CAPE VERDE
I visited in the year of drought. The locals swore to me it had only rained 3 times that year. That was of course until I had landed. I strolled down the dusty roads of Sal, from the room I rented to the center of the island where all the life happens. The Cape Verdian men cheered and tapped me on the back, tagging at my hood urging me to take it down. One guy mocked me with his broken accent, "You brought, English weather. You, come, more, yes?" The rupture of laughter and clapping made me begrudgingly smile. I wasn't exactly overjoyed to have spent hundreds of pounds on a flight, only to be greeted by the rainy skies I thought I left behind in London. However, the smiles on those guys' faces were priceless. A couple of them danced around bare feet, in a steady rhythm as if music were playing. After taking a few more steps I'd decided to also revel in the joyous moment. Pulling my hood from my head I tilted my face up towards the sun setting sky, and I inhaled, and exhaled. All the while I felt a patter, patter, patter on my skin. The droplets of rain hit my face lightly, and streamed downwards rapidly by the force of gravity. This was my wonderful introduction to Cape Verde.
After spending some days on the Island of Sal, I flew to the Island called Praia, to participate in some voluntary work. During the weekdays I would teach, and in the evenings I would explore the island with friends. One particular evening we were walking along the beach and some locals were waving us over trying to get our attention. My Portuguese was weak at the time I could barely make out one man's words "Sopa de tubarão." We interacted with him as he had us look into a boiling pot and we gathered he was offering us soup. We declined but he kept rambling, speaking fast, and then he disappeared behind his boat. A minute later he reappeared with the head of a shark clutched in his fist. Beaming from ear to ear he pointed at my camera and repeated 'Facebook', 'internet', and 'photo'. He was asking me to share his story. I had an opportunity he didn't, and he trusted me with that. From that moment on I knew there was something especially rewarding about travel documentary.
