Boa Vista Experience

andre · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:37 pm Post subject: CHAPEL + BEN'OLIEL GRAVES

These can be seen in close proximity to The Marine Club, at the far end of Praia Cabral.

Just before the Marine Club, on the right, are the graves of the Ben'Oliel family, a Jewish family who fled the Moroccan persecution of the Jews in 1872.

There is also the tomb of Julia Pettingall, a 19 year old English woman,daughter of Charles Pettingall, an administrator at the Luso-British Commission. Julia was a victim of Yellow Fever,which struck Boavista in the 1840s. She and her family left for another island because of the illness. However they returned to Boavista as her father believed the threat was over. He was wrong.Julia died in November 1845. Then on the boat to Sao Nicolau, her father died, followed by her fiance.

Beyond the Marine Club you can see the ruins of the chapel and the path leading to it. There was once a house here, with steps leading down to the beach.

Andre

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 910

Andre,

a little know fact is that the colonial house in which the Ben'Oliel family lived during their time on Boa Vista was owned by the anti-slavery Luso-British Commission and it is now the Migrante Guesthouse.

John Dowling

MaioCV · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:47 am Post subject:

It's actually really refreshing to read something of the history of Cape Verde and events.

Did you know that Maio is supposed to be the hide out of the legendary pirate Black Beard?

Laughing

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Mark.

Online Magazine Maio, Cape Verde

andre · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:05 am Post subject:

John, I was aware of the Migrante connection. Fascinating info Mark. Do you not think that there is still so much to uncover, things that are known in local folklore, however have never become known to the English speaking world? If we could understand Crioulu, read old archives, we would know more.
Looking at many of the "period" buildings in Sal Rei, I believe there must have been quite a bit of happenings in days gone bye. Imagine Avenida de Pescadores 150 years ago, or the large square. Have any of you been in the store selling mostly hardware + whitegoods, that many years ago must have been a pharmacy? There is the most beautiful wooden wall cabinet, covering the whole wall, with all these small ornate little drawers. It is behind the main counter. I wonder if the value of that wall unit is appreciated? It needs restoring. It would be a sin if it was just got rid of!
Andre

admin · Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 547

The Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, Inc. wants to preserve Cape Verde’s Judaic heritage by honoring the memory of and carrying out research on the many Jewish families the immigrated to Cape Verde during the 19th Century.

According to news agency Inforpress, Carol Castiel, the president of the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, Inc., a US-based NGO, is currently on the island of Santo Antão to contact local authorities and sign a protocol with the Ribeira Grande municipal chamber aimed at helping preserve Jewish traditions on the island. One of the Project’s objectives is to restore the Jewish cemeteries on the islands of Santo Antão, Boa Vista and Santiago.

In Castiel’s view, the recuperation of Judaic patrimony could contribute toward attracting tourists to Cape Verde, as a market niche aimed at religious heritages exists within the sector.

The Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, Inc. will organize the sponsors interested in investing in the project in order to guarantee financing for the recuperation of the cemeteries. Oral and archival research on Jewish families in Cape Verde continues, with the publication of books on Cape Verde’s Jewish communities and the organization of symposiums on the Jewish presence in Portuguese-speaking Africa among the NGO’s other objectives.
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www.boavistaexperience.com

Heidi · Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 57 Location: herts

wow guys great work, gives a real depth to the feel of Boa Vista and its heritage. You get a great view from the Marine Club pier of the Chapel. Cool

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 910

Heidi,

I presume that this is the view you are referring to:

John