August 31, 2014
Posted on December 21, 2014
Nowhere on São Miguel is the island’s volcanic nature as evident as in Furnas, a region in a lush valley, which harbours a crater lake and a pretty town. It gets hot enough to cook food! As usual, getting there is half the fun.
Terra Nostra Botanical Garden in Furnas, São Miguel
August 30, 2014
Posted on November 25, 2014
On a warm sunny day, there is nothing better than to hop on your scooter and see where the road takes you. With about 50 km separating our starting point from the far east end of the island – the parish of Nordeste – we had a long way to go. It’s peanuts by North American standards, but this is the Azores! Anything could happen!
August 29, 2014
Posted on November 17, 2014
Our search for the perfect snorkelling spot was bound to come to an end, but not without some obstacles. We dedicated the whole day to chilling on beaches, but sometimes the ocean is just going bananas. Our snorkelling masks remained unused.
Praia Santa Bàrbara, near Ribeira Grande
August 28, 2014
Posted on November 10, 2014
Being a relatively small island, São Miguel has a surprisingly large number of volcanic craters, and many of them are occupied by picturesque lakes. Opinions among the locals vary as to which one is the most beautiful, but the strongest competitors are Lagoa das Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo. While the former can be traversed quite extensively by well maintained roads, and offers a civilized settlement for all your foodie needs, the latter requires a hike to be fully appreciated, and you better pack your own lunch, too! Armed with sandwiches made from bolos lêvedos we headed out for what our hostess Guida calls paradise on Earth.
Lagoa do Fogo, São Miguel