The latest book I have read ...

I had almost forgotten how pleasurable it was to read books written by the Cape Verdian author Germano de Almeida. If many of his previous novels, all of which I have read, were based on "second-hand" experiences  Back to Paradise is a trip back to his childhood and adolescence in Boavista island and the myriad of traditions that are no longer part of people's daily lives or if they are they certainly have a different "face".
 

Though I haven't lived in Cape Verde during the same epoch of many of the characters in the novel I came across some of the many traditions thoroughly described in it, particularly when in the eighties I ventured into some remote areas of the various Cape Verdian islands and mixed with the local people, thus getting a different touch of things ... those I had got to know by reading some of the few available Cape Verdian authors in the Portuguese bookshops. 

 

 

 

I ended up reading Back to Paradise in two days as I struggled to make it last but prior to my drama I lent it to Sónia who read it in one evening as we were waiting to board the flight back to Lisbon (not exactly back to Paradise) and throughout the  actual flight which lasted four hours ... so if this doesn't say anything about the interest conveyed by the book, then there isn't much more I can say ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praia, Cape Verde (fifth day - morning and afternoon) - Around Quebra Canela beach and Plateau - The 27th of March 2016 and arrival at my service, Lisbon Airport (early morning) - The 28th of March 2016

We didn't get up too early in the morning, as we would have spend the entire day strolling about till the evening. Soon after having checked ot and left the baggage in the reception hall of the residencial hotel we hopped onto a bus heading to Achada de Santo Antonio, to see the Parliement and the Embassies' area, having then walked down to Quebra Canela beach. 

We were followed by a dog which happend to have befriended Noëlle as we walked along the bay towards Plateau via Prainha, the Government Palace and the Sucupira market, which we reached early in the afternoon.  

We stopped by the high School square briefly before having decided to have lunch at Quintal da Musica, which we went back to later so as to have an ice-cream. Noëlle and I still made it to Fazenda on taxi to get to know one of the best city bookshops (I was really impressed with) and try to buy a book, we hadn't been able to find anywhere else.

Killing time, is what we did afterwards till it was time to board the late evening flight. We landed at Lisbon airport in the early hours of the 28th and as Sonia headed home and Noëlle to a flight back to Nantes I walked all the way to the Training Centre, in time to meet the guardian, whom I handed the first letters and presents to (Filomena happens to be the "godmother" of five Cape Verdian children) and get ready to teach.

Whenever I come back home after having been to Cape Verde I always have a feeling of fulfillement and the sense of a mission accomplishment, and yet in the back of my mind there's (also) always a hammering feeling of "I wish I could do more" ...

Praia, Cape Verde (fourth day - afternoon and evening) - Around the Plateau area - The 27th of March 2016

Whilst Sonia stayed at the hotel having a nap, Noëlle and I decided to walk around the Plateau, which I have been strolling on for endless hours on different occasions since 2001. Apart from a few new graffitis, everything looked the same. Before walking back we spent some time at a local supermarket so as to look at the "novelties" and buy canned tuna from São Nicolau and grained coffee from Fogo.

Back at the residential Hotel I started organising the "thank you letters and cards as well as the presents sent by the children to their "godparents" so that their handing out in Lisbon would be easier, as in accordance with the services and areas.

Most restaurants and cafés were closed because of it being Easter Sunday but we were lucky enough to have found "Flor de Lys" open, where we had a very tasty "buzio and octopus rice" followed by green papaia jam and goat cheese.

Praia, Cape Verde (fourth day - morning and early afternoon) - Cidade Velha - The 27th of March 2015

We got up later than usual because not only was it Easter Sunday but also a public holiday, so we knew well in advance that there wouldn't be much we could do, though our main concern had to do with the public transport availability.

Soon after breakfast we walked down from the Plateau area heading towards the Sucupira market where most public buses leave from. I was astounded to see that the stone staircase had been painted in vibrant colours which slightly resembled a rainbow.

It wasn't too much of a problem to catch a bus and rather than have to later climb up to see the Cidade Velha Cathedral's remains we asked the driver to let us get off before the turn going down. We strolled around for a while before having walked down towards the fishing beach and bay, heading in the direction of the main square where the pillory stands to farther continue into Banana street and Our Lady of the Rosary church.

Since I have been going to Cidade Velha, which is  (over the last 12 years) at least once a year I have only seen the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary open twice, this being the second time it has occured.

It was obvious a mess would soon be carried out, but I was still allowed to take two photographs of the tombstones which could be seen embedded in the church floor. Noëlle stayed behind whilst I walked with Sonia towards the open air chapel overlooking the bay, which was no longer there to my disappointment, having been partly transformed into an esplanade café which is still undergoing works.  

We sat at a local restaurant to have a tyical fish soup with "modje de S. Nicolau" before we drove back to Praia having climbed up the rainbow-like stairs we had walked going down in the morning.

I had had a rather enjoyable day ..., despite feeling tired.