7/16/24 Furnas Caldera, Thermal Water Bath, Cozido, and Tea Plantation

We packed our bathing suits for our visit to Lagoa Dad Furnas, an area containing a crater lake dotted with volcanic hot springs and fumaroles (openings in the earth that emit gas). 

We were excited about the healing power of the mineral pools there - until we climbed the few stairs to the lake, only to be greeted by unappealing rusty orange water with what appeared to be grease slicks. Absolute silence prevailed. I should have left after taking the group photo and headed to the warmer, muddier Terra Nostra Park thermal pools instead. 

Don and Chris didn't waste time relaxing in a more private pool, and they didn't come away with orange-stained bathing suits either. 

Caldera fumaroles are formed when water condenses and

 pressure drops upon emerging from the ground.

Cozido das Furnas, a traditional cooking method, harnesses this geothermal energy by using the earth's steam to cook the food. The food is lowered in a large pot deep into the ground to cook for five hours.  

We had a chance to try this hearty Cozido during lunchtime, and it

didn't disappoint.

We visited Gorreana Tea Plantation, family-owned and operated 

since 1883, the only tea operation in Europe, 

on the way back through the Northern Coast.

(Photo courtesy of Catia.)

Incredible vistas on the way back to our hotel...

 7/10/24 Whirlwind Lisbon Panoramic Tour

Having visited these main sites over nine years ago, I was happy to revisit them again, especially the monuments from Portugal's Golden Age.

The Belém Tower, formerly the Tower of Vincent, 

is a 16th-century fortification located in the civil parish 

of Santa Maria de Belém.

Jennifer and I welcomed a newer monument discovery.

The Monument to the Discoveries.

Jeronimos Monastery

Jeronimos Monastery

We decided to skip the massive line entering the monastery. 

Instead, we chose the longer line for the 500-calorie tarts. 

    Pastéis de Belém on Rue de Belém makes the best Portuguese custard tart worldwide as verified by Barb, Pam, and Jennifer. (Especially with extra powdered sugar that clung to my nostrils for hours).               

(Photo courtesy of Catia.)

When I heard we were visiting the National Coach Museum, I thought we were going to a retail center for Coach high-end purses (ho-hum). Once I saw this horse and its carriage, I breathed a sigh of relief that we wouldn't spend hours shopping. Instead, we were fixated on a unique collection of vehicles from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, including coaches, berlins, sedan chairs, and more.

There was a space below the shared floor 

for those who needed frequent potty breaks.

An exceptional collection of ceremonial coaches 

and other ornate horse-drawn carriages. 

One of Lisbon's most visited sights.

Ponte 25 de Abril, the 32nd largest suspended bridge in the world, crosses the Tagus River and connects Lisbon with Almada. 

Just behind the bridge is a statue of the Sanctuary of Christ the King (built to resemble Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer), which was built in gratitude for Portugal's being spared from destruction during the Second World War.

Praca do Comercio Square.

The Remodelado yellow trams.

Carmo Convent, former monastery of the Carmelite Order in Lisbon.

Tight quarters in the Alfama District.

(Photo courtesy of Catia.)

 7/15/24 PARQUE DA RIBEIRA DOS CALDEIROES, Visit to the Dairy Farm

Parque da Ribeira Dos Caldeiroes, a protected area, has it all -babbling brooks, waterfalls, and vivid bursts of hydrangea flowers that showcase the natural beauty of São Miguel island, part of the Azores archipelago in Portugal.

I wish we had more time to explore hiking trails and go canyoneering near the Véu da Noiva waterfall.

The Véu da Noiva waterfall (above) and

one of the five historic water mills (below).

Our next stop took us to the Northeastern part of the island, where we visited a Dairy Farm, followed by a light picnic dinner.

Inside the barn, during the wee hours of the morning, this "mom" delivered the calf in the foreground. It was not an easy childbirth, but mom and baby seemed to be well.

Our picnic lunch and sustainability discussions.

