In a statement issued by Cape Verdean news agency Inforpress, Halcyonair Cabo Verde Airways announced the launch of two new weekly flights to the islands of Fogo and Maio starting form 28 February. This service has been introduced in response to the “huge demand and number of requests,” from the market.
Once the new routes are launched using an ATR-42-320 aircraft, with capacity for 48 passengers, Halcyonair will operate flights to six of the archipelago’s islands.
In partnership with a Cape Verdean tour operator Halcyonair’s aircraft will also operate a charter flight between the islands of Sal and Fogo on a Saturday.
Halcyonair Cabo Verde Airways launched its domestic flights on 31 July, 2008, operating daily to the islands of Sal, S. Vicente and Santiago, and three weekly flights to the island of Boa Vista.
Here are the dates for this year’s public holidays in Cape Verde
1 Jan – New Year’s Day
20 Jan – Heroes’ Day
24 Feb – Carnival
25 Feb Ash Wednesday
1 May Labour Day
19 May Municipal Day
5 Jul Independence Day
15 Aug Assumption (Day of Our Lady of Grace)
12 Sep National Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
The barefoot diva, Cesaria Evora, was born in Mindelo on Sao Vicente Island in August 1941. Losing her father at a young age, Cesaria was surrendered to an orphanage. It was here that she first sang, but it was when she was sixteen that a young Cape Verdean sailor taught her to appreciate the typical Cape Verdean singing styles of Coladeras and Mornas that she truly found her voice.
[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=8kSvZJx7v7Q]
The mornas that Cesaria sings can be roughly equated to the Blues. Usually sung in native Creole and encompassing a feeling of yearning, longing, profound sadness and regret, it is said that the term morna is taken from the English ‘to mourn’. It is more likely however that the term is taken from a Portugese word which means ‘tepid’.
The national language of Cape Verde is Portugese. Brush up on a few phrases before you go as on some of the Cape Verde Islands English is not widely spoken although on the main islands you will be fine.
