Dilettante Photography: Retrospective

Guys Selling Their Morning Catch of Fish (Santa Maria / Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) #capeverde

Public Beach at Santa Maria (Cape Verde, January 2016) #capeverde

A Local Couple In Santa Maria (Sal - Cap Verde, January 2016) #capeverde

Waste Disposal On The Beach (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) I was shocked when I saw this waste dispodal area at the Eastern Coastline of the Island of Sal. According to my local guide, people living in the nearby City of Santa Maria are frequently using this area to get rid of their waste. There is no functioning public service for waste disposal on the Island. #capeverde

Saline Crater Lake Of Pedra De Lume (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) This natural salt sea is on the crater of an extinct volcano. It was formed by infiltration from the nearby sea, as the crater is below sea level. It's diameter is about 900m. This place is actually where the (human) history of the Island of Sal beginns. At the end of the 18th century a Portuguese entrepreneur started the commercial extraction of salt and the human settlement on this uninhabited island began. However, production levels were rather low and the salt business was not really a commercial success story. These days, the salt production company is owned by Italians but the output is hardly sufficient to cover the needs of the island. There is a bathing facility mainly used by tourists. The salt content of the water of 38% is slightly higher than the one in the Dead Sea (34%). #capeverde #volcanos

Junk Cars On The Streets Of Terra Boa (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) Terra Boa is a slum settlement located in the desert, about four kilometers North of Espargos, the Island of Sal's administrative capital and largest city. Some 300 people are living here, but the number fluctuates throughout the year depending on tourism seasonality. I guess that working in the tourism business is the only chance for most of them to earn a couple of Euros or British Pounds for a living. Whatever they do, the money they earn by far does not cover the cost of living in a more humane housing arrangement. There is basically no infrastructure in any form here except for a local kindergarten which is at least partially funded by individual sponsors and private organizations. This is a n extremely dry desert area. For water people have to walk a substantial distance to the next filling station. Clearly, not everybody is getting a fair share from the income generated by the tourism industry. #capeverde

A Cock And His Property (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) #capeverde

Kids On The Streets Of Palmeira (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) Palmeira (population of around 500) is a rather small city. Actually more like a village than a city. It is also the location of the major commercial port of the Island of Sal. It is not really an ugly city but it has some rather shabby looking areas. There is a small container terminal and a Shell oil terminal. There is also a market hall, a food store and some pubs and restaurants as you would expect in any port city of the world. And some tourist gift shops, of course. The port is essential for Sal, as almost all kind of commodities and goods including fuel, food, tourism related stuff etc. have to be imported. So, if you prefer fresh fruits, yoghurt, cereals or what have you for your healthy breakfast at the all-inclusive five stars beach resort, all these goods must pass through the port of Palmeira. A local guy told me that people working as staff members in hotels and beach resorts earn around US$ 200 per month. So...

Quad Riders During a Break in the Desert (Sal - Cape Verde 2016) #capeverde

Desert View: Monte Leste (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) Like Monte Leste (el. 263 meters) the volcanos on the island of Sal are extinct according to volcanologists. Then again, in November 2014 there was a huge volcanic eruption on the Cape Verde Island of Fogo - not more than around 250 KM in linear distance from Sal. At the time villages were completely destroyed on Fogo and people had to be evacuated from the Island. Also, volcanologists say that there is a substantial volcanic activity going on below sea level in the Western part of the archipelago. They even expect the birth of new islands over there in the not too distant future... #sal #capeverde #volcanos

Desert View. And Ocean View, Too (in the Distance) - Sal / Cape Verde, January 2016) It is extremely dry here (even too dry for snakes). The trees you see here can survive up to ten years without rain. In the distance, there is also a relatively small volcano. #desert   #capeverde   #naturephotography   #naturephotos

A Girls' Day Out Off-Road (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) #capeverde

Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay (Palmeira - Sal / Cape Verde, January 2016) #contrejour   #sal   #capeverde   Taking this photo the old Otis Redding song from 1967 came to my mind. Care for the lyrics? Sittin' in the mornin' sun I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes Watchin' the ships roll in Then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay Watchin' the tide roll away, ooo I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay Wastin' time I left my home in Georgia Headed for the Frisco Bay 'Cause I had nothin' to live for It look like nothin's gonna come my way So I'm just goin' sittin' on the dock of the bay Watchin' the tide roll away, ooo I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time Look like nothin's gonna change Everything, still remains the same I can't do what ten people tell me to do So I guess I'll remain the same, yes Sittin' here restin' my...

West Coast of Sal Island (Cap Verde, January 2016) In terms of geography (and economy) Sal - located roughly 500 KM West of the African Coast line - is part of the Sahel. Its climate is extremely dry with just a handful of rainy days on average per year. Around 360 days or so per year are sunny with temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius (77 - 86 degrees Fahrenheit) and steady trade winds. Fresh water is derived from reservoirs and a water desalination plant. So, all-in you are pretty much looking at a desert island with several volcanic mountains and lots of rough roads and - in this case - a camp of kite surfers at the beach. #sal #capeverde

Horseback Riders on the Beach (Sal - Cape Verde, January 2016) #sal, #capeverde