tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9464845512812357322024-03-13T11:25:48.937-07:00Go2See with Starlet!Starlet - Mark and Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545555893406833466noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946484551281235732.post-14184591881117969622012-08-30T03:57:00.000-07:002012-09-24T06:32:02.105-07:00Azores - Sao Miguel<br />
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<b>Azores – Sao Miguel – August 22 to 25, 2012</b>
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Starlet timed the overnight run from Terceira for a morning
arrival in Ponta Delgada located on the south side of Sao Miguel, the largest
city on the largest island in the Azores. But for the capital city, clearing in
was a bit clunky compared to most other Azore islands – no one stop shop! In
addition to the harbormaster, we did need to visit customs, immigration and policia
maritima. And what do you mean, there’s no free marina WIFI? But the floating
docks were in good shape with long finger piers. That means easy on/off for the
4 legged crew members.<br />
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Our first impression was “uh-oh, this is Disneyesque!” The
marina is inside a cruise ship pier lined with shops/restaurants/bars/game
rooms catering to the one day tourists. Segway riders zipped past shops
offering whale watching and glass bottom tours. A large swimming pool overlooks
the marina, there’s also a popular salt water swimming area within the marina
basin.</div>
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True to form, the main street facing the water was built up with more restaurants and shops for the tourists. But our second impression was that Ponta Delgada is much lower key than other cruise ship city’s we’ve visited (St. Thomas?). Walking around town, nobody targeted us with the hard sell, trying to drag us into their shop to buy a Rolex or designer purse. Our usual defense is to take Mitch and Tori through those towns – nobody thinks you stepped off a cruise ship when you are escorted by two 40 pound dogs! We didn’t need their help here.</div>
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We had a day before our friend Allison’s arrival. Time to
hit the marine supply houses! Both of them were more like fishing and diving
equipment shops with boat stuff on the side. But Mark found something Starlet
“needed!” The swim platform typically is positioned close to the dock to ease
access. She now has a special fender that can be lashed in place to protect the
edge of the platform.</div>
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On the way he also located the farmer’s market – we’ll
need to stock up on fruits and veggies for the run to Portugal.</div>
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Allison’s plane came in at 7AM on Friday the 24<sup>th</sup>,
and we moved into high gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weather
forecasts for the passage to the Portugal mainland showed a good weather window
on Saturday and a possible window on Tuesday. We knew that if the forecast
didn’t hold, we would need to leave the next day giving Allison just one day to
explore the Azores. So after a morning walk through historic Ponta Delgada, we
grabbed a rental car.<br />
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We made our way up to Furnas, a town located smack in the
middle of the eastern most of three caldeira’s on Sao Miguel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This volcano still has geothermal activity
with some 22 geysers and hot springs in the area. Next to the Lagoa das Furnas,
an area about the size of a football field is littered with fumaroles and
geysers. The ground is too hot to walk on barefooted! Locals have taken
advantage of this, installing concrete pipes underground over the hot vents.
