The Pier of Santa Maria — Attraction in undefined

Not rating the pier itself. Just want to give a heads up to any travellers, especially female solo traveller when any local man wanted to talk to you. I will give as much details as possible. So there is a local man called Max tried to talk to me when I finished my swim and walking up from the pier along Rua Georges Vynckier to the R. 1 de Junho junction. He was friendly and introduced me to his local culture, I was like why not converse with locals. He said he tried to talk with tourists and learn their cultures. He got family and friends around where I lived (countries) before he wanted to show me a local market and his mum. (He was a bit friendly touchy, not sure if it is the culture but I was fine at that point) He said he is an artist and try to help children in his country to buy uniforms and make sure they can go to school, I was cautious yet gave him the benefit of a doubt. So he brought me to his store, the so called local market which the souvenir wooden pieces his mum made and drawings he drew and I know at that point it is a tourist scam. So he wanted me to pick all the pieces I want and he claimed he was gonna give me a good price. I struggled but picked 2 small wooden pieces and he kinda made me pick his drawing too. I only have a backpack coming from the UK so I picked a small on marginally my aesthetic out of kindness. Then he told me he was gonna charge any Caucasian or European A HEFTY 95 EUROS for small souvenirs like such, and he knew I am asian so he was gonna charge me HEFTY 75 EUROS. Obviously, I’ve been to other stores and I sort of have an idea of the prices. Altho most of the stores try not to put the prices out so they can scam tourists. Honestly, you can find much more prettier arts in elsewhere with much lower price. And obviously the pieces are not really one of a kind. So it totally not justified for what it is. At the end I offered him €20 for all of that. I still think it is overpriced. Just for the benefit of a doubt that he will really try to help the kids. Although I’m not so sure if that’s even the truth. A small painting on a cost for euros in a convenience-supermarket-ish store. And wooden pieces from 5 euros to 8 euros. He was very unwilling as if I was making an impossible demand. But he said he treated me as friend all that (yes friend so he could scam me.) And he was touching my arm and shoulder quite a bit in the store and that point I started to feel not ok.

So the common tactics of the souvenir stores are to ask you pick all the pieces you want and negotiate at a ridiculous high prices so they can bargain with you. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND go to the main road which there are three supermarket with souvenirs. If you see something you like just get it there, or just look at the prices and go back to the other souvenirs store with the price which you know is gonna be reasonable. The local store will likely just agree on the price. Cause a lot of things like magnets are apparently made in China and the reasonable price for a magnet...

Has a lovely walk to the Santa Maria pier from our hotel that was about 30 min walk. There, you’ll find local fishermen with fresh fish, and a few men sculpting turtles and other shapes out of their local rock. I bought a cute little one for 20€, and the gentleman even wrote “Cabo Verde” at the bottom, and they have different sizes but this is what it could fit in our cabin lugagge. Absolutely beautiful 😻 You’ll also find some stalls selling bracelets and jewelry. I got the 2 bracelets in the picture for around 3€ each. Then you’ll also see the typical tour stalls. Just keep in mind that several people may approach you asking if you’ve been to the market and offering to take you there. Politely decline, as some are trying to lead you to the wrong market as it is a common tourist scam. Near the pier, there are also a few shops where you can rent surfboards and...

Lovely clean beach with soft yellow sand, stunning sea and a pier crammed with locals selling fish. The beach is getting busier as tourism to Sal increases but there is always lots of space. There are restaraunts and bars all along the beach front; a little expensive but perfectly nice. There is surfing & paddle boarding, kite surfing further along the beach and even a small gym on the sand. You do have to get past lots of locals and Senegalese selling their wears and people trying to get you to go to the 'special market' where their mother will try to sell you wooden turtles and banana tree baskets at extortionate prices. However they are very nice and don't mind you saying no politely and you will probably get a better bargain on your way back from the beach in...