In the heart of a fishing village

In the island of Santo-Antao, the most beautiful of the Cape Verde islands, away from major international resorts and tourist subdivisions, the house is particularly well located sinceit is at the start or at the arrival (depending on the direction of the hike) of the magnificent and unmissable coastal path that goes from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha small fishing village of 250 inhabitants. I recommend leaving Cruzinha with the morning aluguers to Ponta do Sol, and walk to the house. The space Partly renovated in the local style, partly of more recent construction, the house with simple comfort is located in the heart of the village with sea views from the terrace and upstairs bedrooms. Just behind the house, the kindergarten and in the distance, the mountains that raise their sharp peaks to the sky. In the morning, through the door of the room that remains open to the open sea, we hear the crowing of the roosters and the laughter of the schoolchildren. It's a real pleasure to have breakfast in the open dining room on the patio before going swimming at the port or on the deserted beach when the sea is quiet. On our return, the salon offers us a beneficial freshness. We sit comfortably to read unless we prefer the deckchairs of the terrace from where we look for the return of the fishermen. To understand the spirit, I would like to transcribe here Lucie's comment from Canada in 2019. She says: " Odile's house is perfect for someone who wants to discover Cape Verde. It is far from the nerve center of the party that is Praia. It is set in a small village and going there may look like an insurmountable challenge for someone (like us) who don't know anything about the country or even Africa. But it will definitely be the adventure of a life! And you'll be rewarded with a dream stay in a village for people who are more welcoming than each other. The amenities are excellent (we must forget the North American or European standards, it would be a serious stress) and comfort is assured. We were 5 people and had plenty of space to either be together or be alone. The outdoor kitchen is awesome. The sea breeze refreshes the place. The kitchen is well equipped enough to make simple meals (the village grocery stores have basic food, plan to bring bigger cities).” I insist on this because some guests are sometimes disappointed not to find "Western-style" comfort. So I specify that it is a choice on our part, not to bring products (furniture, dishes...) from Europe but to buy from local shops even if the objects can sometimes seem a little rustic. Guest access Our house has kept the typical plan of the small farms of the last century increased by a body of recent buildings. The living room was previously the room where the whole family sheltered. The mezzanine was used to put children in it or to store corn and bean crops. Sometimes both. The small bedroom on the ground floor and the current bathroom were originally the stables. They were connected to the living room by a quintal (a kind of uncovered corridor). At the exit of the now covered quintal, is a large stone that originally served as a grain mill. Opposite, the open dining room and kitchenette (the ground floor was completely renovated in early 2025) and to the left the external staircase leading to the terrace which overlooks the recent part of the house: a master suite consisting of a bedroom with double bed, shower, sink, toilet and a bedroom with two single beds. We are in Africa and the water is never cold, however we have installed water heaters at each of the showers. On the roof terrace, a bedroom of 11 m2 opens onto a large balcony above the ocean. Other things to note We do not rent for less than three days. Don't hesitate to call Gabi and Véronique if you have any questions about your stay or your travels. They are our eyes and ears to you. For information, the aluguers (collectivos) leave every morning around 6:30 am from Cruzinha to reach Ribeira-Grande and then all the destinations of the island. They work every day except Sundays. To reach Cruzinha from the Porto-Novo ferry terminal, please know that there are no (or rarely) collectivos in the afternoon. There is no internet at home. To stay connected during your stay, you can buy a sim cvmovel (alou) card at the airport, at the cvmovel agencies of the cities or in Cruzinha near Laurindo who runs a small grocery store behind the house right next to the jardim infantil. 1000 Cve (€9) for 7000 Mb valid for one month for example; the connection is very good. I specify that we are in Africa and like everywhere in Africa you can meet a cockroach. These bugs can be a little disgusting are totally harmless. We chose not to destroy them with an insecticide, believing that the latter was much more harmful than the first.