They lower 5 gallon pots filled with meats and vegetables into the pipes; cover
the pot with a towel and then sand. Six hours later the stew is ready!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZJ60atK3A0/UF8mJzFqzSI/AAAAAAAABhY/CKYOBVni0UY/s1600/DSCF2729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZJ60atK3A0/UF8mJzFqzSI/AAAAAAAABhY/CKYOBVni0UY/s320/DSCF2729.JPG" width="320" /></a></td><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_KNRPWh150/UF8mOoujxbI/AAAAAAAABho/HkGpslyJlKU/s1600/DSCF2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_KNRPWh150/UF8mOoujxbI/AAAAAAAABho/HkGpslyJlKU/s320/DSCF2748.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Au0jolsrS2Q/UF8mSMfIRzI/AAAAAAAABhw/-wbzgvPVyU0/s1600/DSCF2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Au0jolsrS2Q/UF8mSMfIRzI/AAAAAAAABhw/-wbzgvPVyU0/s320/DSCF2735.JPG" width="320" /></a></td><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHrDkiipasU/UF8mYoJHZEI/AAAAAAAABiE/4YoH4--k24E/s1600/DSCF2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHrDkiipasU/UF8mYoJHZEI/AAAAAAAABiE/4YoH4--k24E/s320/DSCF2737.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course after visiting the lake and fumaroles, we had to
stop by one of the restaurants that serves “Coizado das Furnas”. And of course
when we were seated, they had just sold out! Probably just as well, the dish
basically looks like pot roast but commands a high price because it's cooked
underground.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0SawW7xAlpM/UF8max2pLSI/AAAAAAAABiM/vqSMKqtzVUY/s1600/DSCF2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0SawW7xAlpM/UF8max2pLSI/AAAAAAAABiM/vqSMKqtzVUY/s320/DSCF2763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
After lunch we drove through the winding and narrow streets
in Furnas, stopping at the Terra Nostra Park. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below the estate house, a swimming pool is fed
by thermal water. Signs around the pool warn parents to keep hold of their
children since the naturally hot water is also naturally muddy! Over a couple
of centuries, trees and plants from around the world have been transplanted to
the surrounding gardens. A Jurassic looking tree from Australia and giant lily
pads stood out.</div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lzjKTiZdyMw/UF9xAoLS0OI/AAAAAAAABqI/usyEw4yfwbY/s1600/DSCF2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lzjKTiZdyMw/UF9xAoLS0OI/AAAAAAAABqI/usyEw4yfwbY/s320/DSCF2806.JPG" width="320" /></a></td><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezi29jGM8fE/UF8m2jdm64I/AAAAAAAABjU/Y7rSz3iD15s/s1600/DSCF2766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezi29jGM8fE/UF8m2jdm64I/AAAAAAAABjU/Y7rSz3iD15s/s320/DSCF2766.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk5kd_POYsM/UF8nSqfv3DI/AAAAAAAABlU/LxUPj2ljAhk/s1600/DSCF2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk5kd_POYsM/UF8nSqfv3DI/AAAAAAAABlU/LxUPj2ljAhk/s320/DSCF2817.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sao Miguel's north coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After Furnas, we drove along Sao Miguel’s rugged north
coast, visiting the villages overlooking the water. Then back to the marina to
catch up with Carole and Jim on Nepenthe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We polished off some South African wine on their boat then they joined
us on Starlet for a bite to eat followed by warm chocolate chip cookies.
Allison did great on less than two hours sleep during her "red eye"
flight!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bu8kTb2b84/UF8nYxZqsMI/AAAAAAAABl8/Vu7QYzOSW6M/s1600/DSCF2829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bu8kTb2b84/UF8nYxZqsMI/AAAAAAAABl8/Vu7QYzOSW6M/s320/DSCF2829.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carol from Nepenthe serving South African wine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Saturday morning's weather update made it obvious that Starlet
needed to start the passage to Portugal that afternoon – no time to lose. We raced to the
other end of the island to Sete Cidades, another town located in a caldeira with
two large lakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving and hiking
along the steep ridgeline overlooking the town was striking, lots of Kodak
moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Jennifer’s “best pizza
ever” in a café on the way back to Ponte Delgado. After dropping Jennifer and
Allison off at the farmer’s market to stock up for the passage, Mark dropped
off the rental car just an hour and a half late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HV9qrV6nmU/UF8ni0QWv7I/AAAAAAAABmw/lLI9qbUZp_0/s1600/DSCF2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HV9qrV6nmU/UF8ni0QWv7I/AAAAAAAABmw/lLI9qbUZp_0/s320/DSCF2861.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sete Cidades</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rf3NksJX-Bo/UF8nnDbB3II/AAAAAAAABnI/yYD0QpR48cw/s1600/DSCF2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rf3NksJX-Bo/UF8nnDbB3II/AAAAAAAABnI/yYD0QpR48cw/s320/DSCF2873.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the cows enjoy the view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bob and Janice from Tsamaya helped us cast Starlet off, but
we had one last stop before setting course for Portugal. Ilheu da Vila just off
the south coast looked from the charts like it had good underwater profiles for
diving. With Starlet anchored next to a 200’ high pinnacle splitting off from
the rest of the island, we suited up. Underwater it was the land of the giant
boulders – many as big as a good sized house! These probably were left there
when previous pinnacles toppled. At 7PM we pulled anchor and pointed Starlet
for the city of Porto in Portugal.
