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After our walk we boarded the bus and drove to the fort of São Filipe. It is a rough fortress overlooking Cidade Velha. In the center is a round cistern that was the water supply for the fort. It probably could hold about 5000 gallons. There was six prison cells referred to as “the frying pans” because they were holes in the ground where a prisoner would bake in the tropical sun. There were a half dozen cannons acquired from the British. They were cast with a Tudor rose pattern.

Down is Cidade Velha we had some time in the town square. Some of our tour mates walked down the banana road to the oldest colonial church in the world - Nossa Senhora do Rosário church. In the square is the Pillory where slaves were chained for sale.

We drove into the mountains for lunch at Pousada Quinta de Montanha at Rui Vaz. It is a hotel, bar and restaurant on top of a mountain. We had a lunch of traditional Cape Verdean food including chicken, fish and a dish made with three kinds of beans and corn. They had started decorating for Christmas with two small trees.

Our last stop was at a botanic garden filled with all kinds of indigenous plants. There were a number of flowering bushes. It was, however, on a hillside with cobble stone sidewalks so most didn't venture far into the site. It was a tiring day but we papered ourselves with a dinner of Lobster Macaroni and cheese.

We stopped at the market for ten minutes. It was full of all kinds of food vendors.

There were a lot of women with baskets on their head going to and fro.

The market was about 50 feet square with an entrance in the middle of each face.

Food Sellers were packed tightly in there.

There were a lot of great vegetables, eggs, and dried beans.

There were many colorful people coming and going, The women carry things in baskets on there head. One lady had a sort of pillbox hat of a vivid blue that provided a flat space so she could balance a 2 liter bottle of water. We were told there were vaults available at the market to store wares overnight so they didn't have to be toted home.

We visited the Nossa Senhora da Graça Church which is small and unassuming building across the street from a small park. It has a vivid blue curtain behind the Madonna above the alter.

Praia, on the island of Santiago, is the capital of Cabo Verde but the name just means beach. It is a big city by Cape Verdean standards having 130,000 residents. The Island of Santiago is the largest in the chain of islands that form the country and Praia is the economic center. The island is known for its agriculture.

Discovered in 1461, it was the first island to be settled. The city of Cidade Velha became the second richest city in the Portuguese realm because of the slave trade. The fort Real de São Filipe was built above the city to protect it. Later because of pirate attacks the government was moved 10 km west to the town Praia de Santa Maria. Later it was shortened to just Praia. The main city is located on a Plateau and thus was less vulnerable to attack.

Our tour for the day was Santiago Island Discovery. We met our guide Jose and boarded a 20 passenger bus heading for the central square. From there we did a short walk around the sights. From the viewpoint we could see many sights of the island. It was next to the old military barracks which is still in use. Monuments were being rebuilt.