Further impressions

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The jouney through Pilao Cao made a special impression on us. For that you drive from Calheta towards north. About 1.5km behind Ponta Verde there's an unbowed part of the street in front of a sharp curve turning right. Just before that curve a street not being signposted branches to the left that you have to take. After about 4km you are coming through the village of Pilao Cao. Afterwards a steep, but good built way follows. In a sharp right turning curve you can go straight on and park there to enjoy the beautiful view. Here we also saw the children that together with women drag heavy water canisters the way up to Pilao Cao.

Children near Pilao Cao (click picture to enlarge it)

Only 500 metres onwards we found a very special place. There is a spring from that the children get the water. The water reservoir next to it was also used for bathing. Who by the way has looked carefully, perhaps has recognized that all children wear flipflops on their feet. Indeed we have seen this many times and thought that you could not run with them - we were disabused. Children play even football (i.e. soccer) with them!

Spring of water near Pilao Cao (click picture to enlarge it)

On the opposite side of the street, women wash their clothes. Six publicly accessible "washing machines" stand there and a big tree gives shade. My wife immediately got into a conversation with them and precisely because she also does not speak any Portuguese (never mind Creole), there was a lot of laughter. At last, for amusement of all present people, she was permitted to participate washing and was marvelled, how onerous it is.

Washing clothes near Pilao Cao (click picture to enlarge it)

At the same place we also saw the donkey below that drags water, too. The muzzle that all donkeys wear on the island, prevents the donkey to nibble the maize on the fields.

Donkey helping to carry water (click picture to enlarge it)

On our return out of the valley, we picked up an old women and two of the laundresses above and took them to the next village. Unfortunately the other ones (according to the usual practice) again had to drag the wet and heavy clothes up to Pilao Cao.

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