It is the penultimate day of Carnival in Mindelo. In the morning, we stroll through the city center and pass the monument Pescadora buscando água (Fisherwoman Fetching Water). The statue serves as a reminder that water is a precious commodity in Cape Verde.
Many residents of the islands are not connected to the public water supply and must carry water home in jugs from public water points. On steep mountain slopes, this is a major challenge.
At the Palácio do Povo, we see for ourselves that the stage structures are complete, as are the grandstands for spectators on Avenida Baltazar Lopes da Silva and Rua de Liberdade d’Africa. Grandstands with approximately 8,000 seats have been erected for the carnival.
In the early evening, snacks, sweets, and drinks are sold at Praça D. Luís. Afterward, the first parade participants gather in front of the Centro Cultural do Mindelo and showcase their beautiful costumes.
The excitement is building. The equipment is being tested one last time. The camera crew from RTC (Radio and Television of Cape Verde) is taking their positions.
The first drones take to the sky. It is amazing what they can do.
During the parades, we could see up to six drones in the sky at the same time.
Around 8:30 p.m., the Professores (teachers) took the stage. Their performance lasts an hour. They need about two hours to cover the entire route.
After that, there is a short break. During this break, Ursula meets Mr. Gabriel Delgado. He is a journalist and cameraman at RTC, and is responsible for media communications in Mindelo. He invites us to his office at RTC the following morning.
At 9:45 p.m., the Mandingas de São Vicente take the stage. It is another extraordinary spectacle.
We bring the wonderful evening to a close with a fireworks display.
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