Marine Princess Ferry Docked Indefinitely, Cape Verde, Maio

The hydrofoil Ferry Marine Princess remains docked at Praia sea port with no date in sight for the resumption of business. After news indicating that the vessel was paralysed due to the departure of its captain, several A Semana Online sources have revealed additional problems that have combined to keep the embarkation from going out to sea. This is the second time the Marine Princess has been forced to lay idle in the short time it has been operating in Cape Verde, thus dashing expectations that it would help resolve the problematic issue of connections among the country’s southern islands.

Sources close to the vessel's administration claim that, "Operations have been suspended" not only because the captain left for Angola, but also because, after "investing millions of escudos, administrators have been combating archaic procedures that, in addition to being costly, hinder or even render useless the company’s work," said the source.

As such, the administration of Cape Verde Navalis is waiting for a reaction to a memorandum submitted some time ago aimed at doing away with "parasitical" costs and "archaic and anti-economic procedures."

In addition to the lack of a captain, the company is hoping authorities will put an end to these "parasitical" costs that they claim make operations unreasonably expensive. Without mentioning to which authorities the memorandum was actually sent, A Semana Online's source says that the ship will remain docked until these issues are resolved.

The hydrofoil Marine Princess, which had been plying the waters along the Praia-Fogo, Brava route three times a week, is currently sitting at Praia sea port. Connections to the other Leeward Islands were expected to resume during the Christmas and New Year's holiday, but this will no longer happen.

The ships Praia d'Aguada, Sotavento and Sal Rei travel to the islands of Fogo and Brava twice a week, but even so are unable to meet the demand on the part of would-be travellers, who often take advantage of the holiday season to visit their native islands.

Source: ASemana Online - click here.

Hit and Run History on Maio - Day 2

Cape Verde - Day 6: Porto Ingles
by Hit and Run History: The Columbia Expedition, 31 photos

Our last day on Maio, we interview Joseph Brito, who's sailed all over the world. Then we catch the ferry back to Praia for our last evening in Cabo Verde.

Location: Porto Ingles, Isle of Maio, Cape Verde

Created yesterday

View Album - day 6

The Columbia Expedition Hits Maio Cape Verde

Day 5 - Maio
by Hit and Run History: The Columbia Expedition, 45 photos

Our first full day on Maio, we explore the capital of Porto Ingles. Their first stop in the Cape Verde archipelago, Columbia and Lady Washington took on livestock and the major product of this flat, dry island -- salt, for preserving.

We explore the harbour, and the old wharf, where countless slaves from West Africa were transferred to ships heading to Brazil, the Caribbean and North America.

Location: Porto Ingles, Isle of Maio, Cape Verde

Created on 04 December
View Album - day 5

Lonesome Cow in Cape Verde

iReport —
I recently visited Cape Verde and stayed on the small island of Maio. I visited the island for appx. 2 weeks. One day, while spending some time at one of the beaches there, I took this photo of a lonesome cow standing at the shoreline attempting to cool down. Cape Verde is a beautiful, sometimes barren and in many parts poverty stricken country. Though i was only able to visit 2 of the islands when i was there, it was a very humbling experience. The Cape Verdeans are beautiful, kind people and I will also remember this trip and this photo.

CNN - Lonesome Cow in Cape Verde

Unique Christmas Gift - Turtle SOS Cabo Verde

It's not too late to send your friends and family a unique gift from Sal.

Hatchlings will continue to be born during December so you can still adopt a turtle baby as a Christmas gift.

For a minimum donation of €10 the recipient receives a Christmas Certificate of Adoption as well as photos of their hatchling being released into the sea.

We also have t-shirts (adults/kids €15/€10), hoodies (€30), caps (€15) and environmentally friendly cotton bags (€10). All profits go directly towards protecting turtles in Cape Verde. For more information email info@turtlesos.org

Marine Princess Ferry Returns | Maio, Cape Verde

Yesterday I got the information that the Catamaran, Marine Princess, will continue the ferry service to Maio; every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Maio Ferry Timetable / Schedule - click here

The ship cargo vessel, Sotavento, will delivery cargo every Thursday at 8 o'clock in the morning and passengers can also use this service.

This is the best news we all could hope for!

TACV also flying to Maio on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Maio TACV Flight Timetable / Schedule - click here

New Photograph Gallery - Tropical Garden

A new photograph of the beautiful tropical garden at Pension Casita Verde. Many hours of toil and planting to create a beautiful oasis.

View Gallery - click here

Foreign Investment focus on Maio | Maio, Cape Verde

HNW individuals focus on Cape Verde island Maio as foreign investment in archipelago floods in

More countries opening up direct flights to Sal & Santiago.
Links to major oil producing nations to underpin upward spiral in islands’ prosperity.

Wealthy Cape Verdeans make Maio island of choice for property investment
Land and property bargains to be had now.

The island of Maio in the Cape Verde archipelago is becoming THE place to buy for property investors looking for exclusivity at a bargain price, says leading agent Noscasa.

