Boa Vista Experience

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 912

It is currently raining on Boa Vista. The dark clouds heralding the arrival of a good downpour came yesterday afternoon. This morning a few drops fell, but in late afternoon the rain began to fall with greater intensity. It was not possible to know through the Meteorology the weather prediction for today (25/08/09), but overnight is to expected to be heavy rain with lightning and thunderstorms.

For the second time it has rained on Boa Vista this summer. But farmers in the North are hopeful that this will be a year of good harvest on the island.

Some have already begun sowing, but many still wait for more rain falls and the ground gets even more wet to throw seed on the ground. Meanwhile, they are taking the opportunity to reserve water for the cultivation of irrigated land.

Last year the rain fell in abundance on Boa Vista, after more than seven years without rain. Leaving Boa Vista less dependant on the import of vegetables from other islands. It was a good year for livestock, thus resulting in increased production of the famous goats cheese of Boa Vista.

A Semana

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 912

Boa Vista’s Riu Karamboa hotel has once again fallen victim to the forces of nature. Monday’s rains caused water to flood some of the hotel’s rooms, its reception and all of its administrative sector. For hours, employees and tourists alike used mops and brooms to remove the water, and this morning the situation repeated itself once again. This week marked the second time the hotel has faced this type of problem. In July, the printed version of A Semana reported that many of the hotel’s rooms had been invaded by sands from Boa Vista’s notoriously beautiful dunes. This time around, it was rain water that caused the damage. A number of rooms, most of them on the ground floor, were inundated, with many of its guests’ belongings ruined by the water.

Tourists have expressed shock at their losses, especially after having paid for what is considers first-class accommodation (the hotel bills itself as five stars), only to have to wrestle with rain water. Some of the tourists attempted to help, rolling up their sleeves alongside employees and grabbing mops and brooms to push the water out of the building.

Not even the Cape Verdean Prime Minister escaped the aquatic avalanche. José Maria Neves, who was taking advantage of his trip to the island to swear in the president of the PAICV’s Regional Political Commission president to spend the rest of the weekend, watched the battle against Mother Nature, who once again decided to take revenge for not having been consulted by those who built the enterprise.

With the rains that fell this morning, tourists are once again on alert. All say they are unhappy with the flood, which was, after all, more than predictable. “And if it rains all day, how will things be? To make matters worse, we have to stay confined in here because we can’t go on any excursions, the roads are unusable and the sea is filthy. And all of this during just one week of vacation. We don’t want to have to go through all this again. They need to resolve this problem,” complained one of the guests.

A Semana

lisajane · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 1

Hello

I just wanted to reassure those who have booked a holiday to Boa Vista and are now worried about the rain. We were actually in Boa Vista, staying in the Riu Karumboa, on the several occasions that it did rain over the last weeks and it did not spoil our holiday in the slightest, in fact we quite enjoyed running from our hotel room to the restaurants trying to dodge getting wet, we didn't succeed!

The staff were amazing and did everything they could to make the hotel safe for the guests, they laid towels everywhere even in front of room doors, we were on the 1st floor and did experience the corridors getting quite wet but no water ventured under the door. I think those that did get flooded were very unfortunate but we did not hear of any this while we were there, this is the first I have heard of it.

If you go thinking that it could rain, you will be prepared for if and when it does. Those staying at the Riu Karumboa are very fortunate compared to some of the locals.

We had a fantastic time and very much enjoyed our stay on Boa Vista, I would definitely recommend it.

Lisa x
_________________
Lisa Hudson