Boa Vista Touareg day 1

Ann pointed out this evening that this is the first time we have been away on holiday to the same hotel where we have been before.  This is our third visit to the island of Boa Vista in Cape Verde, and the second time at the resort in the south called Riu Touareg.  The first time we visited was December 2017, 6.5 years ago.

We drove to Birmingham yesterday afternoon (Saturday) and dropped our bags at the airport before checking into one of the budget airport hotels for the night.  The alarm woke us up at 03.00 and we were inside the terminal building by 03.25.  We had been warned of long delays because of renovation work inside the building and the new security scanners installed recently to comply with new government guidelines.  Yes, there were long queues, but in true British fashion the process was being managed with great efficiency and in the end we were through security and passport control in about 40 minutes.  Not too onerous after all, allowing plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast.

We departed on time at 06.30.  The flight was uneventful and arrived on time at 10.00 local time, 2 hours behind the UK.  The process of moving through the airport here took longer than the 40 minutes in Birmingham, mostly because the baggage handling staff were working on Boa Vista time ... no stress and no hurry.  The coach brought us to the resort by about 12.00 noon, where we were welcomed with cold drinks, even before check-in formalities.  By 13.00 we were unpacked and heading to find some lunch (it had been 10.5 hours since breakfast!)  The meal was followed by a generous coating of sunscreen beside one of the pools, where we remained for the next few hours.  This included a very refreshing dip in the pool, which was adjoining the swim-up bar.  It is actually an arrangement of 4 pools all interconnected and filled with sea water.  The water was wonderfully warm, so we intend to repeat the experience over the coming days.

Late afternoon we returned to the room for showers before drinks and supper in the main restaurant.  The resort is busier than last time because of the time of year, but even so it does not feel uncomfortably crowded.  The food has been as good as we remembered from before, both in quantity and variety.  We will not be hungry this week!

It's time for bed now after a long but enjoyable first day.  Tomorrow ... beach, sun, relax, swim, eat, drink, repeat.

Enjoy the photos!

One corner of the buildings and garden

A view inside the entrance lobby this evening 

Buba, serving some excellent apple fritters and ice cream as one of the dessert options this evening. I think he looks a bit grumpy because I kept pronouncing his name as "Bubba", but he chose not to correct me if I was saying it wrong. No stress!