SUMMER BLISS WITHOUT THE CROWDS: TARRAFAL

#myhiddengems TARRAFAL, CAPE VERDE This is Tarrafal, at the tip of Santiago Island in Cape Verde. It'll take you an hour or more to drive here from the capital city, Praia. An hour or two of driving just for a beach? Two beaches, actually. And a very small town. With great food. Freshly caught fish straight from the nets. Caught in warm, turquoise blessed waters. Beautiful small sandy beaches with barely any swimmers! Where did they all go? Well, they're all treading on each other's toes for a grain of sand on the horribly overcrowded beaches of Spain, Greece and the Canary Islands. Ugh! Oh, and the scenery on the way between Praia and Tarrafal: rugged, mountainous, enchanting, unique. You will look in vain for similar terrain anywhere else on our beautiful planet. With mile after mile of cobbled road on the way back to Praia. Tarrafal, remember that name next time your friends bang on about doing a Mediterranean beach summer.