In my last post, I mentioned a recent trip to the Cape Verde Islands. My final destination was the island of Boa Vista (below). The red arrow indicates Ervatao beach, where the research camp is located on Boa Vista, and my final final destination.
I was met at the airport on Boa Vista by Pedro López Suárez who runs the Cabo Verde Natura 2000 office on Boa Vista and coordinates the field camp. Unfortunately, my luggage did not meet me there as well. I had to take five flights to get from Durham, North Carolina, to Boa Vista, and apparently the good folks at Cabo Verde Airlines failed to load my bags on the next flight once I arrived in Praia, the capital city.
Boa Vista is a dry, arid island with very little vegetation. They have a rainy season which apparently doesn't give them much rain to begin with, but they've had almost none the last three years. The view below is pretty standard, although there are usually more rocks scattered around.
I arrived to Boa Vista late in the afternoon, so spent my first night at the Natura 2000 office. They have a very nice dorm style set-up and I was able to get in one last shower before heading to the field camp the next day. That is a story for another day, but I will go ahead and tell you that my bag did eventually show up a couple of days after I got to the field camp, thanks to Pedro's diligence. A huge relief as the cloths I was wearing were starting to take on a life of their own! With the latest luggage restrictions I wasn't really in a position to pack an extra set of clothes in my carry-on. Although I did have my computer and camera :)
Take home message... always wear comfortable clothes that you wouldn't mind living in for several days whenever you fly.
