a huge fish.