<br />
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCL0uOw5sr8/UF8nssBvFHI/AAAAAAAABno/n5f_WEuiHho/s1600/DSCF2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCL0uOw5sr8/UF8nssBvFHI/AAAAAAAABno/n5f_WEuiHho/s320/DSCF2894.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Ilheu da Vila dive site</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbKQfIvvIK4/UF8ntoffGHI/AAAAAAAABn0/OVaTE2dwdCM/s1600/DSCF2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbKQfIvvIK4/UF8ntoffGHI/AAAAAAAABn0/OVaTE2dwdCM/s320/DSCF2898.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jd7CPQCN3jE/UF85BrlDAVI/AAAAAAAABo4/4ojJDwwIaEg/s1600/IMG_2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jd7CPQCN3jE/UF85BrlDAVI/AAAAAAAABo4/4ojJDwwIaEg/s320/IMG_2597.JPG" width="320" /></a></td><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QOfGrmohaCQ/UF85GvRA2-I/AAAAAAAABpI/YoSnP9xLXq4/s1600/IMG_2607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QOfGrmohaCQ/UF85GvRA2-I/AAAAAAAABpI/YoSnP9xLXq4/s320/IMG_2607.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Azores Perspective – June 25 thru August 25, 2012</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmC9LK70-I4/UBB-vBV3NLI/AAAAAAAAAYE/vhzOBz9nzQg/s1600/DSCF1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmC9LK70-I4/UBB-vBV3NLI/AAAAAAAAAYE/vhzOBz9nzQg/s320/DSCF1034.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the 1958 eruption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Azores have many ties to the US, starting with New
Bedford whalers. During WWII, the US built an AF base on Terceira employing
many locals. Eisenhower created a special immigration status for Azoreans after
the 1958 volcano. Even today it appears easy for Azoreans to move back and
forth, many making a living in the US then retiring back home in the islands.
In general the Azoreans are very welcoming to Americans and English is widely
spoken.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LwoxKbiqzw/UGAsALvmZSI/AAAAAAAABqs/Z7M04wP0ZNs/s1600/DSCF0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LwoxKbiqzw/UGAsALvmZSI/AAAAAAAABqs/Z7M04wP0ZNs/s320/DSCF0106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
There are plentiful high quality and cheap local foods
including oranges, pineapples, plums, seafood, bread & pastries, cheese
& yogurt, wine (less for a bottle here than for a glass in states!), beer
(a glass of wine and a beer in a restaurant would typically be between 2 and 3
Euro). Most meals include both rice and French fries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pizza is a universal language; there is <u>no</u> problem
finding ice cream. Cafes serve coffee, pastries, sandwiches – and a full bar!
