Geoff Brock & Bruce Gamble
         
     
   
 
 
 
Sal:
 
São Vicente:
 
Santo Antão:
 
São Nicolau:
 
Brava:
 
Fogo:
 
Maio:
 
Santiago:
 

Santo Antão: The Dry Valley

Wednesday 16th November 2022
 
We awoke to another warm and sunny day. It was our second and final day on this surprising and beautiful island.
 
 
 
 
 
Our route today would take us in the opposite direction from yesterday. As the map suggests, we would be seeing less green and more brown. It was, however, another day of spectacular views and by no means completely dry and brown, as the photos will show.
 
 
 
Leaving the port, we drove through the small port town. We were looking forward to exploring it on foot later in the day.
 
 
 
 
 
 
A view of São Vicente across the sea.
 
 
 
 
 
A sightseeing stop after turning inland.
 
 
 
Another stop for craft and grogue purchasing... if that's your thing.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Turning off the main road we drove up to Babilonia for a refreshment stop.
 
 
 
 
 
They had put on quite a spread for us, bearing in mind that it was only mid-morning.
 
 
 
 
Back on the road, we began to ascend steeply towards the centre of the island.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At around the highest point and after some very twisty turns, we stopped at this beautiful spot, from where we could down look towards the coast on the north side of the island, as well as admire mountains on all other sides.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There were also some interesting looking vegetables being grown.
 
Turning around, we took the same road again until we were on the coast road leading back to Porto Novo.
 
 
Once again we enjoyed the music, courtesy of our guide, who sang along.
 
Back to the ship in time for lunch...
 
...after which the two of us set off by ourselves to explore the town.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The islanders do love their murals. They are everywhere!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Back to the ship for afternoon tea... we don't like to miss that!
 
 
 
Another wonderful sunset.
 
 
We loved our two days on Santo Antao, but tonight we were off to somewhere new.
 
 
 
©Geoff Brock and Bruce Gamble