Fri. 9/15/23. Ponte del gado Sao Miguel, Azores Hotel Marina Atlantico
Finally got to travel out of the country again, our first trip since 2020 !
We are spending 15 days in the Azores to celebrate our 30 th anniversary. After a red eye last night, we arrived in Ponta Delgada, San Miguel. Uneventful flight trip but it was a small uncomfortable and we were exhausted when we arrived. We got to hotel around 7:00am but room not ready till noon. We headed out to town and walked around awhile but it started to drizzle a bit so we headed back to hotel and waited for room. Once in room we both napped, then got organized for our tour tomorrow and just relaxed. We are located at the marina with a great view over the marina and water. We then walked down to the waterfront for dinner. We were both pretty jet lagged and back to the hotel and in bed by 9:00 PM!!
Did not take allot of pictures today, but view from our balcony
A quick walk through town
An early dinner
And sunset from our balcony
Sat. 9/16/23 Sao Miguel. Ponte del gado
We both got a good night sleep and we picked up at 9:30 by our wonderful guide Paulo Lopes. First we drove to Sete Cidades and stopped at multiple viewpoints to get view Lagos. Lagos is well known because there are 2 lakes and on a sunny day one is green and white is bright blue. It was partially sunny so we did not see the contrasting colors, but the views were still spectacular. We stopped at an abondaned hotel which afforded us great views. The inside of the hotel was eerily beautiful because it is full of graffiti, some vegetation. And light streaming in through open areas in the ceiling. Next we went to a small village, Sete Cidades, where we had drinks and pastries, then walked around looking at the old houses and local church. Next stop was a drive to the top of mottnain which is known s the Mirdouro da Vista Rei that afforded us views of both the north and south sides of the island. We stopped at a rum distillery that made about 10 different types of rum and rom based liquors. Not much room for a big bottle of rum, so we bought a nip of each rum. We then drove through some small towns and stopped at Santa Barbara beach that was a photo waiting to be taken every direction you turned. We then drove through the fishing village of Rabo de Peixe - tale of fish. Paulo is having a boat built and we lucked out because the builder was working and we got to watch him in action. They literally have trees delivered, then split and plane all the wood. They then use a blow torch to get the wood to bend. It definitely was Jon’s favorite part of the trip so far ! Our last stop was a pineapple farm right outside on Ponta Del Gado called Arruda Acores Pineapple Plantation where you could tour the green houses and they had videos of the entire process. We did not get back till 5:30 si was a full day! Paulo is a police officer on the island so we’re in good hands. We are renting one oh his car from him so he will back tomorrow AM to drop it off. After a stop at our room and a bit of regrouping, we headed back down to the marina for dinner.
Driving to Sete - Cidades
Jon and I
Our Guide Paulo - telling how this ginger plant has become very invasive and impossible to get rid of to due to the complex and deep root system
Jon tasting the ginger flower sap
First view point for Sete - cidades
We visited an abandoned hotel that was erriely beautiful, full of graffiti and had great views of Sete Cidades
Inside of hotel
Examples of the graffiti
View of Sete Cidades
Paulo explaining the hotel - did I mention it was very windy ?!
Just because
Sete Cidades
Little Chiuch in Sete Cidades village
the trail going to Mirdouro da Vista Rei had amazing little picnic areas the whole trail
Top of Mirdouro da Vista Rei
A stop at the rum factory, a tree made from rum bottles
Rum bottles waiting to be labeled
Rum licores
Roads will were well marked
Santa Barba Beach
Jon and I at Santa Barbara beach
Paluo was having a boat built - here we are at the boat builders, working on his boat
They torched the wood to bend it
They literally had tress delivered then split and but the tree into boat lumber
Pineapple plantation
Baby and adult pineapples
Sun 9/17 PONTE del gado. Sau Miguel
Slept in, breakfast.then Paulo dropped car off at 10:00 AM and we drove around and explored until about 4;30. It was very easy to drive around but some really steep inclines that our tiny car struggled up. We had no destination planned just drove down lots of roads to explore: The scenery was really breathtaking and everything was a photo op. Flowers are just passing, but we walked through several beautiful gardens that has great viewpoints. As it was Sunday a lot of things were pretty buttoned up, but it was still fun to drive through small towns, and enjoy the views. Everything is very lush and green, Jon said it reminds him of Hawaii here.
