Porto Grande, Cape Verde Islands

Sitting a couple hundred miles off the African coast, it's not so grande. In fact, it appears to be a fairly poor place inhabited in part by the descendants of the African slaves brought to these islands centuries ago. The hills around Cape Verde look as bleak as Morocco's, for example. We did appreciate the band welcoming us at the dock, playing a distinctive style of quasi-Caribbean music.

A couple of Chinese fishing boats (we think) contributed to the somewhat dismal environment as we hike along the dock into town, stretching our legs rather than waiting for the shuttle bush.

Here's an attendant at the gas station air dispenser waiting to spring into action for a tip.

Pretty scenes to snap before we head back to the ship on a very quiet Sunday afternoon in Porto Grande.