We loved the Azores so much we had to go back.
Ruth: Returning to see the site of the 1957-58 eruption that both transformed and extended the north end of Faial island is still awesome on a second and third visit. What is less exciting for writers and readers is a second blog on the subject. I will include our original blog from 2019 at the end of this one. Shortly after our first visit, the Azores ...
Gordon: We have had some unsettled weather lately, with high winds and rain, some of biblical intensity. The rain seldom lasts all day, however, allowing us to walk for a few hours each day. And the temperatures remain ridiculously pleasant: it is always between 19 and 24 degrees, night or day, rain or shine. We have been waiting for a particularly good day to walk ...
Ruth: The tropical rains have put our outside dining and daily snorkelling on hold, hopefully only temporarily. Even when the forecast looks ominous, we are still able to capitalize on the sunny and dry periods that materialize when we need them. And this is tropical rain, not west coast hypothermic rain. You can get drenched in it and it’s still not really cold. Our daily ...
Orisao Gordon: I was hanging some laundry on the line at our hotel this morning when I noticed an orange tree with abundant green fruit. Looking around, I realized that the clothesline is set in a tropical fruit garden. In addition to the oranges, there are several small banana trees, a number of mature guava trees (which are currently in season), a small pomegranate shrub, ...
Porto Pim The view from our apartment balcony of Pico. Eating on the balcony. The lower floor of our little apartment at Verde Mar. Ruth: Although Gord and I travel a lot, we only return to a handful of places. The Azores are on that list and it is lovely knowing I will return again and again. We spent around two weeks on the island ...
The Pico Vineyards near Madalena. A grape growing out of a crack in the Lava. Maria Gordon:Somewhere at the North End of Pico Island, AD 1449“And here, my love, is our new vineyard.”“This wasteland of black rock? Are you kidding, João?”“Maria, with a little labour we will be able to grow figs and grapes here in abundance.”“I know you are a sailor, and know little ...
Gord and Vicki sitting on lava. Ruth: They are not twins, but Gord and Vicki are only 13 1/2 months apart in age. This may be the first time they have travelled together since 1969, but some patterns are deeply entrenched. Together they form a sort of sibling syndicate. They walk at the same pace, pause to look at the same sort of things and ...
Life is good living on Pico underneath the volcano at São Roque. We are staying at Adelina’s wonderful house by the sea (Casa do mar). We stayed in her other two houses on our last trip here in February of 2019. There is a garden with ripe grapes, figs, and tomatoes, and we are just a short walk from beautiful swimming spots with clear water ...
Pico in morning light. Gordon: The island of Pico gets its name from the high volcanic peak located on it. The mountain of Pico rises 3500 metres from the ocean floor, 2351 metres of which are above the waves. It is the highest point in Portugal.I had hoped to climb Pico the last time we were on the island. I brought heavy hiking boots and ...
The fellow working at the tourist office proudly told me that there had been no ferry cancellations this year. There was, however, one yesterday. The reason for cancellation became very apparent when we walked the waterfront of Santa Cruz. This is, after all, the middle of the Atlantic. We were delighted to have another day and this time left our bikes behind to hike up into ...