Navigating on the ocean of life.

Chapter 4

Let’s go on shore:

Cape Verde is located some 1500 kilometers south of the Canary Islands and approximately 500 kilometers west of Senegal, Africa. 

Santa Maria is situated in the southern part of the island of Sal which is one of the 10 islands that make up Cape Verde.

The island is named Sal due to the large amount of salt found in the past which was the main industry before tourism naturally took over this location with the stunning beaches.

Santa Maria was founded in 1830. The village however does apart from a church not feature any historic elements. But the lack of urbanization and infrastructure of course adds the feeling of how it was back then.

The main street of Santa Maria with the old church

The main streets in the small town feature cobbled roads and the about 4000 inhabitants are adding the lazy village feeling to it... No stress seems to be the brand of Santa Maria and very fast you will be acquainted with “amanha”. If you don’t like the word “tomorrow” you will not like the place. The no stress is in their blood to a degree that a mixture with western punctuality would sometimes not harm. Nevertheless we could definitely learn something; relax, breath and take it easy – to find an in-between balance between the two worlds would be perfect. But it seems that either a country tents to work like a Swiss watch including 24 hour email response time, 9-5 schedules and long term speculations/worries or its out of the box limits with soft structures and a chilling-living-today-in-a-no-time-Friday-every-day-zone. On the paper it is easy to do the pick but living in a country like this you got to be able to coop with it. I mean if you cannot slow down to slllow speed, mainly ahead, you will absurdly get stressed. You could easily get frustrated with things not working or when occasionally water or electricity is down - this is when you actually just should let it be a reminder to what a great and rich wealth it is to have theses commodities on ordinary daily basis. 

No heavy traffic, actually no traffic lights, no emergency sirens in fact even the dogs are lazy & do it the no stress way:) 

Let's jump into destiny:

Since I left Denmark in October, saying goodbye to all my loved ones on the hunt on adventures there was always a minor corner of doubt if this was right thing to do and possible at all. Would things go my way or would it be one obstacle after another?

Now looking back the minor corner of doubt with speculations was waste of time. The truth is that it was obstacle free – things were served on a silver plate right in front of me leaving no dounbts time after time again and again. This is just underlining that worrying about future possible problems in general is unjustifiable. In fact only 10% of our worries due come through. So we are wasting 90% of our time. Quite inefficient considering us for being the intelligent human race.
I am a fan of the words which I think Salman Rushdie brought to the daylight: “only one thing is certain about the future – it’s going to be so much different than what you expect”! Ohh yeah! How often does life not take a drastic turn and serve something you would never ever in your wildest fantasy dream have imagined both positively and negatively? I have stopped saying “I will never do…” or “this will never happen to me..” past proves it could be out of my actual power and destiny could drag your there wether you want or not...Also you get wiser / change with age; When I was teenager and the first times my parents served me some nice red wine during dinner I would brake out in statements like: "this stuff is not delicious, it's all dry – I will never be a wine drinker." Stupid - what else can I say - know I adore this holy drink!!!:) 

This all just lead me back to this voyage which has proven the above. Sitting in the airplane to Las Palmas I never had a clue about the life intensive ingredients and a wonders awaiting. I never ever could have foreseen the plot - but I am grateful for every second and every experience!

The magic of life in a Sun Sand & Sea environment - what else do you want... ok maybe that powerful bottle of holy red wine;) 

The actual dance with destiny:

Bought a one way ticket to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria which was a great mind liberating start - no return date.

Within 8 fun days with a bunch of sailboat looking guys a Swedish couple reacted on a flyer with Winnie the Poo tape and sent an invitation to come along to Cape Verde. Despite the flooting plan about going to Brazil which thoughts then convinced me that this also could be done from Cape Verde.

But arriving there to continue the Atlantic trip right away was not "served"...No, instead I was offered to stay for free in the sailing boat anchored in the beautiful bay of Santa Maria - an irrisitible opportunity – a body boat guard. How would heart or mind ever be able to refuse this... and the no-stress culture, year around summer and...

After one month in rocking with the waves day and night direction shore pops up. By coincidence I meet a fellow Dane, who offers a room for free for the time being and later for a symbolic rent… Well excuse me but how and why should one reject…

Then after short term helping out with promoting and making caipirinhas in a Danish owned surf bar a real estate opportunity magically submerges including an apartment...
Now no more worries about future. Just exited what will be the next :)

I indeed I feel the magic... and adore the dance.
I guess my recommendations goes with the statements of NIKE: "JUST DO IT"! 

Good luck!

In the next chapter we go sailing for the last time with the "Sheilah" vessel.