Very green, wet and pretty, Bubaque – Gateway to Paradise . .

I have one word for this place.  Amazing!  An untouched remote group of islands (81) off the coast of Guinea-Bissau.  I managed to land on three of them.  Bubaque which is where the regional capital is located.  Upon observation, I could estimate there are several thousand people.  I had a few hours over a couple of days to visit a few areas.  Many areas have wells and since it is in the wet season there is plenty of water.  Had to take a peak.

It rained most days, as we are in rainy season.  We are dead center in the ITCZ.  I have never seen so much wicked weather.  The winds are going one direction, and the tide is coming in at six knots.  Look up and see two huge storms in opposite directions.  You would think you have run from them and around another island the winds are up to 20 knots and your in six foot seas.  Ike!   unpredictable, but an easy time for a roughneck.

Spent a week in Bubaque and must say the people are very friendly and open.  Since I speak a bit of Spanish and French so, I can get along with a conversation or two.  Portuguese (including a Portuguese Creole) and French are the main languages.  Sometimes I am hearing at least four languages in a sentence.  Love it! 

So many stars it is hard to identify the constellations . .

It has been a royal pleasure spending a week around Caravela Island.  A large island with few villages. During the night it is total darkness,  no lights other than an explosion of stars.  Even without the moon, the shore, trees, water other boats are totally visible.  My last night I was awaken by the sounds of waves and run to the top deck to observe a night so clear, I was in amazement.  I do not remember the last time I saw so many stars.

Would you believe I participated in an authentic landing party.  For most of you who know me, already know how I love to have a landing party once a year in the Miami Metro Area.  Fun where folks can dress in Star Trek Original Series costume.  This also includes props, and any other cos-player can join in the fun.  Our landing party was on Caravela where we met a local chief and have a short discussion with him.  From the photos below you can see they are living somewhere prior to the development of the wheel.  They were super friendly and make regular trips to Dakar. The chief’s french was perfect.  Later the week we purchased a few hundred liters of water for our fleet.

To close, I am off to the regional capital of these islands.  Lets see how they look, so far the place is a paradise.