If you get a trivia question asking what country’s capital is the same name as the country here’s your clue…
*click on photos to enlarge
We went to the capital city São Tomé located on the Island of São Tomé. This island country is located in the Gulf of Guinea and off the Northwest coast of Gabon. Two islands make up the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe. Colonized by the Portuguese and once a trade center for the Atlantic slave trade. Volcanic soil and its location by the equator made it a perfect place to grow sugar and cocoa. In the early 1900’s it was the world’s largest cocoa exporter and the islands were referred to as “The Chocolate Islands”. Today 85% of its GDP is foreign aid and 90% of its food is imported. This country of 200,000 gained its independence in 1975 and is mostly Christian. The residents today are mostly decedents of the slave population.
It definitely reeks “island life”. Humid! Dilapidated but gorgeous, colorful Portuguese colonial buildings were closer to the shoreline and the heart of the city center. Tin structures, rickety wooded homes and concrete structures dot the hillside. Orange stain leaches up the sides of homes like Easter eggs dipped in liquid henna. Everything in the yard is dusted in the matching color.
Bill referred to a couple of streets as “Rainbow Row” reminding him of the colorful homes that line East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina.
We spent lots of time exploring on foot. It was so hot and humid that by the time we returned to the ship our tops were completely soaked in sweat.