Then, it was time for the cows to enjoy their lunch.

7/9/24 Lisbon - Prelude to a New Adventure 

It was great reuniting with Raquel, my 2015 Portugal/Spain OAT Trip Experience Leader, for our epic lunch on the Lumi rooftop in Lisbon.

But first, we took some photos of the surrounding area 

where Raquel grew up.

We enjoyed GREEN BEAN TEMPURA with lime and basil mayo,

SPICY CHICKEN WINGS with smoky mayo, PICA-PAU traditional Portuguese beef cubes in a pickle sauce, and ROASTED TOMATO AND HAZELNUT HUMMUS, CARAMEL AND NUT CHEESECAKE,

accompanied by Vintage White Port, St.Germain, lemon, pineapple, rosemary, and M. I. [Douro] red wine. 

7/14/24 Sao Miguel Island & the Caldera of Sete Cidades

Sao Miguel covers 290 square miles and is home to the largest and most populous of the Azores Islands. There are approximately 140,000 inhabitants (45,000 residing in Ponta Delgada, the archipelago's largest city).  

Sao Miguel Square. 

It was the second weekend of July when we arrived, 

and the townspeople were celebrating the last day of their festival honoring the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Holy Trinity, and a landmark Azorean fest calendar since 2004.

Even the mayor made a speech, invited us to the ceremonial sweet bread and milk, and later posed for a group photo with his new American "friends." 

(The bread was tasty, but the milk was warm. I just couldn't drink it.)

In the afternoon, we boarded 4x4 vehicles for Lagoa das Setes Cidades, a geological complex nestled in the crater of a dormant volcano and centered around the largest freshwater reserve in the Azores. Unfortunately for Chris and me, we were the smallest in our group of 5 and forced to be crammed into the back seats while our 3 people over 6 feet lounged comfortably.

It wasn't painful while we were on the highway, but once we reached the entrance to the site, after torturous bumps, holes, and cliff-hanging narrow death drops, I could barely walk, let alone exit the car when we reached the legendary twin blue and green lakes of the caldera, which represented the tears of star-crossed lovers (a green-eyed princess and a blue-eyed shepherd).

Listen to the wind...

Then there were the ubiquitous, humongous, oversized, beautiful hydrangeas...

Frolicking in the hydrangeas.

Catia and Barb (Photo courtesy of Catia.)

Jennifer posing.

My new travel photo.

(Photo courtesy of Catia.)

Using my head to give you a sense of scale...

These things are massive!

 7/13/24 Angra Garden and Algar do Carvao

Just outside our room windows was the stunning Azores Angra Garden, a stunning combination of a French garden at the entrance transcending gradually to more of an English garden at its peak, where the D. Pedro IV Memorial could be found.

How can you miss seeing the pink gazebo?

And what is that yellow structure in the pond?

You can see this sculpture is a tangle of hooves and horns 

if you look at it closely.

This mystery was unraveled when Catia explained what sounded like cannons firing daily (once when the bulls were running the streets and once when it was safe to go out). 

Despite my ignorance, I was grateful to live another day.

"Arvore Da Vida"

by de Paulo H. Mendonica

2024

Views from the English garden and pool as we near the peak.

The D. Pedro IV Memorial 

The Algar do Carvão Cave, an ancient lava vent located in the

the central part of the island associated with the Guilherme 

Moniz volcano is connected to the Santa Barbara volcano 

complex, has been known for centuries but unexplored 

until 1893 due to its depth (approximately 300 feet) and lack 

 of ambient light.

It was opened to the public in the late 20th century and has been 

updating the above-normal seismic activity for several months. 

(In other words, enter at your own risk.)

I survived the cave.

(Photo courtesy of Catia.)

In 2019, there were 125,000 cows in the Azores and 242,846 people. Rush-hour traffic impedes city traffic, and cows are known to do the same in rural areas when moving from one grazing area to the next. Right now, we are stuck behind these dairy cows.

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