Sao Vicente, the Pearl of West Africa

Sao Vicente is sometimes called the Pearl of West Africa, but is perhaps one of the lesser known islands within the Cape Verde Archipelago. However it's well worth a visit as is also known as the carnival and cultural capital of this Archipelago.

Its name comes from the fact that it was discovered on St Vincent’s day on January 22 in 1462 by the Portuguese. However it remained a small and sleepy island until the British discovered it would be ideal as a natural deep water port in the 19th century, and they went on to develop a harbour in Porto Grande to enable the shipment of coal on Atlantic routes. It's still the largest and most active port in the Cape Verde, and nowadays it has a population of around 70,000 people.

One of the main attractions of this island is its beautiful beaches, especially the Bai Das Gatas lagoon which was formed through volcanic activity. Another stunning beach is Praia Grande which has the extinct volcano as its backdrop. However music is a huge part of the culture in this island, and there is even a Brazilian style carnival in the streets of Mindelo which is usually held in late February. Another notable festival takes place in August at the Bai Das Gatas lagoon, and is a three-day event.

There are plans underway for quite substantial development on the island, including a world-class Ernie Els designed golf course, and Nikki Beach is to develop a residential scheme and a five-star hotel. The company also has plans for another five-star hotel in the capital city of Mindelo, while a former fort will be converted into a casino.

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Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada

Sahl Hasheesh is around 20 km south of Hurghada in Egypt's Red Sea Riviera, and is very much a resort town that is rapidly growing in popularity. In January 2011 capacity here was nearly 100%, however immediately after the revolution capacity dropped to a low point of around 5%, but is now recovering nicely.

Egyptian Resorts Company, who are a developer of mega communities estimates that occupancy is now around 50% capacity, and is confident enough to launch a new public beach in the downtown area which will be open to residents and visitors to the resort town. Their original plan was to complete the downtown area along with the new public beach for the summer, but this has been put on hold just until things settle down.

Egyptian Resorts Company controls the land supply in this area, and is making sure that development is carefully controlled so that there is adequate infrastructure, and no random houses or compounds can be built.

The eventual aim is to transform Sahl Hasheesh into a year-round community. At the moment it is concentrating on infrastructure within the resort, and is also developing public relations and marketing campaigns so that when business returns to normal this resort will be ahead of competitors.

Sahl Hasheesh is a resort around two thirds the size of Manhattan which is being constructed in three phases, at the moment the town has its own offices, schools, hospital, parks, entertainment and restaurants. The marina here is especially nice as it is constructed in a Mediterranean style, and offers visitors a beach and entertainment facilities in the same area.

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The Many and Varied Attractions of Hurghada

Hurghada is one of the biggest resorts in the Red Sea Riviera, but is often overshadowed by Sharm el Sheikh. However there are several reasons as to why this resort is better. To put it simply, it has a bit of everything, and the sheer number of activities offered to holidaymakers make it very hard to beat.

Its primary claim to fame is perhaps as the diving capital of the world, and certainly you'll find world-class facilities here. If you are looking to learn how to scuba dive, then there is probably no better place to do so, as the waters are warm and clear, and coral reefs are superb. It's also an excellent location for families as there is safe snorkelling and swimming, and of course there are always lots of boat trips on offer. Most places will not allow kids under the age of 10 to scuba dive.

Although Hurghada is quite a lively resort at night, there are plenty of quieter places nearby including El Gouna, Soma Bay and Makadi Bay.

If you ever become tired of the glorious beaches and then there is lots to do and see nearby. There are numerous camel safaris on offer, or you can choose to travel a little further afield to see the pyramids or the Valley of the Kings.

It's easy to see why so many people choose to buy property here, as it is considerably cheaper than Sharm el Sheikh, and the flight connections are just as good. It has the same high standard of amenities, and is fast becoming extremely popular. It's a year-round resort, and many people are able to earn good rental income from property here.

Why choose Cape Verde?

Cape Verde could still be considered a developing country. Although this may be a little unfair as substantial investment has entered the country over the last few years, and considerable improvements have been made to the standard of living, health care and education for its citizens. However in some ways it is still very much a developing nation, and there are substantial opportunities for investors choosing to get in at the start of the action.

Tourism is becoming far more established, and although the Archipelago has been popular with Italian and Portuguese tour operators for a number of years, it is also being discovered by other European countries, especially the UK. This has led to substantial plans for property development, and there are numerous hotels and holiday homes under construction as the current number of hotel beds will not meet predicted demand.