Beer, wine and liquor are available everywhere. Smoking is also everywhere, with
cigarette machines in many café’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Continente in Horta is one of the nicest grocery stores
we’ve ever seen anywhere! The hospital in Angra was beautiful, efficient and
cheap! Most towns have a “Chinese store” run by people of oriental descent and
filled with inexpensive home goods and clothing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlePOsHvIkM/UGAsDjc6jUI/AAAAAAAABrE/eAfHEE5EAAQ/s1600/DSCF0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlePOsHvIkM/UGAsDjc6jUI/AAAAAAAABrE/eAfHEE5EAAQ/s320/DSCF0195.JPG" width="320" /></a>Flores is pristine! Most of the islands have no litter, no graffiti
and almost every home has a waterfront view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Waterfalls everywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Intricate tile walkways, cobble stone streets and fences and
stone houses abound. Red tile roofs are standard. The islands do have distinct
architectural features: chimneys, door handles and styles, roof tiles and wall
colors, possibly because of settlement from different countries and during
different time periods. Most windows have high quality shutters that actually work!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxtL6GJHbBg/UEdiWOd6X8I/AAAAAAAABQg/61syxZPszDQ/s1600/DSCF2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxtL6GJHbBg/UEdiWOd6X8I/AAAAAAAABQg/61syxZPszDQ/s320/DSCF2453.JPG" width="240" /></a>The geography varies between islands, from steep and rocky
Flores to much larger and flatter Terceira and Sao Miguel. The geography
dictates the crops – apparently rain generated by the high peak on Pico creates
a perfect microclimate for vineyards. The volcanic history is evident in numerous
lava caves and calderas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rich volcanic soil supports agriculture, flowers and
interesting plants everywhere though the majority of the flora has been
imported.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whale watching has a big positive impact on the economy on Pico
and Faial, with Azoreans transferring the skills developed over centuries of
whaling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many cruisers miss out, just using Horta as a rest stop on
their Atlantic crossing. We heard on several of the islands that Starlet was
the first cruising powerboat to visit. Starlet does get lots of drive-bys,
boats that circle her to check her out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lots of questions too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two 40 lb dogs are quite an attraction. Most other dogs are
smaller, possibly because of the high price of imported dog food?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izhk0DKs2Pw/UGAsFPvPkDI/AAAAAAAABrM/GFPphTQT1pk/s1600/DSCF0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izhk0DKs2Pw/UGAsFPvPkDI/AAAAAAAABrM/GFPphTQT1pk/s320/DSCF0230.JPG" width="320" /></a>There are excellent asphalt roads, many with stone
guardrails. We heard gripes that they were paid for with loans from Germany?? Picnic
spots and scenic overlooks are common along the roads.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It looks like they took the first step and “killed all of
the lawyers” (sorry Gary)! There are very few signs prohibiting activities, there’s
no need for floats to keep boats off swimming beaches, parks do fine without
guardrails at every cliff. Common sense
applies! Cars actually stop when you
approach a marked cross walk. Traffic circles are used instead of stop lights,
perfect!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are lots of sunny days with temperatures moderated by
the ocean. Maybe not so much in the winter… There is very little A/C – you find
people hanging out on their stoop when it’s a warm day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-989KjKWsNrw/UCpfexvw9iI/AAAAAAAABFo/Mw9BJz26iZk/s1600/DSCF1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-989KjKWsNrw/UCpfexvw9iI/AAAAAAAABFo/Mw9BJz26iZk/s320/DSCF1742.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
The Roman Catholic religion is an accepted part of Azorean society,
with village festivals to honor saints, the prominent bank is named Espirito
Santo, the government sponsors religious statues, etc.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lots of people get around on crutches. Toilets have buttons
