The Azores Thu, 27 Feb 2020 05:25:01 +0000 en-gb (Learning Portuguese) Portugal portugalPortugal is an almost rectangular shaped country which shares borders with Spain and the Atlantic Ocean on the Iberian peninsula.  The terrain and climate varies dramatically from the hot, dry Algarve beaches in the south, to the lush cool mountains of the north.

Lisboa (Lisbon)

Cristo Rei
Cristo Rei
The capital city, Lisboa, is picturesque and steeped in vibrant history.  The view of the city as you approach from the south over the '25th of April bridge' is stunning.  To your right as you approach the bridge, you will see the statue 'Cristo Rei' (literally: 'Christ King' - often translated as 'Christ in Majesty') which stands on a huge pillar and overlooks the mouth of the mighty Tagus river ('Rio Tejo').  This is a smaller replica of the even more impressive 'Cristo Redentor' ('Christ the Redeemer') statue which is situated on the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The old part of the city is a network of narrow streets and public squares known as the 'Baixa' ('Downtown'), which comprises many impressive buildings and statues.  This is a stark contrast to the ultra-modern area in the east which was substantially developed for the world expo of 1998 - here you will find a dazzling selection of weird and wonderful modern architecture, including a huge shopping mall, and the must-see 'Oceanario' public aquarium. 

Along the river bank to the west of the city are several tourist attractions, including the monument of the discoveries, Jerome's monastery, and the tower of Belém.

Belém Tower (left) and Monument of the Discoveries

The Alentejo

To the south and east of Lisbon is a huge area known as the 'Alentejo' - a sparsely populated agricultural region which struggles to keep the younger generation interested in running the traditional farms.  One of the major Portuguese exports is cork, which is harvested from tree bark in this region.  The area is also well known for producing wine, olives, eucalyptus, sunflower, and various fruit and vegetable crops.

The Algarve

The Alentejo borders with the Algarve in the south, whose economy relies heavily on tourism.  There are many English and Irish pubs in the seaside towns, and some places have become rather tacky and commercialised, but there is still plenty of culture and history for the more discerning tourist. 

In the far south-western corner of the Algarve is a high cliff known as 'o fim do mundo' ('the end of the world') - the western-most point of continental Europe (the true western-most point of Europe is the island of Flores in the Azores).  Strong winds drive huge atlantic waves crashing into the rocks below, and many fisherman have been killed whilst perched precariously on outcrops of the unstable cliff face - apparently the fish there are tasty enough to risk your life for!
The end of the world?
'O Fim do Mundo'

The beaches of the Algarve are gorgeous, and many of them have interesting rock features alongside beautiful golden sand.  Even in the height of summer though, the waters of the Atlantic can be breathtakingly cold despite the warm streams that drift out of the mediterranean.

Central and Northern Portugal

Further north, the country seems to take on a more serious character.  Algarvians are known for their laid-back attitude and slow way of life, whereas Coimbra in the centre of the country is the academic stronghold (the 'Oxbridge' of Portugal), and Porto (Oporto) in the north is a hard-working industrial port town.  Even further north, Braga is noted for its devout Catholic population.

It seems that the further north you go, the more spectacular the scenery becomes - with majestic mountain ranges filling the northern regions of the country and providing a somewhat cooler climate and more precipitation than the south.

The Colonies

The only islands that are still considered part of Portugal are Madeira and the Azores.  Other colonial conquests have at various stages proclaimed independence from Portugal, and some have been swallowed up by other countries (ie. the once-Portuguese colony of Goa which is now part of India, and Macau which is part of China). 

The independent colonies are Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea Bissau, East Timor and of course, Brazil.  Portuguese speaking people have spread out across the globe, and there are strong Portuguese communities in many countries, including Paraguay, the UK, Jersey, France, Luxembourg, Spain, and Andorra.

Further reading: (all links open in a new window)

History of Portugal - In a nutshell.
CIA Factbook: Portugal - Facts and figures about the country.
Portugal Travel Guide - Advice for travellers planning to visit Portugal.