And the fact that an increasing number of nations from around the globe are choosing to invest in Cape Verde is a clear indication that this island nation is rapidly growing in stature in the international business arena.

‘The island of Maio is now offering fantastic opportunities, with both land and property available at very attractive prices,’ said Noscasa MD Paul Akwei.

‘This is the island where wealthy Cape Verdeans are now looking to buy property because of its secluded beauty and close connections to capital city Praia which will allow easy connection to their business interests.

‘Cape Verde is already established as a paradise destination for tourists and holiday home investors but the level of international investment it is now attracting demonstrates that it is fast becoming much more than that. Now is the optimum time for serious investors to take advantage of this growth.’

An increasing number of countries are opening up routes to the international airports on Sal, Sao Vicente and the capital island Santiago, the latest being Delta Airlines which will start flying to Cape Verde from Atlanta in early 2010. This means that when the cross-island fast ferry service begins next year, Maio will be just a 35 minute journey away.

‘The new Delta service is a huge boost to the growing prosperity and international standing of Cape Verde,’ said Akwei.

Investment International - click here to view article

More Rain

In the last article, "The Rains Have Come", we had almost given up on more rain this year.then the unexpected happened and the rains began anew with several downpours which has saved Maio's subsistent farmers for this year. Corn and beans are plentiful.

UPDATE: Marine Princess: Hydrofoil Fast-Ferry | Maio, Cape Verde

More news on the new Fast Ferry to Maio from Praia, the boat is called the Marine Princess, there is also a picture.

Marine Princess Fast Ferry - click here

New Property for sale | Maio, Cape Verde

A new house for sale in Calheta has been added to the Classified Adverts section.

Calheta House for sale - click here

Hydrofoil Ferry from Praia to Maio

Since the beginning of October 2009 a hydrofoil ferry has been departing Praia for Maio three times a week! A quick journey and fast ferry which only takes 50 minutes from Praia to Maio. A single ticket price is 1,500CVe.

The Rains Have Come and Gone

The rainy season which started out so brilliantly last month with two soaking rains came to an abrupt halt soon after. At first rain the local people here hurry to their small farm plots, plant their seed and pray for more rain. This is not an exact science sometime it works and sometimes it doesn't. If the rain does not come soon the one-meter-high corn and other vegetables will be used for food for the goats and cows. And the farmers will thank God for that and wait for next year.

Maio, Rain and a Green Island|Maio,Cape Verde

Elisabeth has created a new journal with photos of the GREEN island of Maio.

Maio, Rain & a GREEN Island - click here to view

Builders of Cape Verde Fast Ferry vessels visit Cape Verde

A delegation from Damen Shipyard, the Dutch company building the high-speed vessels company Cabo Verde Fast Ferry will soon bring to the country, began a four-day visit to Cape Verde this week for a series of meetings with port authorities and other entities involved in the Cabo Verde Fast Ferry project.

On Thursday, the Damen Shipyard engineers visited Vale dos Cavaleiros port on the island of Fogo and Furna port on the island of Brava to get a first-hand look at the conditions offered by the two infrastructures and to meet with Brava municipal chamber officials. In Praia, the delegation will meet with port authorities and with the Maritime and Port Institute to discuss what they saw.

The delegation is also scheduled to meet with officials from fuel companies Enacol and Shell. On Saturday, October 10, the engineers will visit the port on the island of Maio and meet with local municipal authorities, according to the web site caboverdeonline.

On Sunday, the delegation will head to the island of São Vicente, where it will visit the Cabnave shipyard and ship repair facilities and Mindelo sea port, and meet with local Maritime and Port Institute officials.

The Dutch company has regularly been sending specialists to Cape Verde to study various factors related to navigational conditions in the archipelago such as wind, sea currents and port facilities.

ASemana - click here

Gallery Page Updated | Maio, Cape Verde

I have eventually got round to updating the Gallery Web page...

I think I've included all the galleries and journals that have so kindly been submitted. Please shout if any have been omitted.
It's starting to build into an informative collection, and I hope, proving useful to visitors and investors alike.

Thanks again for looking in,

Mark.

New, Journal 10 - Maio & Casita Verde| Maio, Cape Verde

Elisabeth has created a new journal with photos of Maio and the Casita Verde Pension.

Maio & Casita Verde - click here to view

Rain and Maio | Maio, Cape Verde

Usually not two words used together on Maio, but it happened yesterday. Only a shower, but some much needed rain for the farmers.

Free Classified Adverts | Maio Cape Verde

I will be trying to constantly update this section with new services and sales for Maio. I hope to include more tour services:

Free Classified Adverts - click here

Order Your Bread at the Casa Blanca Supermarket |Maio Cape Verde

There are two sources of bread in Morro... both of which are inconvenient for Villa Maris people, in as much as you must be in Morro at 6am to buy it... and it's gone shortly after. Due to the present lack of demand, Casa Blanca does not sell bread, however, as a convenience and a gesture of good will towards Villa Maris residents, Casa Blanca will, free of charge, take orders for bread which may be picked up the at the customer's leisure.