Azores: Ponta Delgada, Plantação Ananases A Arruda, Ponta do Escalvado, Lagoa do Fogo, Igrejade São Nicolau, Canaldas Sete Cidades
Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Estrela
This morning many of our fellow travelers will be heading home while some of us will be flying to the Azores.
We will be visitng the largest island, São Miguel Island (Portuguese for 'Saint Michael'), nicknamed "The Green Island" (Ilha Verde), it is the largest and most populous island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.
The island covers 290 sq mi (760 km2) and has around 140,000 inhabitants, with 45,000 people residing in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago's largest city.
As we drive to the Lisbon airport, we pass Estádio José Alvalade.
The Estádio José Alvalade is a football stadium in Lisbon, and home of Sporting Clube de Portugal. It was built adjacent to the site of the older stadium. The stadium is named after José Alvalade, the founder and first club member of Sporting CP in the early 20th century.
The Estádio José Alvalade is a football stadium in Lisbon, and home of Sporting Clube de Portugal. It was built adjacent to the site of the older stadium. The stadium is named after José Alvalade, the founder and first club member of Sporting CP in the early 20th century.
We will be flying on Azores Airlines, previously known as SATA Internacional, a Portuguese airline based in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel.
The airline is so small, that the desk doesn't open until right before the flight, unfortunately we had to wait about an hour to check in. But we get our seat assignments (all over the plane, Jay and I are about 20 rows apart) and have an uneventful flight. Luckily we ate in the airport because food and beverage service was pretty scarce.
We land and meet our new bus driver for our time on São Miguel Island.
We check into the Vila Gale Collection S. Miguel our base for the next couple of days on S. Miguel. After a quick freshen up we meet our fellow travelers in the lobby for a walk around Ponta Delgada.
We stop for a quick visit to the the Church of São José.
Pretty impressive interior with it's gilded wood paneled ceiling.
We walk along the harbor and see a massive cruise ship ready to depart.
We walk past the Ponta Delgada City Hall, the capital of São Miguel.
During the earthquake and subsequent landslide, 5000 people were killed. Many of the residents were buried alive from a landslide and debris. Because of the destruction at Vila Franca do Campo, the capital of São Miguel was transferred to Ponta Delgada.
We had a lovely group dinner at the Alcides Restaurant. Then it's off to bed as we have a full day on the island tomorrow.
We enjoy a buffet breakfast in our hotel, grab our gear and are ready for our next adventures.
We have a 9AM lobby call and meet our local guide on the mini-bus. Our first stop is a pineapple plantation, where the pineapples are grown in greenhouses.
Located in an old orange farm, a fruit that was exported in large quantities during the 19th century, the Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation is now recognized as a must-see destination on S. Miguel island.
Located in an old orange farm, a fruit that was exported in large quantities during the 19th century, the Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation is now recognized as a must-see destination on S. Miguel island.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Dr Augusto Arruda transformed an old family property into his main residence, and one of the most important pineapple plantations on the island.
About 4 months after being planted, the “smoking” process begins. This operation, which was discovered accidentally, intoxicates the plant and forces them all to bloom simultaneously. At the end of each day, chips and leaves are burned in their own containers to produce a thick smoke that fills the entire greenhouse. The next day, the windows are opened to let the smoke out. This operation continues for eight to ten days, depending on the season.
During the second half of the 19th century, the island’s main crop – oranges – was attacked by disease, leading many landowners to look for a replacement as a source of income. The pineapple was chosen to take the place of the orange, and by the turn of the 20th century, had become the island’s main export crop.
The pineapples are grown in whitewashed glass greenhouses using the so-called “hot-bed” method, which seeks to recreate the natural conditions that are typical of the fruit’s naturally humid and hot climate.
The complete life cycle of the São Miguel pineapple crop takes 18 to 24 months.
Our next stop is a photo op at Ponta do Escalvado
From the heights of Ponta, you can appreciate the extensive bay of Mosteiros, a small fishing village famous for its beach and the surrounding natural pools.
From here, you'll also see the incredible Ponta da Ferraria, impressive vertical cliffs, and the intense blue color of the sea
Igreja de Sao Nicolau is a Neo-Gothic church situated in the tranquil village of Sete Cidades.
We continue on our journey and stop for coffee Sete Cidades and make a quick visit to the Igreja de S. Nicolau.
Constructed between 1849 and 1857, it was commissioned by Colonel Nicolau Maria Raposo de Amaral and his wife, Teresa Ermelinda Rebelo, in fulfillment of a vow.
The church is accessed via an avenue lined with towering cryptomeria trees and flanked by two prominent araucaria trees, creating a picturesque approach.
The interior features a single nave, chancel, and annexes, illuminated by pointed arch windows.
In 1969, the church was donated to the local community, becoming a parish church.
We head out of town to Lagoa das Sete Cidades. The lake is situated within the caldera of the Sete Cidades Massif, an ancient volcano built on various layers of ash, pyroclasts and trachyte and basaltic lavas.
What gives the lake two colors? Phytoplankton.
While phytoplankton populations varies throughout the year in the Lagoa Azul, the presence of phytoplankton in the Lagoa Verde persisted annually, dominated by cyanobacteria.
While phytoplankton populations varies throughout the year in the Lagoa Azul, the presence of phytoplankton in the Lagoa Verde persisted annually, dominated by cyanobacteria.
When temperature, light and nutrient availability are adequate to phytoplankton growth, surface waters may host algae or cyanobacteria blooms.
Our trip continues to Riberia Grande. Ribeira Grande is a municipality in the northern part of the island of São Miguel.
It has sister cities in the Untied States:
Somerville, MA Fall River, MA East Providence, RIWe stop for lunch at Alabote and check out the local surf and shore too.
We drive inland a few blocks and explore the center of Riberia Grande.
'Mulher de Capote' is a renowned liquor factory in Ribeira Grande, established in 1996.
It specializes in producing traditional Azorean liqueurs using locally sourced fruits like passion fruit, pineapple, and blackberry. They provide tastings of their diverse liqueur range and visitors can also purchase these artisanal products as souvenirs.
Walking around we see the Ponte dos Oito Arcos, Bridge of the Eight Arches. And climb some of the many steps of Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora da Estrela (see photo above)
Lagoa do Fogo ("Lake of Fire") is a crater lake within the Água de Pau Massif stratovolcano. The highest lake located on the island of São Miguel, the region is protected by governmental regulation that does not permit any construction around the lake.
Lagoa do Fogo is one of the largest bodies of water in the Azores.
Wow, that was quite a day. We visited so many places and learned so much about São Miguel Island.
Tomorrow, our last day of exploration, will be visiting Vila Franca do Campo, Furnas, Parque Terra Nostra, Lago das Furnas, Chá Gorreana Tea Plantation.
We take a little time to visit Mulher de Capote.
Our last stop today is a visit to Lagoa do Fogo.
The caldera is the youngest volcano on the island of São Miguel, formed approximately 15, 000 years ago, resulting from the collapse at the top of the volcano, some 5000 years ago.
Tomorrow, our last day of exploration, will be visiting Vila Franca do Campo, Furnas, Parque Terra Nostra, Lago das Furnas, Chá Gorreana Tea Plantation.
Travel on Friends!