for #1 & #2. There are all kinds of funky little trucks and cars. You can
actually walk and get somewhere…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Azores: a friendly, clean, scenic bit of Europe out in
the Atlantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Direct flights from
Boston!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Photo album link: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresSaoMiguel?authkey=Gv1sRgCMiT4cjZyMet8gE" target="_blank">Azores - Sao Miguel</a></span><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=37.839072,-25.491028&spn=0.520578,0.878906&z=10&output=embed" width="640"></iframe></div>
<small>View <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=37.839072,-25.491028&spn=0.520578,0.878906&z=10&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Starlet in the Azores</a> in a larger map</small>Starlet - Mark and Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545555893406833466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946484551281235732.post-37127748071034872452012-08-22T12:26:00.000-07:002012-09-05T14:04:18.292-07:00Azores - Terciera & Graciosa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mEXLTHefneQ/UEdjoOcYu0I/AAAAAAAABW8/S5dCLgJY1aQ/s1600/DSCF1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mEXLTHefneQ/UEdjoOcYu0I/AAAAAAAABW8/S5dCLgJY1aQ/s640/DSCF1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Azores – Terceira & Graciosa</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">We spent more time on Terceira than any of the other
islands in the Azores. This island is the second largest with two major towns and the second
largest population in the Azores.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVQRBTbkZ8k/UEdjnJfdqiI/AAAAAAAABW4/hBQ6Qw9Oqow/s1600/DSCF1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVQRBTbkZ8k/UEdjnJfdqiI/AAAAAAAABW4/hBQ6Qw9Oqow/s320/DSCF1913.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starlet at anchor in Angra do Heroismo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Angra do Heroismo – August 1 to 3, 2012</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">After an easy 52 nm run from Sao Jorge, we anchored in the
harbor off the beach at Angra do Heroismo. This quickly became our favorite
town in the Azores with busy cafés & shops and stunning views overlooking
the harbor. Angra means cove in Portuguese; the town is built in the valley
above the natural harbor created by the “tuft cone” of Monte Brasil projecting
out from the main island.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DXLu7dvc0Jg/UEdjO6M_NNI/AAAAAAAABUw/iI18UHZb1PY/s1600/DSCF1824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DXLu7dvc0Jg/UEdjO6M_NNI/AAAAAAAABUw/iI18UHZb1PY/s320/DSCF1824.JPG" title="ANGRA1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach in Angra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">With backpacks and good walking shoes we took off to explore
the city.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Lunch out at a cafe, lots of nice
shops, everyone busy with the days business. We found upscale homes with
perfect gardens, churches and museums.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GyKyisIGQE0/UEdjNVOLCZI/AAAAAAAABUo/DHKn1YvEsH4/s1600/DSCF1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GyKyisIGQE0/UEdjNVOLCZI/AAAAAAAABUo/DHKn1YvEsH4/s320/DSCF1821.JPG" title="ANGRA2" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at Angra from the anchorage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaxGDg3ezno/UEdjQFTf0aI/AAAAAAAABU4/ymVXIIVLejI/s1600/DSCF1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaxGDg3ezno/UEdjQFTf0aI/AAAAAAAABU4/ymVXIIVLejI/s320/DSCF1833.JPG" title="ANGRA3" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young love </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We stumbled on a huge farmers
market with good prices and high quality fruit and vegetables.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Next door there was a very clean meat market
