Ponta Delgada, AzoresOct 18, 2009
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The new cruise ship terminal. It's two levels with shops underneath.
We went for a walk in the morning.
We arrived in Ponta Delgada about 9 am. Of all the places we've been so far, this is definitely one we would come back to. The average year round temperature is 63 degrees. It is so green but like an English countryside rather than a tropical paradise. There are nine islands in the Azores, about 800 miles west of Lisbon. They belong to Portugal. We visited Sao Miguel. They are all volcanic. Pineapples are grown here but in greenhouses. The main industry is dairy farming.
Shore Excursion - Crater Lakes, Village of Sete Cidades and Wine Tasting - 1:00 to 4:45 pm
This was another narrated bus tour but with several stops. Our first stop was the Villge of Sete Cidades (Seven Hills). There was a beautiful old church and some quaint houses, some built with volcanic basalt. Bela Dona and hydrangeas were everywhere. Further along the road in the caldera of an extinct volcano are two lakes - one blue and one green with an isthmus of lava separating the two. We then drove up the other side to a beautiful view of both the Atlantic and the lakes. We then drove back down to town and went to Hotel Acores Atlantico where a huge spread was set up - breads, several local cheeses and red and white wines. Many of the tours today ended up here so there were a few hundred people. We checked out a couple of rooms in the hotel with the intention that we may come back one day. After all, there are nine islands to explore. Obrigada Portugal! Adeus!
Sailaway was at about 5:30 pm. We went to see Cary Long again. His show was a bit different and still very funny. Now we begin our Trans Atlantic leg of our trip.
