Sun, 02.11.2025: World Heritage Site Cidade Velha, Santiago

City tour of the historic Platô of Praia. African tradition and culture have shaped Santiago far more than the other islands. This is seen on our short hike in the fertile valley of Ribeira Grande ending at the historical Cidade Velha, UNESCO World Heritage Site and former slave trading post. The evening is completed with a multi-course welcome dinner by the sea. Hike: 2 hours walking time, +30 m / -230 m. City tour Praia: 1 hour

The walk down a small gorge was scenic and interesting, a bit like the lower part of some gorges in Crete. By a small artificial pond there were dragonflies and a species of kingfisher that I have seen before in the tropics. The main attraction was a huge baobab tree which l could just get in a photograph with my super wide-angle lens. The baobab tree has a huge bulbous shaped trunk which contains water if you are an elephant. We finished with a brief viewing of the old settlement of Cidade Velha where a pillory from the slaving times is preserved as a monument. Nearby we had a drink overlooking the sea.

The Cap Verde Islands have desert and lusher greener parts like the Canary Islands. Large parts are rocky with very little vegetation or trees. Where there are mountains, they catch the moisture of the Passat wind, making the landscape much less barren.

There was no time for a tour of Praia, but the welcome dinner of local fish was excellent. The group are all German except a lady from Lucerne. The ages are very mixed but I am the oldest l think. They are fine but I have not yet got to know them all. There was no round of introduction as there usually is. I expect we’ll get an introduction soon, even if we have to do it ourselves.