- we stocked up for the first time since leaving the States.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> The fish market had <b>all</b> kinds of fish including whole octopus and moray eels.</span></div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_SSCKCRZns/UEdjX0WNSwI/AAAAAAAABVk/lGvQ6guP0D4/s1600/DSCF1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_SSCKCRZns/UEdjX0WNSwI/AAAAAAAABVk/lGvQ6guP0D4/s320/DSCF1857.JPG" title="Farmers Market" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-An_wOBE49D4/UEdjZYaCxOI/AAAAAAAABVs/R6dLfgvgjO8/s1600/DSCF1859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-An_wOBE49D4/UEdjZYaCxOI/AAAAAAAABVs/R6dLfgvgjO8/s320/DSCF1859.JPG" title="Fish market" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish market</td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYp5BbEiszo/UEdjsfRDkLI/AAAAAAAABXM/gUCNa9HKVfA/s1600/DSCF1925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYp5BbEiszo/UEdjsfRDkLI/AAAAAAAABXM/gUCNa9HKVfA/s320/DSCF1925.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardens</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Overlooking the town, t</span><span style="font-size: small;">he Outeiro da Memoria has a pyramid erected to honor King
Pedro IV’s visit to Terceira during the constitutional revolt of the mid 19<sup>th</sup>
century. From the memorial, a beautiful park follows the hillside down into the
town.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svFaCeK6EK8/UEdjp9RZdLI/AAAAAAAABXE/ATdTutnsGR0/s1600/DSCF1918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-svFaCeK6EK8/UEdjp9RZdLI/AAAAAAAABXE/ATdTutnsGR0/s320/DSCF1918.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview of Angra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Praia da Vitoria - August 4 to 6, 2012</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Starlet made the quick two hour run east from Angra to the
second town on Terceira, Praia da Vitoria.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
Sited on a natural cove, breakwaters were installed during WWII to
create a large harbor to service the US air base nearby. Praia has become the
party town in the Azores with vacationers drawn to the large beach.</span><br />
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0qo2M5TxrE/UEdhiKwl58I/AAAAAAAABL4/1bCHZxQmA0Y/s1600/DSCF2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0qo2M5TxrE/UEdhiKwl58I/AAAAAAAABL4/1bCHZxQmA0Y/s320/DSCF2301.JPG" title="Marina" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marina at Praia do Vitoria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YO53s8j_7mU/UEdhyKTO2qI/AAAAAAAABNI/8tXdwjGidrU/s1600/DSCF1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YO53s8j_7mU/UEdhyKTO2qI/AAAAAAAABNI/8tXdwjGidrU/s320/DSCF1972.JPG" title="Praia" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">After Rhett Barker arrived from Lisbon for a 9 day visit, we
headed to an open house at the Lajes Air Force Base. Jennifer’s father was
assigned here in 1951 during the Korean War.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
He had a cushy job</span><span style="font-size: small;"> - education coordinator for the troops.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BebjMakw3_4/UEdhQCl7EfI/AAAAAAAABKE/wCLsfQIEJ1A/s1600/DSCF2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BebjMakw3_4/UEdhQCl7EfI/AAAAAAAABKE/wCLsfQIEJ1A/s320/DSCF2034.JPG" title="C5" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C5 at open house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jPKgtwPmCbk/UEdhWqHvqxI/AAAAAAAABLc/k9qojXxGIp8/s1600/DSCF2054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jPKgtwPmCbk/UEdhWqHvqxI/AAAAAAAABLc/k9qojXxGIp8/s320/DSCF2054.JPG" title="Scared" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to be scared!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb8UF6u_D5I/UEdh4B1bJII/AAAAAAAABNs/HTSIHXgo2Wg/s1600/DSCF2110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb8UF6u_D5I/UEdh4B1bJII/AAAAAAAABNs/HTSIHXgo2Wg/s320/DSCF2110.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well behaved oxen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Our visit to Praia was during a major festival. A huge tent
in the marina houses temporary restaurants from all over Portugal and the
Azores. The park close to the marina is the music center. The entertainment
starts at midnight and the DJ starts at 2:00 AM - way past our bed time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A festival parade featured locals dressed in traditional
clothing from several eras.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> They brought
along ox carts, cows, a hog and two donkeys. One group staged a picnic and
