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| General Information |
 | | Compared with some of the major cruise ports you'll have visited during your cruise, Porto Grande, the cruise port serving the Cape Verde city of Mindelo, may be a misnomer. "Porto Not So Grande" might seem more appropriate.
Small is better.
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| Two clusters of islands directly off the western bulge of continental Africa, Cape Verde is a country that basically exists because of its harbor (Porto Grande) at Mindelo. In earlier days Mindelo was a tremendously active port due to its importance as a stopover for shipping between South America and Europe. Although it still serves as a refueling stop for transatlantic freighters, its shipping and trading roles are diminished. But for you, right now, Mindelo is an up and coming tourist attraction whose beaches and local color are its main draw.
See it now before the thundering herds come and spoil it.
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| Mindelo itself is quite lovely in a sleepy, colonial, sort of way. The main cultural strains are African with a thick overlay of Portuguese influence. At night, Mindelo jumps with nightclub revelry, but during the day its appeal lies in its colorful "shabbiness." The pink-painted Governor's palace is about the most imposing building around, and everywhere else you see two story, colonial era houses slowly and charmingly going to seed. As you walk farther through the town, the fish market will catch your eye (if not your nose!). The women vendors are in wait for their customers, carrying the fish in plastic bowls balanced on their heads. Other stalls and markets offer clothing and other merchandise.
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| Walking from the markets to the harbor you'll come across the Parca Amicar Cabral. Once you're in the park, be sure to visit the Cape Verde Handicraft Museum. Once at the waterfront, seek out a small restaurant, find a seat, and enjoy a meal with the locals. The emphasis is, of course, heavy on the seafood, with strong Portuguese and West African influences.
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| Travel to other areas of São Vicente, Mindelo's island, is relatively quick and easy. The Cape Verde Islands are rugged, and although the scenery is beautiful, you'll find that walking through the countryside is for the true nature trekker, not the idle stroller. If you're a hiker, you'll be happy. If you're a birdwatcher, you'll be really happy, because many species stop over on these islands during their seasonal migrations.
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| If you're a diver, consider planning your time around some snorkeling. It's first rate here in the Cape Verde Islands. But the easiest way to enjoy Mindelo is perhaps the best. Keep it simple: amble through the town, relax in a café, or spend some time at the beach.
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| If, when you leave, all you've done is to sit, relax, and let the place soak into you in a leisurely, easy way... well, you've captured the unhurried pace of the Cape Verde Islands.
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| Take some of it home with you. | |
| General Information |
| POPULATION
About 50,000.
PORT
Porto Grande, a natural, deep-water port, used for cruise ships and commercial purposes.
CLIMATE
Tropical, humid, and sunny, with high temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees year round. Sea breezes cut the humidity somewhat.
LANGUAGE
Officially - Portuguese. The main language, however, is crioulo (with roots in Portuguese), and there're several strains of this dialect to be heard, depending on the island you visit.
CURRENCY
Cape Verde escudo. | |
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