Cape Verde pop 480,000 is located 500 km from the west coast of Africa The once uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and re-supply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping Independence was achieved in 1975
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents
Cape Verde’s climate is temperate, with a warm, dry summer Precipitation is meager and very erratic
The national holiday is the 5th of July, Independence Day
The official language is Portuguese Crioulo a blend of Portuguese and West African words is widely spoken English is well understood by some, although French is the main third-language
If you don't speak Portuguese or French, you will want to bring a phrasebook
The official currency of Cape Verde is the escudo, abbreviated CVE and indicated with a dollar symbol after the amount The currency is fixed against the euro at 110$ per euro
In the resort islands of Sal and Boa Vista, euros are commonly accepted, although you might receive change in escudos
Money can be changed from all major currencies at the international airports at Sal and Praia Bank branches at larger towns will also change money Larger towns also have ATMs that will take Visa, MasterCard and Maestro
High end hotels will accept credit cards Other hotels will expect cash although many mid-range ones will accept euros at a reasonably exchange rate slightly worse than the banks For everything else, expect to pay in escudos
Cape Verde has fantastic fresh seafood Tuna is common, as is Wahoo - a white fleshed fish with similar texture
European food is common on all the islands Italian is especially popular on Sal Vegetarians can ask for omelets or salads
Local beer is a lager to drink ice cold, its name is STRELA, but you can easily find international beers and other drinks, including some from Portugal
Accommodations in Canada vary substantially in price depending on time and place In most cities and many tourist areas, expect to pay upwards of $100 or more for a good hotel room If inquiring always ask if taxes are included, because some offer it with taxes included, some not
Hotels play an integral part of Canadian history, with some of the country's most well known landmarks being hotels The Canadian Railway Hotels are a series of grand hotels that were construced in major cities Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, St John's and Halifax in the early 1900s Most of these are still standing and owned by corporations such as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts The Grand Railway Hotels are all four star franchises, with prices ranging from C$150-C$400 a night depending on the city and the size of the room These hotels are architecturally stunning and sumptously decorated, and in addition to being exceptional places to stay, are tourist attractions in their own right Even if you are not staying in a Grand Railway hotel, it would be more than worth it to explore the main lobby or dine at the hotel restaurant
In rural areas, motels short for "motor hotel" are small, simple hotels where you might pay as little as $40-$60 for a night's accommodation especially in the off season In many areas, a B&B bed and breakfast is a nice option These are normally people's homes with suites for guests The price - anywhere from $45 a night to $140 a night - usually includes a breakfast of some kind in the morning Try 55 for listings
Other options include cottage rentals on the lakes and in the countryside and apartment rentals in the cities Prices compare to hotels and motels and this type of lodging provides some comfort of home while you are traveling
Youth hostels are a good choice, offering lodging in shared dorms $20-$40 or private rooms $45-$80 Some useful resources are Hostelling International Canada 56, Backpackers Hostels Canada 57, SameSun Backpacker Lodges 58 and Pacific Hostel Network 59 which also covers Alaska and the Northwestern United States Most hostels in Canada meet very high standards
Some universities will rent their dormitory more commonly called "residence" or "rez" rooms in the academic off season -May- August Check university websites for more information
Finally, there is a huge number of campgrounds in Canada These range from privately owned RV parks to the publicly operated campgrounds in national and provincial parks, and are almost always well-kept and generally very beautiful
The Cape Verdean economy is largely service-based, ie, most Cape Verdeans work in industries, hospitals, transportation and tourism related activities