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Map of Portugal map-portugal-roads-cities-railway

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View from the top of Cabo Girão
The beautiful island of Madeira provides a fascinating array of breathtaking landscapes, from its verdant mountainous interior to the spectacular cliff faces of its rocky shorelines - including what is claimed to be the 2nd highest cliff-face in the world at Cabo Girão.  The island enjoys a warm climate which facilitates its two main exports: bananas, and wine.  Everywhere you look on this island, you see banana trees!
The capital of Madeira is Funchal - a thriving town of interesting architecture, traditionally Portuguese cobbled pavements, and lots of cafés and bars.  Also well worth a visit is the town of Porto Moniz, where you will find geothermally heated swimming pools, adjacent to a majestic rocky coast.  Travelling inland, you can experience the fantastic vista at Encumeada - the only place on the island where you can see both the northern and southern coasts.  Local delicacies include honey cake ('bolo de mel'), and of course the fortified wine that bears the island's name.
Visitors to this volcanic island cannot fail to be impressed with its colourful scenery.  Even the wild flowers and plants are spectacular, with various cacti and 'bird of paradise' plants thriving here.  Despite the impressive beauty of the environment though, many young Madeirans seem to be keen to get off the island - it is seen by some as a great place to visit, but a boring place to live.

In my own experience though, this is perhaps the 2nd most beautiful place I have ever visited (first place goes to the Italian island of Capri, off the Sorrento peninsula).  An outstanding holiday destination, and a great chance to practise your Portuguese!

Porto Moniz
Porto Moniz

In addition to the main island of Madeira, there is a small population on the tiny island of Porto Santo - worth a visit if you like beaches, as this is the only place you will find a decent quantity of sand.  There are also a few scattered islands that are uninhabited, but still form part of the archipelago.

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The Azores The Azores (or 'Açores') is an archipelago of 9 volcanic islands, approximately 800 miles off the coast of Portugal - about a quarter of the way across the Atlantic ocean.  Despite its remote location, there is a distinctly European feel to the islands which leaves you in no doubt that you are officially in Portugal.

Botanical Gardens, Ponta Delgada
There are numerous botanical gardens

There are small airports on all 9 islands, as well as ferry services - although some of these only run during the summer months.  From tiny Corvo in the northwest to Santa Maria in the southeast, a journey from one end of the Azores to the other would cover more than 400 miles as the crow flies, the actual land-mass covering about 1800 square miles.

It is often said that the Azorean accent is difficult to understand, which it is, but I actually found it slightly easier than Northern Portuguese.  The strange thing about Azorean Portuguese is the very obvious French influence - for example, where the European and Brazilian pronunciation calls for an 'oh' sound, Azoreans opt for a French style 'eau'.  The overall inflection is also very French, making it difficult at times to detect whether an overheard conversation is taking place in Portuguese or French!  Having said that, most of the pronunciation follows European rules, with slushy 's' sounds and clipped word endings.

São Miguel

The largest island of the archipelago is São Miguel (St. Michael), which is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination.  Ponta Delgada is the capital, and is a good base for exploring the rest of the island.  Although there are several large hotels, the town does not suffer from the same tacky commercialism that blights some of the large Algarvian resorts.  Perhaps this is in part due to the variety of small shops, quaint cobbled streets, busy harbour, several impressive churches, and the imposing 'Castelo São Bras' fort which dates back to the 16th century.

Some of the craters which formed due to the volcanic explosions that gave birth to the Azores, gradually filled with fresh water to become lakes or lagoons.  There is still some volcanic activity to be observed, with bubbling sulpher pools, hot springs, geysers, and hot mud pools in which sealed pots of food can be cooked ('cozido').  The town of Furnas on São Miguel is a good place to see these phenomena.

Santa Maria

Three hours (by boat) to the south of São Miguel, is the little island of Santa Maria - with fewer than 6000 inhabitants.  There are small beaches, natural swimming pools, and fishing villages to explore, as well as a museum, various churches (including a chapel attended by Christopher Columbus), and some small fortresses.  Hiking, paragliding, diving, and fishing are popular activities.


