Novelty in details

We first came to the Azores in October of 2014 -- one of those "here it says there is a great deal to Ponta Delgada -- I wonder where that is" vacations.  This is our 9th trip but the first time that we have visited other Azorian islands.  The common theory about the origin of the name is that it was named after the goshawk (acor).  The bird was misidentified, but the name stuck.

This trip we are island hopping -- landing first on San Miguel and then immediately flying to Faial -- known as the blue island.  Evidently when one stands in summer, at the top of the mountain and looks down to the sea, there are so many blooming blue hydrangeas that the whole landscape is blue.  The main area is the Horta port where the governing body of the Autonomous Region of the Azores meets in a lovely pink building.  About 70% of the workforce on the island is employed in government jobs.  It is an incredibly clean island -- we saw no garbage and very few boarded-up buildings.

Not having previously booked an activity on the island, we had a free day and decided to rent a taxi for 3.5 hours to take us around the island, particularly to the area where in 1957-58, a new volcano erupted just off the western edge of the island and proceeded to spew out gravel and rocks, merging with the island and setting the lighthouse of that coast, far inland and stuck in meters of ash.  Even now, it still looks like a moonscape.  If you look up Faial eruption 1957, there are videos and lots of fascinating information.

This is in direct contrast with the rest of the island which is lush and green.  I think it must rain somewhere on the island every day.  Plantings of the fast-growing Japanese Red Pine are numerous.  The forest floors are covered in ferns and even tree ferns are common.  There is a park where families often spend free afternoons with activities for kids, lots of picnic facilities and even a historic building to illustrate all the farming which was pursued  on the island. 

The beaches are black sand -- the sand being much coarser than the sand I am familiar with from Canada or the Caribbean.  

"For people sailing the Atlantic, Café Peter is more of an institution than a café. With its bright blue facade and orange sign, it serves as a place for currency exchange, yachting club, hobby, post office, tourist attraction and even as a charity on many occasions. "  

This quote from a world travel magazine in 1982 indicated the popularity of Cafe Peter since 1918.  Today, the bar/cafe features sailing flags from all over the world as well as a scrimshaw museum on the upper floor.  They sell a Super Bock Stout, which I haven't been able to find in a store, but which Ian very much enjoyed.

Then yesterday it was off to the next island -- 5 km away -- by ferry.  Ian took a Gravol and despite waves that sometimes crashed over the boat and showered everything (everyone) exposed, he made the journey feeling OK!  

Pico is the island with the tallest mountain in Portugal and the youngest of the Azorian archipelago -- only 300,000 years.  Sometimes it has snow on it, but not now.  Mostly it is shrouded in clouds.  Today is a free day on our tour, so it is about walking around and seeing the town.  The whole island only has 13,000 inhabitants, so the town is not that big -- and all the museums are closed on Monday.  But just outside the town on the north west coast, is a natural picnic and swim area.  However, since it is winter, I was the only one around.

Lovely to explore!!