| But I | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Cape Verde |
|---|---|
| Region | Leeward Islands |
But I is one of the islands that make up the archipelago of Cape Verde.
To know
Maio is the easternmost of the Leeward islands.
Maio is located south of Boa Vista and east of Santiago and was so called by Europeans, after its first sighting on May 1, 1460. The island prospered for a long time thanks to the production of salt but currently the economy is restricted. only to the agricultural and fish fields. The main city of the island is Vila do Maio, also known as Porto Inglêz, also the name of the nearby airport of Maio. The island is also known for its large number of arboretums. The highest mountain on the island (436m) is on the east coast, and is called Monte Penoso. Terra Salgadas, in the north of the island, is a plain rich in salt flats. The northernmost point of the island is Ponta Cais. The bays of Galeão and Santana are also famous in the north of the island.
Geographical notes
Maio can be safely nicknamed as the sister island of Sal. In fact, the conformation of the territory is almost similar: very little vegetation, almost absent reliefs (the highest mountain on the island is Monte Penoso with a height of only 436 m) and very white beaches of infinite length. wide wild nature: it recalls Sal at the time of the first tourist landings. Small accommodation facilities, little tourism and a lot of "Cape Verde" Maio, despite its aridity, has the largest Natural Park in the entire archipelago formed by a couple of oases: Figueira da Horta and Ribeira do Joao.
When to go
The climate is tropical dry. The average annual temperature fluctuates around 25 ° C. The hottest months remain the summer ones with an average temperature of 28 ° C, while in the winter months the average is thirsty around 24 ° C. The difference between winter and summer is given solely by the temperature range between day and night. In summer the thermometer drops, at night, even to 23 ° C, in winter even to 21 ° C. In the ocean the temperature fluctuates between 21 ° C (February and March) and 25 ° C (July, August, September) The wind has no seasonality. Practically, there is no windier and no windier season. The trade winds, which always and constantly blow from the north-east, sometimes in winter, passing further south, come directly from the east and, passing over the Sahara, are charged with hot air and dust.
For the choice of the period in which to make the trip, the climate is, in practice, irrelevant. Being in the tropical north belt, Cape Verde, has, in theory, a dry season (October to May) and a rainy season (June to September). Only in theory though, since in Cape Verde one of the heaviest problems is the absence of rainfall.
Spoken languages
The official language is the Portuguese. Creole (a mixture of Portuguese and African words) is widespread in the islands of Ilha do Sal is Boa Vista the inhabitants often manage to understand and speak Italian. Only in the most inaccessible and out-of-the-way areas is it difficult to find a linguistic agreement but in any case it is always possible to recover some local who, perhaps in exchange for a couple of cigarettes, will act as a translator.
Territories and tourist destinations
Maio: full screen map.Urban centers
- Alcatraz
- Barreiro
- Calheta
- Figueira Seco
- Figueira da Horta
- João
- Lagoa
- Monte Branco
- Morrinho
- Morro
- Pedro Vaz
- Pilão Cão
- Porto Cais
- Praia Gonçalo
- Ribeira Dom João
- Santo Antônio
- Vila do Maio
How to get
By plane
The only air connections are made exclusively from Santiago (Praia-Vila do Maio) with a flight lasting about 15 minutes. The return flight costs approximately € 100.00 and runs three times a week.
By sea, always from Praia, the connections are less regular. The departure takes place early in the morning and the return in the evening.
How to get around
What see
Events and parties
- January 7 - Vila do Maio - Dia de Reis
- February 2 - Alcatraz and Pilao Cao - Nossa Senhora do Rosario
- March 19 - Calheta - Dia de S. Josè
- May 3 - Vila do Maio - Dia de Santa Cruz
- June 13 - Santo Antonio - Dia de S. Antonio
- June 24 - Ribeira de Joao - Dia de S. Joao
- June 29 - Pedro Vaz - Dia de S. Pedro
- July 26 - Vila do Maio - Dia de Santa Ana
- September 8 and previous days - The whole island - Nossa Senhora da Luz - Dia do Municipio
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
The crime rate is relatively low. The number for emergencies is 132. As regards internal air transfers, there is currently only one incident that occurred on 7 August 1999 on the island of Sant Antao of a Dornier DO-228 of the Cape Verde Coast Guard . This is a sign that traveling between the islands by plane is more than safe.
Although the crime rate is very low, it must be considered that the drug market is experiencing very fertile ground throughout the archipelago. This is mainly due to the tourist flow that, under the umbrella or on the terrace of the hotel, loves to indulge in aromatic smokes of marijuana or sniffs of cocaine. Port and airport controls are mild and drugs enter very easily. The uninhabited island of Santa Luzia has become a first-class stopover for crack and cocaine landings. While there are flourishing plantations of marjunana in the most remote valleys of Sant'Antao. It may happen, more often than you think, to see places in an evident confusion given by the use of crack that will ask you for money to eat but which in reality will be used for something else. Crack is currently the most common drug in the entire archipelago.
Another sore point is that of prostitution. More and more often it happens to see European tourists (alas, many Italians) accompanied by young people who are often not yet of age. The phenomenon becomes visible to everyone in the islands of Sao Vincente and Santiago and, at nightfall, it is a flourishing of young women tenderly embraced by newly retired or young boys curious to experience the African flavor at a low price.
It is always advisable not to give any money to children or anyone who asks you for it. Children who insist on having little change in Sal or on the other islands usually prefer not to go to school and adults who ask you for a few Euros will do so to get, contrary to what they will tell you, a dose of cocaine or crack. Offer him a sandwich or a drink, assuming it will suit him, just that. If you really want to offer money, rely on those who know how to use it in the best way without going to feed the delinquent world. Always be firm in denying an economic request, the hesitation will only bind you for several minutes the beggar who, often and willingly, will start following you with a very long and interminable request for money until you have to surrender due to exhaustion.
Finally, attention should be paid to the widespread stray dogs present in the islands. Cats, but especially dogs, in poor health are present almost everywhere. It is a good idea not to give them food (a practice dear to tourists but strongly discouraged by the local government) and to move away when you witness a territorial brawl. Dogs and cats are everywhere and almost become part of the natural landscape of the archipelago. It is not uncommon, especially in large cities, to find them wandering around the aisles of hospitals or in some supermarket.
