Thursday 9th February - Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, The Azores.

It's been six days since we left Barbados.  It wouldn't have mattered where we landed, as long as we landed.  As it happens, we docked into Ponta Delgada at about 7 am this morning, and everyone on board ship is very happy about it.  It feels good to walk on ground that doesn't suddenly lurch up to meet you. 

Peter and I were determined to take advantage of the sensation and went ashore straight after breakfast.

Ponta Delgada - A city that the Toon Army would be proud of - it's all symmetry and black and white patterns.  I'm told that seeing patterns everywhere gives us humans the illusion of being in control.

Whatever the reason, it is very pretty.The roads and pavements are made of small black and white stone blocks in a vast array of mosaics. They seem to be very hard wearing and patterns are quite lovely.  These are the City Gates or "Portas de Cidade".


But we've taken a bus ride on this stuff (see Cape Verde).  It's not the smoothest of surfaces to drive on and I bet mechanics are making a fortune fixing vehicle suspension problems.  And I reckon there's a good chance that doctors have to do the same for people after they've rattled around in said vehicles for a few years.

And this tree is amazing. It's a metrosídero, also known as a Pōhutukawa, or a New Zealand Christmas tree, or an iron tree. It's evergreen and the was given to the island by Australia in 1870. In the summer it blooms with beautiful bright red pompom flowers. The branches are being held up with metal scaffolding type poles, and the air roots make it look like the tree has a beard. Maybe they should be grey? I mean, it's 140 years old.

I dunno what the locals do to their trees, or how the trees survive it, but the stubby tree on the left is quite normal here and in Madeira.  I tried to get an arty shot with the sun and the blue sky, but failed, so I've posted this one instead, it's outside the Forte de Sao Bras.




A Micro Library>>>
How cool is that!









And last but not least a couple of examples of graffiti.  Awesome!

After exploring all morning, we were out again after lunch to take advantage of the local wi-fi and escape the confines of the ship for as long as possible.  All too soon it was time to leave and start the last leg of our cruise.  We've got three sea days until we reach home, and the weather forecast is not good.  Fingers crossed it's not too bad either.  

Friday 8th February – Horta, Faial, The Azores.

We woke up this morning, had breakfast and went out on deck, but only for the few minutes we needed to get over the shock we had as we went out. ...........  It was cold!

Alright, maybe not cold like it is in the UK at the moment, but definitely less than we’ve been used to.  People were wearing trousers, and sweaters, and even coats!  Oh my, you can tell we are getting closer to home.

But today we are in Horta.  We didn’t arrive until 1pm, and it was still cold.  So after lunch, and putting on our fleeces for the first time in weeks, we set off for a walk round the little town. 

It’s a lovely little place, which I am certain would look brilliant with a bit of sun.  There’s not a lot to do and there isn’t much in the way of shopping.  But, for an afternoon’s stroll (much needed after 5 days at sea), and some time sitting in a pleasant cafe or bar watching the world go by, it is just the ticket.

Some pictures..

The trees are deliberately trimmed to look like this.  Amazing!

A pretty little park in the town centre, with these black swans.  Really lovely.

If you head left out of the port, towards the little hill (that Peter climbed last year), you'll find this tiny bay.  Really lovely, it reminded us of Cornwall.

Ponta Delgada tomorrow, and my flight home. (Now pulling sad face as I type this).

Day thirtytwo, Wednesday 2nd March, Ponta Delgada, Island of Sao Miguel, Azores

We’ve had a really good day today.  We woke up to the view of the port of Ponta Delgada which is on the south coast of Sao Miguel, one of nine islands that make up the Azores.

Our first impression.......?  These people have got OCD!  That’s a bit mean, but this place is so different after the unkempt and disorderly Caribbean.  Everything looked so neat and orderly and in place.

We were on a tour today, so this morning we followed our escort out to the bus where “Connie” our Portuguese tour guide met us.  Lovely lady, very enthusiastic, loves flowers, English not brilliant, very cheerful and chatty.  She did our heads in after a while.  The tour bus took us first to a ceramics factory.  It did seem to be a working factory, but maybe not a very busy one.  Staff appeared in various rooms for the period of our visit, demonstrating the skills.  Hand painted really does mean hand painted in this case.  I have to admit, I would not have chosen to visit a ceramics factory ordinarily, but it was mildly interesting.

From there the bus took us through the countryside to the place Peter and I had wanted to see, the Fire Lake.  Interestingly, the countryside is very green and has loads of cows, (shades of England).  The bus climbed the 900 metres to the edge of the crater and stopped at a couple of sites giving magnificent views over the lake.  Glorious. 

Sao Miguel island is actually very long and thin, made up of 3 volcanoes in a row of different ages.  If I remember rightly, the one furthest east is 6 million years old, the central one is 60,000 yrs old, and the one in the west is 1.3 million years old (thereabouts).   From our viewpoints almost central on the island, we could see the eastern volcano/hill and both the north and south coasts.

The views were spectacular and our tour guide explained that the area was now all national park with conservation orders all over it, although all outdoor activities such as walking and climbing were being encouraged.

The bus then took us down to the small city of Ribeira Grande, where we were left to our own devices for half an hour.  A lovely, lovely placewith fantastic buildings and a lovely little central park, we could have easily spent a lot more time there.  Sadly it was time to leave, and we returned to the ship in time for lunch.

A quick meal, and then we dashed back out again to have a look round Ponta Delgada itself, which is the capital of the island and actually a wonderful city.  Everywhere we looked was a pleasure.  Like Madeira, the people used the volcanic basalt to create their houses and streets.  The streets and paths are made from basalt blocks and another cream stone in wonderful mosaics. 

The houses have ornate balconies and doors and are a pleasure to look at.  As were the churches and official buildings.  We were looking at the “old” city of course, we had seen the modern buildings of the “new” city further out during our tour this morning.  As we passed our fellow passengers they all said the same thing – “what a wonderful place”, most saying they wanted to come back.

Sadly we had to return to the ship which left the port at 4.30 this afternoon.  And that’s it.  The last port.  I’m slightly sad but also pleased to be getting home.  5 weeks is a long time, although I am certain then when I turn up for work Monday morning it’ll seem like I’ve never been away.