Cape Verde. Part I. Main details

February 21–23, 2014

If you want to visit Africa, but without the typical African horrors, your list of options becomes quite short. Cape Verde is one of the nicest, safest and friendliest countries in Africa. And in the world in general.

Of course, the magnificent cobblestone mosaic allows us to unmistakably identify the country as a former Portuguese colony.

And the canned fish mosaic in the store window hints that everything is simple and unpretentious here.

For example, the power window switch on the front passenger side is always broken in taxis. The window’s openness is regulated by the taxi driver.

All the locals use these Toyota Hilux pickups, which are called “collectiv” here, to get around. The front of the canopy that extends up above the driver’s cab always has a company name on it. The name also appears on the sides. Inside, there are benches that seat eight passengers.

Children.

Holes are sometimes drilled through traffic signs to decrease the likelihood of them getting stolen for household use (like in Malawi).

A right arrow.

Gas station.

Cow.

Police.

The truck sign is exactly like the one in Portugal.

The traffic sign posts, painted the colors of the sign, are also part of the colonial heritage.

The country is blooming.

The roads are smooth.

There are trash cans everywhere.

Traffic lights.

Payphones.

The taxis are cream-colored, like in Germany or Madagascar.

Every bar has a sign on the wall reminding patrons that a book of complaints is available.

People hand-write capital A’s with a v-shaped crossbar here.

A license plate.

Many cars have “In the Hands of God” stickers.

A post box.

On the one hand, life is characterized by simplicity and poverty here—as evidenced by this fantastic concrete laundry sink.

On the other hand, there are plenty of trappings of civilization—as evidenced by the parking meters on the paved sidewalks.

Trees grow on the roadway (like in Zimbabwe) and not on the sidewalk.

And doorknobs and handles always grow at a 45-degree angle, regardless of their type.

It’s beautiful and calm here. That’s probably because Cape Verde is a group of islands in the Atlantic, like the Canaries, Madeira, Equatorial Guinea or São Tomé and Príncipe.