Daniela — a beach on the north west side of the island facing the continent. The sort of day you would need your head examined if you had anything to complain about.
The fishermen load their net into a small boat called Mane da Ilha, then row out in an arc, paying out the net into the water as they go. Returning to shore, and the horseshoe trap set, the two ends of the net are gradually pulled in, hand over hand. Simple, but effective, and no doubt this method has been practiced for many years.
As the guys are sorting their catch — a few tainha, some sardines, crabs, jellyfish and seaweed, someone spots a dolphin out in the bay, and for a short while we’re all on board the Pequod, scrutinizing the water, shielding our eyes from the glare of the sun, and pointing.
There are several dolphins, arcing lazily through the water — and dolphins mean fish! The fishermen hurriedly reload their net into Mane da Ilha and set off again in anticipation of a larger, dolphin-aided catch.
Meanwhile I slip into the water, the dolphins are a couple of hundred yards away, but at least I can now say that — once I went swimming with the dolphins.
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