The students banded together today to get Amistad to Ilha da Boavista.  They did a great job calling all the shots.  Haley had the command in the morning, and dressed for the part in Paul's green full body flight suit and sunglasses. She practiced her captain's stance by folding her arms across her chest and glaring at all her minions. The students spent the rest of the day navigating and ordering the crew about the deck setting and striking sails. They kept us all really busy, and it was nice to do a day sail. Cape Verde Islands are like nothing I have imagined!  The two Islands we have been to, Ilha do Sal and Ilha da Boavista are desert landscapes in the middle of the Ocean.  The cruising guide book describes them as pieces of the Sahara dessert.  Barren mountains and exploded volcanoes tower over high sand dunes.  The wind carves snaking grooves into the beaches.  As we came into Ilha da Boavista, it was nearing sunset, and the clouds cast beautiful shadows over the yellow and peach landscape.  Most of the landscape looked undeveloped.  However, a tan industrial area rose out of the sand with orange cranes hovering above to continue growth.  Another strip of multistoried buildings cramped together on a hillside were first dark grey when I saw them.  They looked very depressing, until the clouds moved away
to reveal that the buildings are painted bright orange and yellow.   The
Islands have these great brightly colored painted boats as well.  I can't wait to go ashore.  I'm looking forward to walking, since I can only walk around the Amistad's decks so many times.
 

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