dancing - both Rhett and Mark were invited to dance in the streets.</span></div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQr9iDStSII/UEdiCVn2BII/AAAAAAAABOo/dp7T3BmvN9w/s1600/DSCF2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQr9iDStSII/UEdiCVn2BII/AAAAAAAABOo/dp7T3BmvN9w/s320/DSCF2170.JPG" title="Dance" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to dance!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9exd_YWdb7o/UEdh9zVNo3I/AAAAAAAABOI/OjSxJIRE26s/s1600/DSCF2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9exd_YWdb7o/UEdh9zVNo3I/AAAAAAAABOI/OjSxJIRE26s/s320/DSCF2133.JPG" title="Costume" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional clothing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Angra do Heroismo – August 7 to 10, 2012</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We ran back to Angra to give Rhett a chance to see this
city. Rhett is traveling before starting at the University of Florida this
fall. He spent a week in Portugal before joining Starlet. In Angra on a hike to
Monte Brasil, we saw the Castle of Sao Filipe. Built by the Spanish to protect
ships returning from the New World, it includes 4 km of walls and gun
placements ringing the bluffs.</span></div>
</div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hm6Dn5xjVGo/UEdjhCziasI/AAAAAAAABWU/kCsHpJ3diUA/s1600/DSCF1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hm6Dn5xjVGo/UEdjhCziasI/AAAAAAAABWU/kCsHpJ3diUA/s320/DSCF1889.JPG" title="Club Naval" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the Castile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J_qNzK5ZOlU/UEdjKt_4FnI/AAAAAAAABUY/DiItJZrSCQk/s1600/DSCF2525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J_qNzK5ZOlU/UEdjKt_4FnI/AAAAAAAABUY/DiItJZrSCQk/s320/DSCF2525.JPG" title="Gun placement" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortifications around Monte Brasil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-i0gFkO3Kk/UEdiQ1FDkpI/AAAAAAAABQA/MetGR6qziv4/s1600/DSCF2423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-i0gFkO3Kk/UEdiQ1FDkpI/AAAAAAAABQA/MetGR6qziv4/s320/DSCF2423.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind us...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Rental cars were in high demand on Terceira. We ended up with a 4 door pickup truck with room for 5, so we were able to invite Bob and Janice from Tsamaya to
join us for an island tour. We ran up the south and west coasts, past beach
hotels and villages. In search of a cheese factory, we happened across an
Azorean family transplanted to California that was back in Terceira for a
visit. They dropped everything to escort us to our destination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Later we made our way up the central peak to check out
geological features of the island. Gruta do Algar do Carvao has a vertical lava
tube leading down 125 m to two large rooms. </span><br />
<br />
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxtL6GJHbBg/UEdiWOd6X8I/AAAAAAAABQg/61syxZPszDQ/s1600/DSCF2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxtL6GJHbBg/UEdiWOd6X8I/AAAAAAAABQg/61syxZPszDQ/s320/DSCF2453.JPG" title="EXIT" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the entrance/exit?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQntmq8UgaI/UEdiX1H9_VI/AAAAAAAABQo/xeuG2fdMjkI/s1600/DSCF2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQntmq8UgaI/UEdiX1H9_VI/AAAAAAAABQo/xeuG2fdMjkI/s320/DSCF2472.JPG" title="GRUTA" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gruta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Furnas do Enxofre is an area of
fumaroles venting volcanic gasses. The Gruta do Natal is another cave system
with hundreds of meters of passages winding through various structures created
by lava flow.</span></div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2xQMbI7Sow/UEdieOy5NZI/AAAAAAAABRI/sNYStDfoYyI/s1600/DSCF2505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2xQMbI7Sow/UEdieOy5NZI/AAAAAAAABRI/sNYStDfoYyI/s320/DSCF2505.JPG" title="Furnas" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venting at Furnas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEdHq51Tp8E/UEdilG5xQSI/AAAAAAAABR0/7J6CDAK62YE/s1600/DSC07402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEdHq51Tp8E/UEdilG5xQSI/AAAAAAAABR0/7J6CDAK62YE/s320/DSC07402.JPG" title="Gruta" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wandering through Gruta do Natal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wsRl4HMzbVk/UEdzMWYytHI/AAAAAAAABac/NnaQDjf3q70/s1600/DSCF2573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J62TQbjmE8o/UEdzQc2tGwI/AAAAAAAABa4/cNgtLxGpoSQ/s1600/DSCF2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J62TQbjmE8o/UEdzQc2tGwI/AAAAAAAABa4/cNgtLxGpoSQ/s1600/DSCF2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b><span style="font-size: small;">Graciosa – August 11 & 12, 2012</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">With Rhett on board, we made a side trip to Graciosa, a
