Today we’re taking a brief island getaway in Cape Verde.

What I knew about the country before today

It’s a group of islands in the Atlantic that used to be a Portuguese colony. Oh, I’ve answered the former colony question a bit too early.

What’s Cape Verde’s top tourist attraction?

Unsurprisingly for an island nation in the tropics, Cape Verde’s beaches are its top draw. According to the always reliable (if reliably underwhelming) Trip Advisor, Praia de Santa Maria is Cape Verde’s best beach for swimming and taking in the rays.

I love a good beach, but personally I’d rather spend my time hiking on the westerly island of Santo Antão. The western Cape Verde islands are a lot greener than the eastern islands and Santo Antão’s ragged coastline, verdant valleys and mountains all look spectacular.

What was the last war or conflict Cape Verde took part in?

Cape Verde has only ever taken part in one war, and from what I can tell this didn’t even take place in Cape Verde. The Guinea-Bissau War of Independence independence conflict that took place in Portuguese Guinea in 1963 and 1974.

A Bizarre fact about Cape Verde

90% of the food eaten in Cape Verde is imported and on an unrelated note it’s estimated that Cape Verde has one goat for every two people. I wonder if that 10% non-imported food is 100% goat?

Was Cape Verde a former colony?

Yep. A Portuguese colony. Portuguese explorers discovered and colonised the islands in the 15th century, and then became prosperous during the following two centuries as they were ideally located to support the Atlantic slave trade.

What are Cape Verde’s main exports?

Cape Verde’s main exports are frozen fish and shellfish.

What’s Cape Verde’s National dish?

Cape Verde’s national dish is Cachupa, a stew made with beans, corn kernels, vegetables and fish or meat. Its Portuguese in origin and related to the Brazilian dish Feijoada.