DAY 1, Monday - Departed for the Azores
This was a Gate 1 Stay and See Trip. They book the flights and hotel, and we are on our own after that. We depart ATL for Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores via JFK. We had to ride the train from Terminal 4 to Terminal 1. Long ride. We checked-in our bags and went through security. Zach was selected for special scrutiny. We ran into Johnny Walker on our way to the gate.
We flew via Azores Airlines. Not many people on the flight. Everyone had a row to themselves. It didn't help
us sleep any better, though..
DAY 2, Tuesday - Arrived in Ponta Delgada and Orientation Walk-About
We arrived in Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores archipelago at 7am. Something was amiss. Only Cathy's bag was on the carousel. We went to the baggage office, and they said my bag was still at JFK. Why? We filled out some forms and they gave me credit to buy clothes and other stuff until my bag was delivered.
We arrived at the hotel too early, so, we did a walk-about along the waterfront promenade.
The Azores is part of Portugal. There are nine islands, all volcanic, 1786 volcanoes make up San Migual Island alone. The population of the Archipelago is about 250,000 with about half living on San Migual. Corvo Island only has 300 residents. Santa Maria was the 1st island discovered in 1427. Tourism, pineapples and tea are big here. Back to the walk, now.
Heart flower and random cow.
Town Gates.
Fortress.
Weird trees.
San Miguel concrete beach. Reminds us of Croatia.
The harbor. View from our room.
Nice sunset on the way to dinner.
The harbor at night.
We also had to spend some time buying clothes for me with the credit the airline gave me. There is only one flight a day from JFK to the Azores. Hopefully, my bag will be delivered tomorrow.
DAY 3, Wednesday - Walking Tour of Ponta Delgada
My bag is still lost at JFK. Had to buy some more clothes and toiletries.
Today we did a long walking tour of all the highlights and more of Ponta Delgada.
Saint Peter Church.
Farmers Market.
Saint Sebastian Cathedral.
Portas de Cidade.
Synagogue.
Sineira Bell Tower at the Synagogue has more than 100 narrow, twisting steps to the city view and beyond.
Amazing tree.
Convent and Santo Christo Church.
Church of San Jose closed.
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Fort Sao Bras.
Model for a star Wars Imperial Walkers?
Sacred historical stones.
The Harbor.
The Beach.
The Amphitheater at sunset.
Sunset.
Sushi dinner. We each had one of those trays.
DAY 4, Thursday - Full Day in Ponta Delgada
Today was somewhat disappointing. Our whale watching catamaran was cancelled due to rough seas. We rescheduled for Saturday morning. So, we went to the pool until the heavy clouds rolled in. Then we went to the gym for a little workout. It took us a while to figure out the machines since everything was in Portuguese.
Miraculously, when we returned to the room this was waiting for me. Funny, we didn't even notice it for several minutes. Never expected to see my bag again. So glad it made it back to me! The prayers to St Anthony were answered!
DAY 5, Friday - Full Day Jeep Tour of Sete Cidades Area
We traveled via jeep to the western side of São Miguel Island to Sete Cidades area. Andra our guide/driver was very knowledgeable. This Volcano is 6.2 miles wide and has 7 volcanoes and 3 major lakes inside, Blue, Green and Santiago lakes. The volcano is 630 meters at highest point, and it's been 1000 years since its last eruption.
Two-way road.
Feeding time.
Blue Lake. hard to tell with the clouds.
The Church in town.
Case Grande.
Lake of Empadadas.
Green Lake.
Tunnel to get rid of excess water in lake. Goes all the way to the ocean.
Hydrangeas are everywhere.
Santiago Lake.
Lake Carrario, on the other side of the rim road from Lake Santiago.
El Muro das Nove Janelas, the remnants of a stone aqueduct built through verdant hills.
More cows.
Pineapple farm. They use a special process in the greenhouses where smoke is applied. This somehow changes the usual 7-year growing process to just18 months.
DAY 6, Saturday - Full Day in Ponta Delgada
Of all our days traveling, today was the worst weather ever. Even in Tokyo we were able to go out in the rain to visit sites. Today an umbrella was useless. Wind was too strong. Needless to say, our whale watching was cancelled again due to even higher winds. We have rescheduled for Monday morning. Because of the weather the internet hasn't been working well. It's pretty boring for us, we can only go to the gym and read books for so long. We're supposed to go to the "Furnas" tomorrow. Maybe the weather will improve.
DAY 7, Sunday - All day Van Tour of the Furnas Area
It was a nice day for the journey to the Furnas Volcano. Great sights along the way and in the Volcano. It last erupted about 1000 years ago.
Philip our guide and driver was very knowledgeable. After departing Ponta Delgada, we had a short stop at the viewpoint called Pisão at Água de Pau. From this viewpoint, we saw the sea and the small fishing port of Caloura.
Vila Franca do Campo, first capital of the island in 1444.
Next stop was thee viewpoint of Senhora da Paz, a chapel on the hill.
Lots of hot sulphur springs, vents and bubbling, boiling water here. This is where the famous stew, Cozido das Furnas, is cooked in the boilers that are buried under the ash. It takes 8 hours to cook in the boilers. Our lunch was cooked here.
Parque Terra Nostra was pretty amazing.
Hot spring pool about 100 degrees.
These flowers are called "schoolgirls" because they start blooming about time school starts. They are all over the island like the Hydrangeas.
Enchanting.
In the hot spring. The temperature was 104 degrees.
After the Parque, we went to lunch.
We had 2 trays of these for 7 people. It was a lot of food.
Tie is boiled pig skin. I did try it. It was not to our taste. Yuck!
More hot sulpher springs in town.
Fico do Ferro viewpoint from the top of the volcano to where we came from.
We visited the tea plantation and factory Gorreana, unique in all of Europe. Open since 1883. We tasted the famous green and black tea of the island.
Viewpoint of Santa Iria.
Finally, another sunset not clouded over.
DAY 8, Monday - Dolphin and Whale Watching and Departed the Azores
Finally, we were able to go dolphin and whale watching with Futurismo Azores Adventures.
Started with great sunrise. Only one we saw. All the others were clouded over.
Saw hundreds of dolphins and 2 sperms whales. All I took was videos of them and our blog doesn't allow videos. The videos are on Facebook.
Flew home via JFK. We had a one-night stayover at JFK.
