Airbnb - Cabo Verde Local Favorites

Chasing the last bit of World Cup energy, I traveled solo to Mindelo, Cabo Verde to direct and shoot a guide to the city with the Cabo Verde national team coach Bubista. "Local Favorites: Cabo Verde" showcased Bubista’s go-to spots in Mindelo and translated fans’ World Cup fever into travel bucket lists.

One of the most rewarding Instagram comments on the Bubista reel called out an on-the-fly production decision: “Love that he’s speaking in Kriolu. Most of the time they would’ve just had him speak Portuguese or English… even in Cabo Verde you don’t really see commercials in Kriolu.” With an incredibly short post timeline and a Portuguese-speaking editor ready to jump in, we had planned for Coach Bubista to speak Portuguese (which he spoke in most of his public appearances during the World Cup). But it became clear that if we were going to show the local experience in Cabo Verde we needed to do so in the native Kriolu language that you hear everywhere in Mindelo. This small choice had an impact. And the number of likes on that one Instagram comment made it clear that it mattered to have a global brand like Airbnb speaking the language of the people of Cabo Verde.

One Kriolu word sums up my short time in Cabo Verde: Morabeza. It’s the warmth and hospitality of Cabo Verdeans. I felt it immediately. From the taxi driver who picked me up from the airport (he knew everything about my hometown Boston Red Sox) to the family who opened their home to our crew for an impromptu seafood feast, that's what I'll remember most about this trip.