An unexpected New Year’s Eve in Cape Verde

Ola from Mindelo! It’s now about 3 weeks that I´m a bit stuck in this city. It wasn’t really loved at first sight, but slowly, I get to love this city more and more. Sometimes, you just need to try a little harder to see the beauty of a place.

At first, beggars overwhelmed me at any corner. Now, I just want to enjoy the incredible musical offer of Mindelo. In the end, it’s all a matter of perspectives.

Read more about Mindelo

Probably, it’s not even Mindelo’s fault. I was supposed to stay here for a maximum of 1 week and then continue my boat hitchhiking adventure. But it took me some time and misadventures until I got on the right boat with the right people. Now, I have my base at the marina of Mindelo and Im helping wherever I can to get the boat ready to cross the Atlantic. A dream is about to come true!

If I’ve learned something about this trip, it´s that you can’t plan anything but that everything will be fine at the end. I started my adventure in Tenerife without knowing where I’d end up. I only wanted to sail and travel slowly. I had enough time and budget to get carried away by the wind. That’s how I ended up in Cape Verde. First in Sal, later in Mindelo and then in green paradise Santo Antao.

Read more about Cape Verde islands

Back in Mindelo, I reunited with friends I knew from Tenerife in order to sail together across the Atlantic. If I look back now, everything seemed so obvious.

Everything worked out well. Everything felt just right. But in between the stages, I felt completely torn between waiting/asking for a boat to sail or buying a flight ticket to the American continent. I realize now that I need to trust more in the positive course of events. That will be my New Year’s resolution.

Now, I can’t wait to spend New Year’s Eve with my boat family and enjoy the big party in the streets of Mindelo. A farewell party to the city of love-hate.