Slept in, breakfast.then Paulo dropped car off at 10:00 AM and we drove around and explored until about 4;30. It was very easy to drive around but some really steep inclines that our tiny car struggled up. We had no destination planned just drove down lots of roads to explore: The scenery was really breathtaking and everything was a photo op. Flowers are just passing, but we walked through several beautiful gardens that has great viewpoints. As it was Sunday a lot of things were pretty buttoned up, but it was still fun to drive through small towns, and enjoy the views. Everything is very lush and green, Jon said it reminds him of Hawaii here.
Mon 9/18/23. Furnas Sai Miguel. Terra Garden Hotel
We had a very leisurely day today. After a late breakfast, we packed up and moseyed over to our current hotel, Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas where we are celebrating our 30 th anniversary today, and my birthday tomorrow. En route we passed by Lagoa Das Furnas, a really pretty lake. The hotel is set in acres and acres of spectacular gardens, and has a huge mineral pool. The pool is a rusty color and you are warned it will stain any clothing/bathing suit. After we arrived, we walked to town and explored a bit, then came back for an afternoon snack at the hotels garden restaurant. We then took about a half hour dip in the thermal pool and they were right, everything turns a rust color. The hotel did a nice job with a big heart on our bed with flowers and a tray of assorted pastries. We spent some time exchanging gifts and anniversary rememberances before heading to dinner. We ate dinner at the gourmet restaurant. This trip has been challenging me as I am getting a bit better following a 14 month illness, but no alcohol and a very limited diet is a bit of a drag for me. I am staying focused on what really matters, which Jon and I are together, happy, celebrating and blessed.
Mon 9/18/23. Furnas Sai Miguel. Terra Garden Hotel
We had a very leisurely day today. After a late breakfast, we packed up and moseyed over to our current hotel, Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in Furnas where we are celebrating our 30 th anniversary today, and my birthday tomorrow. En route we passed by Lagoa Das Furnas, a really pretty lake. The hotel is set in acres and acres of spectacular gardens, and has a huge mineral pool. The pool is a rusty color and you are warned it will stain any clothing/bathing suit. After we arrived, we walked to town and explored a bit, then came back for an afternoon snack at the hotels garden restaurant. We then took about a half hour dip in the thermal pool and they were right, everything turns a rust color. The hotel did a nice job with a big heart on our bed with flowers and a tray of assorted pastries. We spent some time exchanging gifts and anniversary rememberances before heading to dinner. We ate dinner at the gourmet restaurant. This trip has been challenging me as I am getting a bit better following a 14 month illness, but no alcohol and a very limited diet is a bit of a drag for me. I am staying focused on what really matters, which Jon and I are together, happy, celebrating and blessed.
Tues 9/19/23. Furnas Sai Miguel
It’s my birthday ! We had a very leisurely morning then walked in to Furnas Village. We then jumped in the car and covered the towns we had not yet visited on the north shore.
We got back and headed out to walk the property, Parque Terra Nostra. They have gardens and hiking trails, thermal water springs and rivers throughout the property. This whole property is a tourist destination that people come to to soak in the thermal lake and hike the trails. I ended the day with a birthday massage that was wonderful. We ate at the outdoor terrace and they had a combo playing. They sang happy birthday to me which was sweet. Tomorrow we fly to Pico Island. This should be interesting because it is a little island with not much to do. Looks like R and R on the agenda.
It’s my birthday ! We had a very leisurely morning then walked in to Furnas Village. We then jumped in the car and covered the towns we had not yet visited on the north shore.
We got back and headed out to walk the property, Parque Terra Nostra. They have gardens and hiking trails, thermal water springs and rivers throughout the property. This whole property is a tourist destination that people come to to soak in the thermal lake and hike the trails. I ended the day with a birthday massage that was wonderful. We ate at the outdoor terrace and they had a combo playing. They sang happy birthday to me which was sweet. Tomorrow we fly to Pico Island. This should be interesting because it is a little island with not much to do. Looks like R and R on the agenda.