Saudade

While taking care of my non-paying client’s request, I came across a photo from the island we miss so much. It’s been too long without a visit.

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If I could, this is all I’d be doing for the rest of my life: travel notes for places I love.

São Tomé and Príncipe Travel Notes 🇸🇹

(Work, as always, in progress)

Happy Place

I’ll keep this on my mind today. It might help…

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One of the most unique things I’ve ever seen.

São Tomé and Príncipe, an archipelago on the Equator, boasts one of the most curious performances of popular imagination. Tchiloli is the fruit of cultural (and at times violent) encounters and creolisation. It is a delightful ethnodrama/ethnotheatre that unites music, movements and 16th century texts in one ceremony.

Solemn Gestures on the Sandy Ground. Tchiloli in São Tomé and Príncipe

On one of the visits we were lucky to be able to watch, and photograph, a Tchiloli performance.

Today something movieStar did reminded me of that day.

I miss the islands, and the people who live there, and all the things that make it such a special place.

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Promo Shooting

That one time we were doing a photo shoot to advertise the activities at the hotels, and then I had to go into the water and rescue movieStar.

Fun times.

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Even though we had our church wedding a couple of weeks later, today marks the day when we got married at the Embassy in São Tomé.
Today, as far as the state goes, is the date when we stopped being single.

We had flown over to the big island two days earlier, and stayed at a friends place in the middle of the jungle.

There was a huge storm during the night, landslides had covered part of the road to the city. Our friends were worried the roads could be blocked later on, so we got dressed, had a quick breakfast, I had a beer (yes, nervous), and we made our way to the city, and the embassy.

We got married. And cried.

Quick stop at the hotel for a pizza and a dip in the pool. Off to the airport, short flight over to the small island, got on the back of a passing pickup truck, and soon we were home.

I was the happiest man on earth.

I am the happiest man on earth.

I keep talking about the island, because I keep thinking about the island, and how much we miss it and wish we were there.

I’ve shown a few photos from it already, and the slideshow from the wedding. Today I remembered movieStar produced a couple of videos for the company, and they’re pretty good at showing the place, and the energy over there.

If you’d like to see them, you’ll find the links below. Beware, they’re YouTube links.

I Am From Príncipe!

I Am Príncipe

It’s our second home, hope you like it.

First Visit

Feels like a lifetime ago.

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While his mother tended to the vegetable garden, the sweet baby waited patiently.

I often wonder how they’re all doing.

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The King.

Party day at the island.

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Not the biggest waterfall, not by a long shot, but it feels great after the hike to get there. Another thing we miss from the island.

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Rainy day at home, what is one supposed to do ? Reminisce.

It rains a lot in Príncipe as well, but somehow rain doesn’t feel the same over there.

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Out fishing…

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Follow up to the umbrella post, here’s another in in use during actual rain. Nature being cool and humans, sometimes, cool as well.

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Girl with umbrella.

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VSCO now has a Kodachrome inspired filter, KC25. Free for a while, then part of the X subscription.

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The airport in Príncipe is the smallest one I’ve been to. A daily flight from STP, weather permitting, is the main link to the world. People come to see who’s leaving or arriving, drop and pick up packages, and gossip. From time to time a larger plane lands. Party time.

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Just have to remember to always keep smiling…

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Missing the open road.

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Another one of the When Friends Come to Visit… This is my favorite beach in the world. They always like it too.

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The dream house.

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The bride and the bridesmaids, just before movieStar and I were married. Best time of my life.

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A cozy corner of the island, there are dozens of these…

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The lonely fisherman.

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Another friend from the island, and one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in my life.

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