This was the third island to be discovered, hence the name - although originally this island was called 'Ilha de Jesus Cristo' (Jesus Christ Island).  Terceira is the 'party island' - the locals celebrate many different festivals with colourful gusto.  Bullfighting is quite popular here - usually involving tormenting the bull but not killing it.  One of the festivals involves guiding a bull through the streets (using a rope) while 'brave' locals tease it with umbrellas and coats.

Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde at Sete Cidades
Volcanic craters gradually filled with fresh water

As you would expect, there are lots of churches, chapels, and cathedrals on Terceira - some of them colourfully painted in keeping with the party atmosphere.  There are also palaces and castles housing various prized works of art, as well as beaches, golf courses, and the usual activities such as hiking and fishing.

São Jorge

In the middle of the central group of islands, São Jorge (St. George) is a long thin strip 30 miles long and 4 miles wide.  The other 4 islands in the central group (Terceira, Graciosa, Pico, and Faial) can all be seen from the top of São Jorge's highest mountain: Pico da Esperança, which is a kilometre high.  This volcano is still active - the last eruption took place in 1808.

This island seems to pride itself on culture and tradition - its population generally devout and enthusiastic in observing the summer festivities in honour of the 'holy spirit' (also celebrated on the other islands).  The economic mainstay of São Jorge is its (allegedly world-famous) cheese which is carefully matured with salt at a constant temperature for many months.


Aptly named, Pico ('Peak') is the second largest island in the group, and boasts the highest peak of them all - in fact, the highest in the whole of Portugal at 2351 metres (more than a mile and a half high).  The history and culture of the island is based largely around whaling, but since whaling was banned in 1987, the population of the island has dwindled.  Still, the whale motif is prevalent in many handicrafts as well as at the whale museum in Lajes.


Faial is an important island in many ways.  Data from its meterological centre is a key component in European weather forecasts, due to the influence of Azorean high pressure fronts.  It is also a very popular stop-off point for trans-atlantic sailors, and played a key role in early trans-atlantic flights and telecommunications.  For today's tourist, Faial provides beaches, botanical gardens, churches, museums, and a wide variety of handicrafts.


There is plenty of volcanic activity to see
Naturally boiling water heated by one of the volcanoes

The northern-most island of the central group, Graciosa is less mountainous than the other islands, and also enjoys better weather.  Although not a very popular tourist destination, there are some interesting places to visit, including the thermal baths at 'Termas do Carapacho' which are believed to be therapeutic for rheumatism and skin diseases, and the 'Furna do Enxofre' - a lake of warm sulpherous water which lies deep within a volcanic cave.


The name 'Flores' means 'Flowers', which gives you an idea of one of the main attractions of this island - the westernmost part of Europe.  It provides plenty of interesting walks, with numerous waterfalls, lava cliffs, and strange rock formations, but apart from that there is not much for the tourist to do.


Corvo is the smallest island of the Azores - there is only one town with less than 350 inhabitants, and virtually no crime (in fact, there is only one policeman on the island!).  The northwest part of the island is made up of a huge crater called the 'caldeirão' - about 2 miles in circumference.  There is a viewpoint called 'Pão de Açucar' ('Sugar Loaf') - not quite as impressive as the one in Rio de Janeiro, but offering a unique vista nevertheless.

Whales and Dolphins

Watching dolphins in the Atlantic
Dolphin Watching

A popular tourist activity from all of the islands is whale and dolphin watching.  Small powerboats take groups of tourists along the coastline where several species of cetaceans can be found.  It is almost guaranteed that dolphins will be seen on these trips - they are very sociable and some species spend the whole year in the vicinity of the islands.  Other species of dolphin, and most species of whales (with the exception of sperm whales) head south for warmer waters during the winter, so April to August is the best time to catch sight of the really big beasties - even the mighty blue whale can sometimes be seen in Azorean waters.