One of the most popular islands for both visitors and investors is Sal, which is a true beach resort with gorgeous white sandy beaches and turquoise sea. Sight-seeing on this island is relatively limited, but there is a salt lake in an extinct volcano crater in the north of the island, and this is well worth a visit.

The main attraction is the sea, which is full of Marine life including dolphins and turtles, and the majority of people come to this island for water sports, especially diving. It has an excellent reputation with windsurfers, and is considered one of the top five locations in the world. The largest town is Santa Maria which has a lively atmosphere and a comprehensive choice of restaurants and bars.

The island itself is quite barren, and for this reason many locals have chosen to move to other parts of the Archipelago, making this the ideal location for holiday resorts.

Just a few of the things I love about Altinkum

Altinkum is, in my opinion perfectly located as it is on a peninsula on the Aegean coast of Turkey. It is in an area called Didim, a very laid-back and friendly environment. You'll find the locals here extremely welcoming and willing to pass the time of day with you over a glass of apple tea. Many people return here year after year as it's such a great place to stay. The name Altinkum translates as golden sand, and when you see the beautiful beaches you'll understand how perfectly suited to this name is to this gorgeous little resort.

Until recently this town used to be quite a small and sleepy place, but around 15 years ago people from larger cities began to realise the attractions of living here and started to build holiday homes and second homes, and a lot of them have chosen to retire here. Obviously the beaches here are a huge lure, and there is a wide range of watersports available to those who wish for an active holiday. Those of us who prefer lying on the beach while pretending to read are well catered for as there are numerous sunbeds and umbrellas available to rent.

I might be giving the impression that this is a very sleepy little town, but there is still plenty to do and see, especially for those who are interested in ancient history as this area is certainly rich in ruins. You can discover the numerous beaches and coves by taking one of the organised daily boat trips from the harbour during the summer season, and there are also fishing trips available. I really believe this is the perfect location for a second home, or for anyone looking to buy a holiday property with the view to earning rental income.

Cape Verde Population Increases to Nearly Half a Million

The latest census of Cape Verde has shown that the population has increased to 492,000 people. When the first population census was carried out in 1960, the population was just 201,000.

July 11 was a World Population Day, and the chairman of the National Statistics Institute, Antonio Duarte pointed out that the population of this tiny archipelago is extremely young with an average age of just 26.8 years. A massive 54% of the population is less than 25 years old, and the majority of people live in urban areas. The average Cape Verdean woman has 4.2 children, and the life expectancy at birth is now a very respectable 74 years.

The illiteracy rate on the island was 25.2% in 2000, and that has dropped considerably to just 17%. Maternal and child mortality rates have also shown significant improvement during the last few years. In short, the country is well on its way to achieving the majority of the Millennium Development Goals. The population of Cape Verde is forecast to increase to 630,000 people by 2020 which represents an average annual increase of nearly 3%.

The Millennium Development goals include important issues such as eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring every child has access to good primary education and improving maternal health and reducing child mortality. Other important issues include ensuring sustainable developments and making sure that everyone has access to clean drinking water.

Cape Verde has already achieved its aims of ensuring good primary education, gender equality, a reduction in child mortality and an improvement in maternal health. Other goals remain well on track to be achieved.

Which is the best Cape Verdean Island?

Cape Verde has several islands which have luxury developments for sale, but I think that Boa Vista is one of the nicest islands for anyone looking for a second home, or an investment property.

This is because it is the third largest island and has sufficiently well-developed infrastructure to be able to support the growing tourism industry. Most of the native population no longer live on the island as conditions are often extremely dry which makes it very difficult for any agricultural activity. This is the reason why Boa Vista is often known as the Island of Dunes and Beaches, as it is ideal for tourism and has some of the nicest beaches in the archipelago.

It has an abundance of marine life, and if you choose to visit during June through to November, you may even spot turtles nesting on the southernmost beaches. It is one of the most important nesting sites in the world.

Some visitors also spot humpbacked whales off the islet of Sal Rei, with the best times for viewing being the months of December to February. The beautiful coastline offers miles of unspoilt walks, and the waters are ideal for watersports and deep sea fishing. There are also lots of quad biking tours available.

