Boa Vista in the African island nation of Cape Verde is sparsely populated and sleepy – a paradise far away from the strains of European urban life.

Its main town, Sal Rei, is home to around 6,000 people, while the former capital Rabil is more like a village. Its houses are modest, built with blocks and colourfully decorated, although the paint quickly peels in the tropical sunshine. The homes around the main square in Sal Rei are a little more grand, but also with a charming air of dilapidation.

My hotel was newer and inevitably in much better condition, with rustic yellow and light brown walls, which caught the sun beautifully.

Click first image to view this selection