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Brazil brasilBrazil is a vast country, only slightly smaller than the United States, and by far the largest, most populous, and most economically stable country in South America.  Despite its comparitively impressive growth and stability (as compared with other South American countries), Brazil is still seen as a developing nation, and is grappling with some serious social and economic problems.

The country is largely made up of wild jungle and rainforests - a paradise of tropical flora and fauna.  Although huge areas of rainforest have been destroyed in recent years, the population is now becoming more ecologically aware, and the importance of conservation is beginning to enter the collective consciousness. 

Most of the 170 million citizens live in the towns and cities along the coastline, although the capital city Brasilia is further inland, and there is an ongoing effort to develop the country's interior.  The Federative Republic of Brazil (to give it its full name) is made up of 27 states (each of which is represented by a star on the nation's flag).  After 300 years of Portuguese rule, the nation became independent in 1822.

The equator runs through the far north of the country, with the country's highest mountain, Pico da Neblina, lying almost exactly on the equator.  Most of the country is hot all year round and suffers frequent droughts, whereas the south is more temperate and occasionally sees frost in the winter (June to August).

When I went to Brazil with my wife, in November 2004, we visited Recife, Salvador, Vitória, Rio de Janeiro, and Santos. 

Praia de Boa Viagem, Recife
Praia de Boa Viagem, Recife


The word 'recife' means 'reef', and the town is so named because of the rocky coral reef that skirts its shoreline.  It is safe to swim in the sea on the nearside of the reef, but shark attacks have occurred on the other side, so bathing out there is not recommended!  The water is comparatively warm, and the golden beaches of 'Praia de Boa Viagem' ('beach of good journey') are gorgeous.

Huge skyscrapers look directly onto the coast - an unusual and impressive sight for an Englishman!  The day we arrived was a public holiday, so most of the shops were shut, and the beach was packed.  Lazing on the beach drinking ice-cold coconut water straight from the coconut - what could be more relaxing?

Everything is very cheap here - on average, about 5-times cheaper than the UK (in November 2004).  A fresh chilled coconut (with the top hacked off by a machete) will set you back 1 Real - about 20p!  A litre of beer served to you at your deck-chair on the beach is only 70p (about 1.30 US dollars).  Of course, average wages in Brazil are very low, so to the locals it isn't cheap.


A Demonstration of Capoeira
Salvador (or 'Saviour') is the captial of the state of Bahia.  Bahia is the home of 'Capoeira' - a traditional martial art which requires impressive acrobatic body movements and precision timing.  In the days of the slave trade, it is said that the slaves would fight using capoeira to settle their disputes because when the masters looked on they appeared to be dancing, and therefore would not be interrupted.  These days, capoeira is used mainly for entertainment and keeping fit, in much the same way as karate and other martial arts.  

Aw, ickle cuties!
Baby Turtles at the Tamar Project
Close to Salvador, the town of Praia do Forte is the home of one of the 'Tamar Project' turtle observation and conservation areas.  Various species of sea turtle are monitored, and protected nesting grounds are provided.  Some specimens are kept in captivity, which allows tourists to have a closer look.

There are also some beautiful areas of Atlantic rainforest in this vicinity.


As we approached Vitória ('Victory') by sea, the landscape looked like a postcard scene - a picturesque bay interspersed with islets, bridges, and various boats and ships, framed by the lush green forest-covered mountains in the background.  The town itself was rather disappointing though - run-down and dreary (not helped by the fact that it was raining most of the day).  We only saw a small part of town near the docks though, so it would not be fair to judge it all based on what we saw.

Rio de Janeiro

Spectacular!  Well, actually, as we approached the bay, the captain of our ship announced that the statue 'Christ the redeemer' could be seen up ahead, so I rushed up on deck to see...a tiny speck sticking up on top of a hill.  "Is that it?" I thought.  So approaching by sea was actually not that spectacular to begin with, but once we actually got there - it was amazing.

