Azores

We've made it across the Atlantic...at least as far as the Azores. We're sailing for two days between Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores and Lisbon, Portugal, which is our next port. After seven days at sea, it was good to be on land again for a while. 

We prepared ourselves for this port of call by going to a lecture on the Azores by the speaker on board, Professor Lisa Didier. She is the one who has done the other lectures and the information she gave us about the Azores was helpful. The Azores, for those of you who don't know, are part of Portugal. The nine islands were discovered by the Portuguese in the 1500s who then claimed them. Except for a 60 year rule by Spain they have always been in Portuguese control. 

In Ponta Delgada, the largest city in the Azores, the three of us had arranged a shore excursion. So we met our bus after breakfast and climbed into the hills above Ponta Delgada. The islands are volcanic, having been formed over the centuries by eruptions, much like the Hawaiian Islands and the other Pacific islands. The islands are small for the most part but very hilly. The volcanoes, most of them dormant, frequently have deep crater lakes, which we saw two of. The first one was beside Sete Cidades, or Seven Cities. As our guide explained more than once, no one knows why this one small village is called Seven Cities, but there you have it. This particular lake is divided into two parts. On one side the water looks mostly green and on the other side it looks mostly blue. 

We drove around in our bus stopping at several locations with lakes or views of the lakes from above. The tour ended with a wine and cheese tasting event. The Azores produce some very nice cheeses and wines and we got to sample some of them.  (Well, and buy some too.) The afternoon was spent relaxing and just hanging out. Allen went into Ponta Delgada to explore some more while Marilyn and I stayed on the ship. We left port at dinner time.

Last night the entertainer was a comedy magician who was very good. He did some usual tricks and some new ones I hadn't seen before but with a patter that was very fun. Tonight there is a duo of brothers from Scotland who play the accordian and fiddle. Following that there is an Abba sing along, which we might lend our voices to.

Last night, after I had gone to bed, the ship started rocking terribly, but in short bursts. We don't know what caused it but all three of us thought that it felt like an earthquake even though we were miles out to sea. We haven't heard what was going on but it felt very strange. We all survived though.

Now we have two sea days again and then begin the ports of call. I suspect these won't be really active days--just sitting around reading and enjoying some time to relax. 

Again, thanks for reading.