I learned a long time ago that when not carrying a camera, bring pen and pad; or at least a scrap of paper to capture a fleeting scene that if not recorded will get lost with the millions of other bits of irretrievable information cluttering my mind. So with that in ‘mind’, below are some recent snapshots I was lucky enough to remember to commit to paper. [More]

After scouting the southern coast of São Nicolau, it looked like swimming was going to be out of the question. Praias Frances, Barril and Grande had that sole searing black sand, innumerable invisible rocks beyond the surf and an undertow that could suck a Volkswagen out to sea. Then Maria de Monte, proprietor of Residencial Natur in Tarrafal told us about this remote, white sandy beach called Praia Baixo Rocha. (Shameless plug department: If you are ever in Tarrafal looking for a place to stay, I highly recommend Residencial Natur. [More]