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Quiet beaches, steady winds, chilled bars. Welcome to Cape Verde’s easy-going paradise. ARTICLESBOOKS & MORETHE OCEAN, SAND & SUN
“Paradise is when your mind is in a perfect state,” says Frederick Lenz, and that’s what Cabo Verde offers you — it’s both a colourful and a happy place if you only discover its vibrant energy, natural beauty and great culture. The more you get to know it, the more fascinating it gets. Explore the Island of Sal through our website, and see if you fall in love with what Sal can offer you.
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How to Play Ouril: Rules of The Traditional Game
Ouril (also spelt ouri, uril, urim, or ori depending on the island) is a traditional Cape Verdean board game of the mancala family. It was brought to Cabo Verde by enslaved people from West Africa and has been passed down through generations. The game is especially popular among men, often played in public squares and port towns, such as Mindelo (São Vicente). In essence, Ouril is a two-player strategy game where each player “sows” seeds and captures the opponent’s seeds to gain an advantage. Below is a comprehensive guide in two parts: first, a beginner-friendly walk-through of rules and gameplay; second, advanced tips on strategy and regional variations (including notes on the island of Sal).
The Best Guide to Quad Tours and Rentals on Sal
Sal’s Quad Tours represent adventure tourism at its best. It’s professionally managed compared to other quad destinations, and has established safety standards.
The Mirage of Terra Boa: Sal’s Beautiful Desert Illusion
In Terra Boa, you may feel small amid the emptiness. Take a moment to feel the surrounding. It’s just you, the wind, and a mirage that shimmers like a promise.
Understanding Cape Verde
An essential step towards truly understanding a country’s culture is diving into its history. Events from the past profoundly shape local customs, behaviours, and the community’s character. To see Cabo Verde beyond its image as a sun-soaked tourist paradise, you first need to get familiar with its past — learning Caboverdian history is your starting point. From there, the authentic beauty and richness of local life become genuinely visible. Explore our pages to discover more about genuine Cape Verdean culture, away from tourist clichés.
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Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores in Santa Maria
Church of Nossa Senhora das Dores – Our Lady of Sorrows: a small whitewashed church with blue-green trim and a bell tower that catches the morning sun.
The Liberation: No Fist Is Big Enough to Hide the Sky
“No Fist Is Big Enough to Hide the Sky” stands as a pivotal text in the history of liberation from Portuguese rule in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.
Rissóis: Simple Recipe for These Tasty Pastries (Video)
Crescent-shaped, breaded rissóis — golden and crisp on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside — are one of the most beloved finger foods across the islands.
Abandoned Salt Shed: the Old Ghost of Pedra de Lume
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Cape Verdean Culture: The History, Music and Everyday Life
An in-depth introduction to Cape Verdean culture—its roots, language, music, cuisine, and evolving identity.
Our Lady of Compassion Chapel in Pedra de Lume
Amid the salt-carved crater of Pedra de Lume, just east of Sal’s settlement, stands a modest yet enduring landmark: the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, or Chapel of Our Lady of Compassion. Erected in 1853, it offers more than shade; it holds stories of faith, industry, and local memory—a silent observer amid blowing salt flats and shifting sands.
The National Emblem of Cape Verde: Meaning and Use
Explore the story behind the national emblem of Cabo Verde. Learn how it reflects the country’s ideals, history, and identity
Six Types of Tuna in Cape Verde: Learn Them Now
Tuna is the single most important species caught by Cape Verde fishermen. It makes up most of the commercial catch and is vital to artisanal fishermen.
Canja de Galinha: The Rich and Delicious Chicken Soup (Video)
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Popular Jagacida Variations: Which One Is Your Favourite?
Jagacida Variations: Jag is more than just a dish – it’s a staple of Cape Verdean cuisine, woven into the life and history of the islands and their diaspora.
Necessarily Black: Cape Verdean Youth Identity in the U.S.
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List of Most Important Events, Festivals and Holidays
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Pontche: the Sweet Liqueur and its Great Traditions
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Quiet Harbor at the Crater’s Edge, Pedra de Lume
Perched just off the rugged coast east of Espargos lies the Porto de Pedra de Lume, a small recreational marina that speaks softly of Sal’s quieter side.
Radio Kriola: Listen to the True Cabo Verdean Music
On Sal, the air hums with morna’s chords and funaná’s beats. Thousands of kilometres away, Radio Kriola carries the music of the ten islands across continents.
Video: Learn Cape Verdean Creole Alphabet Easily
The only writing system officially recognised by the authorities in Cape Verde is called the Alfabeto Unificado para a Escrita da Língua Cabo-verdiana (ALUPEC), which translates to ‘Unified Alphabet for the Writing of the Cape Verdean Language’. It’s a phonetic...
Cabo Verde in a Nutshell: History, Culture, Politics & Art
Cape Verde comprises ten islands, of which nine are inhabited, and is located 375 miles (600 kilometres) off the coast of Senegal. The combined area of all the islands is 1,557 square miles (4,033 square kilometres), roughly the size of Rhode Island. The islands vary in geographical characteristics. Sal, Boavista, Maio, and São Vicente are flat and desert-like, with stretches of dunes. Santiago, Santo Antão, Fogo, and São Nicolau are more mountainous and arable, although all the islands have a long history of drought. They are all of volcanic origin; Fogo, the only volcano that is still active, last erupted in 1995. The capital, Praia, is on the island of Santiago, which is the largest in terms of area and population and the first settled.
Sal’s Hospitals, Clinics and Pharmacies: Useful Notes
Whether you are on the island as a tourist or resident, it’s good to have up-to-date information on the nearest health centres and pharmacies. Health is a primary value, and it is crucial to protect it and to be able to get help quickly and efficiently in the event of illness or accident. I had the opportunity to visit almost all of the local clinics when I fell ill a few weeks after arriving on the island, and I still remember how much stress it caused me to search for information with a fever. Therefore, in this article, I tried to gather all the information on the island’s private and public health centres and pharmacies.