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I know a lot of people have asked me what Cape Verde is like as very few people have been there so I have created 2 pages one covering the diving, with pics, vids and diary & another showing just the resort and a diary of what happened out there and what we thought. Some parts did get a bit long as I was writing it by the pool and just waffling on but it gives you a picture of the whole holiday resort.
**** This page is nearly done, just the write up to finish ****
The New International Airport
Luxury Transfers To The Resort
Santa Maria, a "Work in Progress"
Cape Verde 'The experience'
As usual the holiday spirit was flowing at the hotel the night before our flight with a Thomson to the island of Sal, in Cape Verde. With an expected departure time of 10.00 we were in the terminal for 6am ready and waiting! No queues at checkin, that was a first! The dreaded walk through security next off came the belts, keys and money into the bags, then see whether we managed to walk through or need a frisk, no bleeps all looking good. Spoke to soon they want to check my reg bag after she swabs it all down and analyses the swab we get the all clear to carry on. With departure time set for 10 we have a 4 hour wait. Funny though our flight doesn't show on the boards after some hounding of the ground staff we find that it won' leave till 1300 as it was delayed coming out of Cuba
Well after yet another hour delay they finally get us off the ground. The captain now gives us the truth as to what has happened, the plane we were due to fly out on was the one hit by ducks in Manchester the day before so we had to wait for the plane from Cuba, which was a bigger plane so they then had to get more staff. Why couldn't they tell us the facts to start with! Oh well we are on route with a revised eat of 6pm local time
We made it after 5:45 in the air, now Cape Verde airport that's a whole new experience not quite a shed on the side of a dirt track but that gives you a fair picture! If you go make sure you get a visa sorted before as passport control and visa's is a sloooowww process! Be prepared for the 'transfer' modes of transport, mini buses with trailers on the back for your bags. So far you may think it sounds a bit bleak as a holiday destination, its not, every one was very friendly and there to help, except passport control. It really is a 'new' resort on a dessert island that will be massive, if you are looking for trees or hills look somewhere else. If you want peace and a relaxing time in a warm dry climate with great diving then Sal is for you.
Back to the trip. We were shuttled the 20 minute run to the resort where I think we saw about 10 other vehicles in total on the road. To be greeted at the doors of what could only be described as a F#####g huge complex that took up the whole corner of the island. We were very quickly checked in and the luggage was brought down to the room. We had a quick wander round the resort in the dark and hit one of the 6 restaurants followed by one of the 10 bars. We checked out some of the reviews on Traveladviser.com before and some complained the food was very 'same'y' we could contest that strongly enough it was a massive range that is all cooked in front of you. Then finely hit the sack, one thing we did notice was how fantastically quiet it is here.
Body clock a bit screwed with the 2 hour time difference as we all woke at 0330, but managed to drop off for another hour or so then off for a first test of the trough all you can breakfast, as with last nights dinner we were not disappointed a stunning range of breads, salads, cereals, fruits and cooked breakfasts that would please any taste from any country. Breakfast shoveled in it was back to pick diving gear ready Romina picking me up at 0815
The Way In
The wall around some of the pools
The Reception Bar area
One of Four Pools,
By Night
And By Day
Food, Food And Lots more Food
One of many stunning sunsets
The whole complex, and yes it really does look like that today!!