Cristo Redentor
Cristo Redentor Eclipsed by Pão de Açúcar
We cruised past the gorgeous copacabana beach, and around the impressive Sugar Loaf mountain (Pão de Açúcar), and watched the statue (Cristo Redentor) eclipsed behind it.  The bay of Guanabara is beautiful.  During our 6-hour stay, we managed to go to the top of both the Sugar Loaf and the Corcovado (where Cristo Redentor is) - the views of the city are incredible - especially from the Corcovado.

Although my first impression of the Cristo Redentor statue was perhaps a little disappointing, a close-up look more than made up for it.  The statue itself is enourmous, and looks out majestically as though keeping watch on the city.  We came down the mountain on the gently winding corcovado railway.

Crime is a big problem in Rio (as with other Brazilian cities), but we stuck with our group and didn't experience any problems.  The 'Cariocas' (as people from Rio de Janeiro call themselves) are generally friendly with a sunny disposition.  The carioca accent is somewhat unusual though - more slushy than most Brazilians (they pronounce 's' as 'sh' in the same way as European Portuguese), and not easy to understand! Rio de Janeiro has been rapidly expanding for a number of years, and a lot of migrants who could not afford to buy land or housing have set up their own shanty-town communities on the hills surrounding the city and to the north.  These squatter settlements are known as 'favelas'.
Guanabara Bay

The first favelas are believed to have been set up as early as the late 19th century, when freed slaves had nowhere to live.  The current situation really took hold in the 1970's though, as more and more people from rural areas moved to the city in an effort to find work.  Space constraints and the effects of flooding on the low-lying areas forced people to settle on the hillsides, and spread upwards.


Being illegal and home-made, the 'housing' in the favelas is very rudimentary, with few or no utilities or sanitation.  Living conditions are therefore very poor, and the desperate situation of many such residents leads to a high level of crime and violence as well as other social problems.  In Rio, the contrast between the wealthy and the poor is at its height as luxurious apartment buildings and favelas nestle together side-by-side.  It has been said that 90% of the wealth in Brazil belongs to just 1% of the population - although recent improvements in the economy have seen a general improvement in living standards among the general population.

Cristo Redentor
Cristo Redentor - Up Close!
From a tourist's point of view, Rio has it all: spectacular beaches, stunning scenery, gorgeous weather, and low prices.  If you visit in February, you may see the famous (or infamous?!) carnival - a riotous explosion of colour, music, dance, and general abandonment which takes to the streets every year.

The Famous Copacabana Beach

Further Reading:
(all links open in a new window)

CIA Factbook: Brazil - Facts and figures about the country.

Flag image provided by FOTW Flags Of The World website at

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Brazilian Islands Atol das Rocas

A protected biological reserve, Atol das Rocas is an atoll, or reef-island encircling a lagoon, which provides a home to various rare speicies of plant and animal life.  There is no human population, and in fact, people are not allowed on the atoll unless they have permission to conduct scientific research there, such as the volunteers of the Tamar project who tag and track turtles in this vicinity.

Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha

This is another protected biological reserve, but there is a bit more human activity here than on Atol das Rocas.  Altogether, there are 21 islands in the archipelago, but only one is inhabited by a population of just over 2000.  Tourism is permitted, as long as strict conservation rules are followed.  The main island has an airport, several villages, a school, a hospital, a power station, and a desalinization plant - all crammed in to just over 10 square miles.

Noronha's Rugged LandscapeThe unusual shapes of Fernando de Noronha's cliffs provide a striking landscape when seen from the sea.  Large ships are allowed within a certain distance of the island, but only smaller boats can actually dock there.  There are also some beautiful unspoilt beaches on both sides of the island.

Ilha da Trindade

Together with its neighbour, Martim Vaz, this is the eastern-most part of Brazil - lying about 800 miles off the east coast of Vitória (about a third of the way across the Atlantic). The colourful volcanic rock and coral that make up the archipelago are a stunning sight.

