A Secret Summer Retreat: Cape Verde
By Shawn Wilson
I”m in love with a place that very few people have ever visited. Parts of it are barren desert, at times there’’s not a tree in sight, and it’’s a place that has been very poor for a very long time– that is, when it wasn”t completely uninhabited. And that place is the island chain of Cape Verde, which is location off of the coast of Africa.
Why do I love this relatively barren and unexplored place? Because every island is bordered in endless expanses of crystal white beaches. Also because it’’s not overrun with tourists; though it’’s becoming more and more popular, Cape Verde still feels a bit like a well-kept secret.
Thinking of planning a romantic trip with the new sweetie you met at an internet dating site? You can”t do worse than a place like Cape Verde. All you have to do is choose your island. Cape Verde is made up 10 islands, and 3 of them are considered the country’’s main islands; these are the places where visitors come to stay. And though Cape Verde is just one country, there are several different “types” of vacations to have there, whether you”re looking to party til dawn, experience the outdoors, or lay all day on the beach. Which one you have depends on which of the three main islands you stay on
Sal Island. Most of Cape Verde feels undiscovered and private. Sal Island is the exception to that rule. The most touristy of the three main islands, Sal is where you stay if you”re looking for a great party; this is where the clubs are. And though it’’s covered in utterly breathtaking beaches, the island itself isn”t the most beautiful thing you”ve ever seen. Barren and desert-y, you won”t necessarily feel much desire for a nature walk here. What you will feel a desire to do is drink, dance, party, and spend your days recovering on a sun-baked beach. The highlight of this part of Cape Verde? The beach at Santa Maria. About 5 miles long, this perfect golden beach is one of the best places in the world for water sports and snorkeling.
Santiago Island. While Sal island is the tourist center of Cape Verde, Santiago is its intellectual center. The capital city of Cape Verde, Praia, is located here, and the culture is more modern and cosmopolitan than anywhere else on the island. This is where you go if you want to combine great nightlife with sightseeing and outdoor sports. Because Santiago sees a lot more rainfall than Sal, it’’s much greener and richer to look at. It’’s also covered in mountains and valleys, with plenty of places to hike… and plenty of gorgeous beaches to rest on when you”re done.
Sao Vicente Island. If Santiago is Cape Verde’’s brain –where the government lies and the decisions are made– Sao Vicente is its heart. This island is where all of the artists and musicians of Cape Verde reside, including Cesaria Evora, The Barefoot Diva. In the city of Mindelo, you”ll find a pretty and charming town with lots of live music, a great nightlife, and tons of things to occupy your nights. But Sao Vicente is also a place of sparkling blue water and white sand beaches; for those who want to best of both, a free shuttle goes back and forth from the city to the beach.
When you think about taking a perfect beach vacation, you probably imagine Hawaii or Florida or Cancun. But if, like me, you get tired of seeing the same places again and again, Cape Verde is the perfect balance between relaxing on the beach and learning about an entirely new culture. With the winter wind rattling the windowpanes outside today, I”m feeling more than a little sad that it”ll be years before I can get back there.
About The Author
This article was written by Shawn Wilson, a member of the customer support team at Datepad, where internet dating is always free. Datepad has a massive directory of informative dating articles along with a great list of dating site reviews on their dating blog.