Heltons Birth Island

 Sao nicolau and lessons learned

My husband and I traveled by boat to visit the island he was born in and where his mothers side of the family are born. It is very mountainous and green, the air is fresher than you can imagine and life is simple. 

The boat journey was around 17 hours long on a boat about the size of a standard English bus. Not ideal. We were terrified but boy did we prepare. We bought anti sickness tablets from the pharmacy and had a backpack full of snacks and sprite. Unfortunately we didn't realise that everyone was going to get on the floor and set up beds, and by the time we had realised, all the good places were gone and I ended up wedged between the edge of the boat and a mans feet on top of mine, but at least I had Timas to snuggle up with. The boat was rocky and the waves were choppy at times but we made it.

Sao Nicolau is less developed than Sal because Sal has a lot of tourism. 

We stayed with an incredible friend of my husband's. He is a doctor by trade and literally a saint. Every where we would go with him people would stop him in the street and they would have special talks. He was totally adored and we feel so lucky to be a friend of his. The doctor and his girlfriend and their friend Bia, took us to see the best sights of the island. 

One of my most memorable experiences on the island was when we went up to a high point of the island to visit Helton's grandfather. The village where he lives is in a really remote part of the island and high up in the mountain. Heltons grandfather and grandmother raised their 11 children in a 3 bedroom home with no bathroom or electricity. His grandfather worked all day and all night to provide for them. Everyone seems to be related, families are really big and the community is almost tribe like. There is 1 shop and a church and houses that cover the hills. The paths are made of small stones and really hard for people to walk on but the natives can run from house to house with ease. It was incredible to see how the have adapted to their surroundings and it taught me that you can push your body to deal with anything if you have to. The people are so kind and humble, they are the diamonds of this earth.

When we got to Helton's grandads home we were welcomed by a very very excited grandad who was overjoyed that we were staying in his home. Now that all of his children are grown up and his wife has moved to live in the city, he lives alone. Helton cooked spaghetti and we all ate together. The rain was pouring outside and at that time we didn't realise how much rain was coming. After we ate Helton told his grandad stories of his family back in Sal. It was so lovely to hear his grandad laugh. In the morning we awoke to the sound of rain and when we went outside we were shocked at what we found. The one road into the village had been blocked off by rocks that had fallen from the mountain from the rainfall and the bus route was blocked. We decided to make the most of the rain and we swam in the natural pools. It felt like being at a detox retreat. The air was so fresh and all around us was banana trees and fresh fruit and vegetables growing. When our time was up we had to walk about 2 miles up hill to reach the bus as it wasn't able to drive close to the village because of the fallen mountain rocks and the heavy rain fall. 

My time in Sao Nicolau was refreshing and eye opening. I learnt that life is more fulfilling without technology and riches. Family is the most important thing in the world and it is more important to nourish family than update social media. 

Cape Verde has so much to offer and myself and my husband dream of visiting all of the islands. You should visit 😉