Ilha da Trindade, though discovered by Portuguese explorers (or rather a Spanish explorer, Juan de Nova - better known by his Portuguese name João da Nova, who sailed from Lisbon in the name of Portugal), was once claimed as British soil by the famous astronomer, Edmund Halley, and subsequent attempts to control the islands eventually gave way to Brazilian domination. Ilha da Trindade has no permanent population, but there is a Brazilian military outpost on the island.

Tourism is not really feasible due to the extreme remoteness and inaccessibility of the island as well as the lack of facilities and accommodation. However, the area is of intense interest to scientists, and is still seen as a strategically valuable asset to Brazil.

Ilhas Martim Vaz

The Ilhas Martim Vaz (or Martin Vaz) are a group of 3 main islands and several smaller islets, situated about 30 miles east of Ilha da Trindade, having the same volcanic origin as Trindade. The claim of eastern-most point of Brazil goes to the southern island in the group (Ilha do Sul).

There is no human population on any of the Martim Vaz islands - in fact, as far as we know, only once has man set foot on the south island: in 1962, with the help of a helicopter. The waters surrounding the islands are treacherous, with many submerged rocks making it impossible to anchor.

There is some vegetation to be found here, but no trees. Interestingly, the island of Martim Vaz boasts its own endemic spider. There are also crabs and marine turtles in the area.

Penedos de São Pedro e São Paulo

The word 'penedo' means 'rock' or 'boulder', which gives you an idea of the size of these tiny islands - the largest being no more than a few hundred metres long. There is no flora to be found on most of the islands (just one has scant vegetation), and little fauna - just a few sea birds who use the archipelago as a convenient resting place (and toilet!), and some crabs and insects. The sea is boistrous, making human landings difficult.

Nevertheless, there are remains of an old lighthouse which was built in the 1930's by the Brazilian navy. The lighthouse didn't last long due to siesmic activity, but a more robust replacement was built in the 1990's. Charles Darwin paid a visit in 1832, and some people still visit the islands to carry out long-distance radio transmissions, geological studies, and diving expeditions.
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Angola angolaAngola is a huge country (more than 13 times the size of Portugal) in the south-west of Africa. Between 1975 and 2002, the country has suffered the ravages of civil war with the loss of an estimated 1.5 million lives. The two main powers in the struggle were the left-wing MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola), and the right-wing UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola). 

The fighting started with Angola's independence from Portugal, and continued even after the country's first national elections took place in 1992, when the MPLA took power officially. The fighting finally calmed down after the death of Jonas Savimbi of UNITA in 2002.

Despite the country's potentially lucrative natural resources, including oil, diamonds, gold, and uranium, the economic situation is dire due to the devastating effects of more than a quarter of a century of conflict. Deforestation and the resulting erosion, as well as land mines strewn across the few fertile fields prevent the development of agriculture, requiring that most of the food consumed in Angola be imported. Nevertheless, since the troubles subsided, the economy seems to be gradually recovering - thanks in part to trade deals with China.

Portuguese is the official and most widely spoken language in Angola, although native Bantu languages are also spoken by many. Pronunciation of Angolan Portuguese is very similar to that of Portugal, but there is an obvious African feel to the accent.

Further Reading (all links open in a new window)

CIA Factbook: Angola

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Mozambique mocambiqueMozambique ("Moçambique" in Portuguese) is a large country (nearly 9 times the size of Portugal) on the Southeast coast of Africa, which gained independence from Portugal on 25th June 1975. The only official language is Portuguese, but as with the other African ex-colonies, local languages and creoles are also widely used, and Portuguese is the second language of most of the natives. English is also used, especially in business.

Following the granting of independence, the country entered a period of instability and decline - civil war, the mass exodus of Portuguese nationals, drought, and conflicts with neighbouring countries all took their toll. In 1986, the president (Machel) and several other members of the government were killed in a plane crash (which some have attributed to foul play on the part of the apartheid government of South Africa, the victims of which were given refuge by Mozambique).

