Bissau

Bissau is the capital of Guinea-Bissau, a country that once was a Portuguese colony. Although Portuguese is the official language, most locals aren’t fluent in it. Instead, they speak a Creole language that blends Portuguese with African languages. My main inspiration for this trip to West Africa was to visit Guinea-Bissau as part of my project to visit all countries where Portuguese is an official language.

I spent a night and the following morning in Bissau before setting off for the Bijagos Islands. Compared to other capitals in the region, Bissau had a more relaxed atmosphere. The influence of the former Portuguese presence is still visible in the many decaying colonial buildings and the local cuisine. At Gorilla Rooms Hostel, I met a Scottish traveler named Hamish, and we ended up traveling together for the next week.Read more