Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde (first day - morning cont.) - The handing out of the presents - The 24th of March 2016

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Noëlle and I having spread most of the presents filled up two bags with those we would be able to hand out to the Landim family up hill, where we were expected for lunch. 

Sonia, having felt slightly dizzy managed somehow to follow us  along the rather steep path heading towards the bay. Everytime I look at the odd construction that delimits the area, which his immigrant owner must feel is particularly beautiful, I feel sad because it definitely spoils the overall architectural atmosphere of Calheta.


Just before having reached the fishing port area we met Viviane (on the left) and Veronica Conceição (right) in their High School uniforms heading back home.

We came across Dina and her baby Dayane, whom I handed the first present to before having knocked at Sandra's  for Noëlle to say hello, once she has been helping her daughter. We ended up meeting her and her mother but soon found out that Erica wouldn't be back but late in the afternoon, which left Noëlle a lot more anxious.

We stopped twice on the way up hill. Upon having reached the Landin's we started  distributing the presents to Leidina (the youngest child of the family) who always walks around as if she were a model  as she wears the new clothes whenever her "godmother" Carla Oliveira sends them to her.

It was Leinira's turn afterwards and as she let herself be photographed with the things I had bought for her, I realised she was particularly enthusiastic with the new silk dress.

Lou chose to let herself be photographed wearing one of the colourful blouses her "godmother" Celeste sent her.

Little Luana, who happens to be a neighbour of the Landin's came along to get her presents and as always greeted us with a luminous smile. She chose not to wait till she changed into the new dress Lucia bought for her and put it on top of what she was already wearing, so as not to waist any time. She soon went off carrying the red bag filled with books, colouring books and other small treats.

Little Malica came along with her sister to collect her presents having a completely different attitude. She seemed rather shy as she held the presents and put on a new sleeveless cardigan on. I was the one to have bought her the presents, but Inês who sent her some money for the forthcoming school needs will be her "godmother".

Veronica was the next to be handed her "godother's presents and the meny for the school needs. Having felt that Dora had sent her very few things I personally took the decision to buy her a new dress and some jewellery to go with, once she was a rather special student of mine some years back and I wanted her to feel eqaully special.  

The siblings Carla and Iolanda, as well as the siblings Silvia and Isidora were particularly happy with the presents their "godmother" Filomena sent them and which they soon put back into the new back packs, though to "balance" out the number of things each of them received, Filomena and I decided to further add three dresses given by Elsa, 

Because they have all been helped by the same person over the course of the last two years and a half I decided to have them take a photo together.

Lili, whose photo I had brought back with me one year and a half ago,  was finally able to get the first presents ever. Dadi, who decided to become her "godmother" and happens to be a friend of another "godmother" had fallen in love with her upon having seen her photograph. Judging from her rather contained smile I'd say Lili fell in love with her "godmother" as well.

Before sitting down at the table to have lunch, prepared by the eldest daughter of the Landin's, once Nate, was ot working, I took one last photo - Elisabeth holding the envelopes containing themoney for the school needs of the four Landins who have got "godparents - Leidina, Elias, Leinira and Lou.

On the way to Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde - The 23rd (evening) and 24th (morning) of March 2016

Sónia and I finally managed to have everything organised  for the Cape Verdian trip, as far as packaging was concerned on the eve of the outbound flight, though the local unpackaging and distribution might certainly be equally complicated, particularly taking into account the very few days we'll be staying in the village.

I was also finally been informed that the transportation  from the capital city to the village would be ensured by the previous maire, which was really good news, as I was beginning to get worried, once local transportation could be problematic with such an amount of baggage. 

Following our check-in Sonia and I  had to wait for Noëlle who was flying in from Nantes and despite some rather worrying moments because of her flight's delay we finally made it onto the boarding gate, not before having handed out some of the extra weight to Noëlle.

The four hour flight wasn't exactly uneventful as we crossed a rather frightful turbulance area that lastet for quite a while and had many of us concerned. Despite all of the inconveniences we reached Praia on time (in the first hours of Thursday the 24th) having been transported to the local hotel where we would be staying for the night before heading towards Calheta some hours later. 

Noëlle and I shared a room whilst Sonia took a single one. I must have just dozed off for a couple of hours before having had breakfast and taken them around the Plateau ares closest to the hotel 

We had some time to change some of Noëlle's dollar currency notes, have an overview of the surrounding burrough (Fazenda), Gamboa beach, a couple of streets in the central part of Plateau, whom Noëlle and I had visited a year and a half ago, whilst we were in the city for the same reasons to these. The short trip around the various squares brought is back to the hotel, where the vehicle pertaining to te ancient mayor was waiting for us ahead of the previously agreed upon hour.

(To be continued)

Surrounded by Piscis ...

I had no idea I would be invited for three birthday celebration moments in a row, as I had never realised I was surrounded by "Piscis", (whom I actually get along with very well). It started off with Beta's, the owner of the hairdresser salon I often go to and whom I consider my friend, being followed by the ones of two of my working colleagues', Paulo and Pitta.

Beta's birthday (Beta blowing the candle of a small cake brought in by some clients).

Paulo's birthday (Paulo, Elsa and Pitta from left to right)

Some of the new Air Traffic Control Abinitio course students in the picture on the left and Florival and Paulo in the picture on the right.

Pita's birthday (Pitta and Helena)

 

A group of working colleagues celebrating the event

Getting older ... and getting closer ...

My brother and I used to be very close as youngsters and more so when we got to University. Despite the fact that in the process of growing older we seem to have gone apart and further away from each other, even geographically speaking and our lives turned out to be rather different I have always felt his concern and "protection" if not directly towards me, at least in regards to my daughters, who have always considered him a father figure.

We have been seeing a lot more of each other recently and though we seem to be together  for very short periods of time there's a rather unique connection between us that leads me to believe that we are still very much attached to memories of our childhood, which surface whenever we stroll around Figueira da Foz, where he often finds refuge in and where I only ocasionally drive to.

Getting older ... getting closer ...

Moving away ... moving forward ...

Moving away... (which very often means moving abroad) is what many youngsters in Portugal have to do (have been doing) in order to feel they are (still) useful, even if what they'll be doing wherever they move to, has apparently nothing to do with what they had expected to be doing for the rest of their lives ... among those are artists, such as my daughter whose scarse salary (when there's work) is not enough to get by on their own ...

I can put myself in her (their) shoes and understand why they temporarily (hopefully) turn their backs to their Art  ... the one they dedicated themselves to for years, yet to little or no avail ... believing there would be a turning point somewhere ... in the apparently distant horizon ...

Leaving is not going to be easy for her or anyone else for that matter, as well as those they care for and are strongly attached to ... but right now moving away means moving forward ... and that's what she (and many of those who will make similar decisions now and in the near future) have to do ... 

I wish she could be singing  "it's a new day ... it's a new life ... and I'm feeling good ..." ... but only the future will confirm this assumption ...

May she also remember the family farewell gathering support organised over this past weekend ... as she moves forward and away from us ... and above all may her artistic soul be projected in whatever she does, whether it is Art oriented or not ...