A short visit to Sao Tome & Principe

Today we are in Sao Tome and Principe is the second smallest African country. Sao Tome (St. Thomas in Portuguese) founded in 1470 and is one of Africa’s oldest colonial cities. These islands are located about 25 miles north of the equator. So a little background about this place.  

• Sao Tome gained independence in 1975. Principe became autonomous in 1995.
• The population is comprised largely of slave ancestry, many of Jewish origin.
• Both islands are part of Cameroon volcanic mountain line.
• It was one of the first countries in Africa to adopt democracy in 1991.
• The islands are somewhat of a bird watching paradise.
• 95% of its exports are cocoa. Before cocoa, it was sugar cane.
• About a third of Sao Tome and Principe is covered by rain forests.

With 3 sea days coming up, we decided we should at least go into the city and have a look around. Their port isn’t large enough to handle big cruise ships so it was a situation where we had to tender in, then catch a shuttle to the downtown area. 

 

view from our veranda this morning

 

Cathedral of Sao Tome ahead

 

residential area

Equador?

African crafts for sale

a quick peak inside a beauty salon

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fresh coconut stands

coconut vendor

 

sidewalk merchandizing

peak inside a ladies dress shop

Once downtown, we walked around for a bit but it was extremely hot and humid and the wife of the couple we were with wasn’t feeling well, but we decided to hit the (few) high spots. We walked up to the cathedral and I snapped a few photos as we walked around. We also saw the Presidential Palace but it was heavily guarded and others told us that photos were not allowed. However, I did snap the one below from a distance. 

 

Presidential Palace

Our Lady of Grace Cathedral