Thursday 16 February 2012

Diary of an emotional trip to Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde (The morning of the first day) - On the way to Calheta - The 11th of February 2012



Three "godmothers" of some of the children of Calheta have recently travelled to Cape Verde, with the ultimate aim of getting to know the children they (and others) are "protecting", but also to" immerse" in the atmosphere of the village, so as to further understand their way of life and the daily difficulties these children have to go through and fully understand the goal of the project we are involved in.

A second hand account may not be able to translate the real emotions they have felt and although I have asked each of them to try to tell me what they have experienced, emotions are not easily "described " as we all know. In the words of  of Douglas Kennedy " to go on a trip is like experiencing one's own "romance" and from what they have already told me I don't doubt any of them could write an "emotional" real life romance out of it.



Their trip took them to the capital city of Praia on a four day package tour, that would "incorporate" a one day and a half stay at Calheta. They left on the night flight from Lisbon, having reached Praia by early morning. 



At Lisbon airport (Telma, Celeste and Conceição from left to right)



They were lodged at a small Italian owned pension in Varzea, Praia, where they slept (or better said relaxed) for just a few hours prior to having been picked up by the Calheta Mayor's driver fairly early in the morning on their way to Calheta, whose road trip would take one and a half hours. 

Because of an unexpected mechanical problem they were picked up one hour and a half later (a daily reality in Africa which leads to timetables having to be often altered by all types of unexpected "interfering" situations). They counted on the kindness of some of the Italians lodged at the pension to help them to carry the huge bags onto the pension lobby, which were later loaded onto the van.




 








Awaiting the driver outside the Pension (left). With the owner of the Pension and a guest who helped with the luggage outside the Pension (right).













Approaching Calheta (left). One of the first images of Calheta (right).



As they reached the ADEC Academy (where the handing out of the presents and the artistic works would be carried out during the one day and a half) they were welcomed by Sibylle, who had locally organized everything (from the selection of the groups of children to the timetable and the availability of the room to the booking of Miramaio pension).




Unloading the van outside the ADEC Academy.




Because some school activities were still being carried at the Academy they walked to the Pension in what turned out to be a possibility to "gather" their first impressions on the village "reality" and talk to some of the villagers.










Loose hogs wandering about the village.




The first conversion with the villagers.



They soon headed back to Sillibel restaurant, which belongs to Sibylle, where they had a "marvellous" lunch (in their own words) and then walked up to the ADEC Academy with her, so as to spread the hundreds of presents and books on the tables and welcome the first group of children.


















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