Machel's successor, Chissano, led a period of reform which resulted in the end of the civil war in 1992, and since then, nearly 2 million Mozambicans who had fled to neighbouring countries have returned. The population of Mozambique is now nearly 20 million.

As with many African countries, life in Mozambique is not easy. Despite substantial improvements since the end of the civil war, and the assistance of other nations, the economy is still very poor, and most of the population live in poverty. Severe droughts, cyclones, floods, and desertification exacerbate these problems. 

Life expectancy at birth is 40 years, and infant mortality is around 130 per 1000. As of 2003, an astonishing 12.2% of the adult population had AIDS or HIV (source: CIA Factbook). Hepatitis, typhoid, and malaria are all prevalent as well.

Further reading: (all links open in a new window)

Mozambique Timeline - Key events in the history of Mozambique.
CIA Factbook: Mozambique - Facts and figures about the country.
The Africa Guide - Advice for travellers planning to visit Mozambique.

Flag image provided by FOTW Flags Of The World website at

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Cape Verde cabo-verdeThe Cape Verde archipelago of 10 main islands (9 of which are inhabited) lies about 400 miles off the west coast of Africa. Although Portuguese is the official language, most of the locals speak Creole - a mixture of old Portuguese and African dialects which is very difficult for outsiders to understand! 

The country is poor but not destitute. Every child goes to school, and everyone has just about enough money to live, albeit without any of the luxuries that most westerners view as staple. The main handicap that prevents economic growth is the distinct lack of natural resources on the islands.

View of Mindelo on São Vicente
On São Vicente for example, there is very little rainfall. Water supplies are largely dependent on desalinization plants which convert seawater into just enough drinking water for the population. The land is too dry to grow crops - even pasturage is scarce - hence, livestock cannot be kept (except for the odd goat here and there). The land does not contain any valuable minerals, so there is nothing to export.

Things are a little better on some of the other islands, especially those that are more shelterd from the persistent dry winds - some crops can be grown, including coffee, bananas, corn, and sugar cane. The only minerals of note are limestone and salt. Fishing is an important source of food, and fish are also exported. The other main exports are textiles (particularly shoes) and bananas. However, the value of the country's imports is nearly 6 times as much as its exports - most of the necessary food, fuel, and consumer goods come from Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Cape Verde has its own currency: the Escudo (the Portuguese word for 'shield') - but this is not the same currency as the old Portugese Escudo. From time to time, tourists visit the islands, and Euros are usually accepted in the handicraft shops and cafés (notes only, not coins). Due to the lack of facilities, tourism is not a huge industry here - although a number of cruise ships stop over for refuelling, and the passengers provide a much needed injection of cash.

It's a dog's life
A stray dog contemplates the meaning of life
In the past, the British used Cape Verde as a storage depot for coal which was bound for the Americas. The harbour area at Mindelo was developed by the British for this purpose, and there was plenty of work for local labourers. As the British coal industry went into decline in the 1980's though, this source of income dried up, and Britain had to abandon its Cape Verdean interests - a huge blow to the local economy.

The modern economic survival of Cape Verde depends largely on outside help.  Portugal donates several million Euros every year, and other countries such as Japan, Luxembourg, and the US also chip in. Recently, a complex of shop units was built on Mindelo, funded by the United Nations.  Also, many families have one or more members living and working overseas, and they send money back home.
Despite the poor financial situation, the general character of Cape Verdeans is optimistic and friendly. They seem to be very hospitable and happy - content to make the most of what they have. The climate is mild all year round, and there are some beautiful beaches and rugged landscapes to enjoy.
Further Reading: - Site aimed at visitors and British Ex-pats living (or moving to) Cape Verde, but contains information of general interest too.

Cape Verde CostumesCape Verde Fiddler

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]]> (Super User) Countries Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:15:04 +0000
Guinea Bissau guine-bissauSorry, I have not got round to writing anything on this topic yet.

Further Reading: (all links open in a new window)

CIA Factbook: Guinea Bissau

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]]> (Super User) Countries Tue, 24 Dec 2013 13:18:09 +0000