Cidade Velha, Cape Verde - Day 3 (the afternoon and evening) - The 11th of February 2013

Soon after our visit to the Emergency Centre we got back to the hotel and then walked down to Sucupira so as to get on our public transport to Cidade Velha, just in time to have our "fish stew" meal ordered in time for lunch.

We walked around the UNESCO designated Banana street up to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario, which I visit every time I travel to Praia.

We then headed back to the small restaurant by the bay where we sat having our excellent lunch and enjoying the surrounding activities, which included a "Bandeirona" procession (typically from the island of Fogo) with drum players and flags being swirled around amidst an impersonating-like theatrical performance heading the parade displaying a slave being dragged along the cobbled stone streets like in the old days.

Caldo de peixe cu modjo de San Niclau (fish stew with a São Nicolau island type of sauce).

After lunch we risked climbing up the steep hill towards the UNESCO designated Fortress of São Filipe though by the time we reached it we had to head back down for it would soon be closed, thus not allowing us to have the necessary time to visit it thoroughly and as the sun was going down, so were our "limited" possibilities of visiting the ruins of the Cathedral.

We drove back to Sucupira having then walked up to Plateau, so as to get ready for a night at "Quintal da Musica", just around the corner from our hotel to have dinner and listen to the singer Nataniel Simas and the musician Ulisses Português.

We did enjoy the evening, though we were worried with the fact that Rosa wasn't feeling too well. Nataniel's melodic voice ended up soothing her sickness, as we sat quietly listening to his mornas and coladeiras, some of which very touching. Some other singers were invited in, one of them being the "old" Daniel Rendall, a marvellous singer and musician as well.

Throughout the evening several musical styles were played to honour the guests and  as an Angolan rebita was being played I was unexpectedly invited to dance ... my initial response was hesitant, but the moment I realised the young man was Angolan and feeling how important it would be for him to express his "feelings" on the dance floor I ultimately accepted the challenge.

That was the beginning of the "official" dance floor "opening, as Wanda and I kept on being called in to dance.

Nataniel Simas (left).

Nataniel Simas and Daniel Rendall (left).

It was a rather tiring day with activities which ranged from the humanitarian through to the cultural ones ... but  certainly a day to remember for a long time ...