Nightlife on the island is relatively quiet, but there are a few concerts during the summer, including the common music festival which takes place in August on Santa Cruz. The other major festival takes place on the 4^th July, which is the day of Santa Isabel who is the patron saint of the island.

Why is Hurghada so special?

Although Hurghada has undergone development since the nineteen eighties, it is only really during the last decade that there has been substantial growth. It has become a thriving resort with over 200 hotels, although many holiday makers choose to rent one of the numerous luxury apartments. Nearly 2 million tourists visited the resort in 2008, and this number is increasing steadily each year. It is essentially a year round resort, although the busiest seasons tend to be from September to November, and March until May.

A large attraction of Hurghada is that it has excellent amenities, but property here is a lot cheaper than the rival resort of Sharm el Sheikh. It remains to be seen how long this situation will continue, as the resort is still being developed and is increasing in popularity. The biggest attraction of Hurghada is of course the Red Sea, and the majority of tourists will come to take part in the numerous watersports offered here.

Tourism is the main industry in Hurghada, but a number of people are employed in construction, mining and fishing. A lot of people living in the resort are foreigners who come here, fallen under its spell, and never left. Most work in real estate and tourism, or have local businesses. Property investment in this resort has become more prevalent over the last few years, and the recent resolution of some of the property disputes which have been rumbling on for the past few months are bound to give this region a boost. Most of the buyers in Hurghada are British, German or Russian, and newly built compounds just outside the city are proving increasingly popular as many come with private beach access.

Turkey increases exports by an amazing 25%

Latest data from the Turkish Exporters Union (TIM) shows that Turkey increased its exports in June by an incredible 25.2% when compared to the same month in 2010, and exports for June have now reached $11.51 billion. This latest data shows that exports are continuing to drive Turkey's economic growth, and the figures for exports during the last year total nearly $125 billion.

The majority of Turkey's exports are down to industry, and this sector has increased by 25.6% over the same month in 2010, and accounts for nearly 85% of total exports. The remaining 15% is divided between the mining sector and the agricultural sector, with the mining sector contributing 3.22% to the total amount of exports for June, while the agricultural sector accounted for the remaining 11.91%. The car industry accounted for the highest revenues at $1.8 billion, which is closely followed by the textile industry with $1.48 billion. The iron and steel industry and the chemical goods industries were not far behind, accounting for $1.31 billion and $1.46 billion respectively.

Overall the fishery and livestock industry has expanded its exports by the highest percentage when compared with figures for June 2010, with an incredible 99.69% increase. The trade in cereals increased by 49.79% in June compared to June 2010, and the ornamental plant industry increased by 40.59%. Not all industries fared so well, as the shipping and fruit industries saw declines of 35.23% and 15.13% in June.

The TIM President Mehmet Buyukeksi is very pleased with these figures and feels that Turkey has successfully implemented an economic recovery program. He is quoted as saying "These are strong growth figures, price and financial stability in the country.”

One of the most interesting facts about this recent data is that it showed exports were increasing to EU countries, especially those who have been hardest hit by the crisis.

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Hurghada is an all-round resort

Hurghada is fast gaining a reputation as a town which has something for everyone. It is already well known as a holiday resort which attracts visitors from around the world who come to enjoy not just the year round sun, but also the world class water sports. It is perhaps less well known for being an international business hub.

In addition it is also a very busy port city, and a truly international destination which welcomes every nationality. Up until now, these attributes have gone largely unnoticed, as it is best known for being a resort where property is still very affordable, but some industry experts now believe that Hurghada may one day overtake Sharm el-Sheikh in popularity.

This view is partly due to the fact that the deposed President Mubarak chose to take refuge in his holiday villa in Sharm el-Sheikh before heart problems forced him to enter hospital. His presence in the resort lead to a large prevalence of security forces in the resort, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in visiting tourists.

Hurghada also offers a different holiday experience from Sharm el-Sheikh, as it’s bazaars and souks lead it to have a much more authentic feel, as opposed to the more sophisticated and high-end amenities of Sharm el-Sheikh. However this doesn’t mean that Hurghada doesn’t have the capability of becoming as sophisticated, as all the potential is there. This is partly due to the fact that Hurghada has a number of what are called satellite resorts, such as El Gouna which has a number of man-made lagoons that would be more at home in glitzy Dubai. Sal Hasheesh is another part of Hurghada which has tremendous potential, and which is being sold off as a self-contained resort village.