Morna composer Manuel de Novas writes in one of his poems: "Quem ca conchê Mindelo, Ca conché Cabo-Verde": if you do not know Mindelo, you do not know Cape Verde. We would tend to agree, as while the arid São Vicente may not offer a typical landscape (a few beaches to relax on and hills to climb), its colourful capital channels a cultural, artistic and festive life, the reputation of which is now international thanks to the singer Cesária Évora.