smaller and less populated island about 40 nm NW of Terceira. We anchored in
the main harbor at Sao Mateus, and took off with the dogs to explore the quiet
village.</span></div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9hOxrdADQk/UEdzKJLNq4I/AAAAAAAABd4/ZXoQ2EQyHiM/s1600/DSCF2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c9hOxrdADQk/UEdzKJLNq4I/AAAAAAAABd4/ZXoQ2EQyHiM/s320/DSCF2561.JPG" title="GOAT" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can I get up there?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wsRl4HMzbVk/UEdzMWYytHI/AAAAAAAABac/NnaQDjf3q70/s1600/DSCF2573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wsRl4HMzbVk/UEdzMWYytHI/AAAAAAAABac/NnaQDjf3q70/s1600/DSCF2573.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wsRl4HMzbVk/UEdzMWYytHI/AAAAAAAABac/NnaQDjf3q70/s320/DSCF2573.JPG" title="WINDMILL" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic windmill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjC1muxk4Aw/UEdzGPjxjuI/AAAAAAAABdo/_jRNhU2z99E/s1600/DSCF2538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GjC1muxk4Aw/UEdzGPjxjuI/AAAAAAAABdo/_jRNhU2z99E/s320/DSCF2538.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At anchor in Graciosa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">The next day we found a cab to take us up to the calderia of
the main volcano. If you look in the dictionary for calderia, there should be a
picture of this place! A tunnel penetrates the sheer calderia wall providing
access into the 1 km x 1 ½ km bowl. A cavern in the middle is accessed by a
winding stairway leading down 100 m.</span><br />
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<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OA5Y-dU0iW4/UEdzaUbI5aI/AAAAAAAABb8/qrwtKwOvbKc/s1600/DSCF2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J62TQbjmE8o/UEdzQc2tGwI/AAAAAAAABa4/cNgtLxGpoSQ/s1600/DSCF2578.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J62TQbjmE8o/UEdzQc2tGwI/AAAAAAAABa4/cNgtLxGpoSQ/s320/DSCF2578.JPG" title="CAVE1" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairway down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OA5Y-dU0iW4/UEdzaUbI5aI/AAAAAAAABb8/qrwtKwOvbKc/s1600/DSCF2596.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OA5Y-dU0iW4/UEdzaUbI5aI/AAAAAAAABb8/qrwtKwOvbKc/s320/DSCF2596.JPG" title="CAVE2" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Below the opening</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaKLgoSLbBc/UEdzU8daOmI/AAAAAAAABbU/Jwsns1Zk-MY/s1600/DSCF2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J62TQbjmE8o/UEdzQc2tGwI/AAAAAAAABa4/cNgtLxGpoSQ/s1600/DSCF2578.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> It opens up into a 130 m diameter room
with an 80 m high dome ceiling - the most impressive cave we visited in the Azores.</span></div>
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<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaKLgoSLbBc/UEdzU8daOmI/AAAAAAAABbU/Jwsns1Zk-MY/s1600/DSCF2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaKLgoSLbBc/UEdzU8daOmI/AAAAAAAABbU/Jwsns1Zk-MY/s320/DSCF2584.JPG" title="CAVE3" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cRTa9JVabCA/UEdzcKeL_lI/AAAAAAAABcQ/QdfV_WE-qvc/s1600/DSCF2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cRTa9JVabCA/UEdzcKeL_lI/AAAAAAAABcQ/QdfV_WE-qvc/s320/DSCF2599.JPG" title="MUD" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbling mud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td></td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The same taxi picked us up and drove us down to the
main
town, Santa Cruz. A large town square was being prepped for the
procession at the end of their festival. This involved creating a
walkway of multicolored wood chips
and petals. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span> <br />
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9gdPqdFWmo/UEeszG8XsFI/AAAAAAAABeo/_KzS40N23eg/s1600/DSCF2623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9gdPqdFWmo/UEeszG8XsFI/AAAAAAAABeo/_KzS40N23eg/s320/DSCF2623.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creating the design</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IlEXFoBdvHI/UEdzmUElVXI/AAAAAAAABdI/pDrQ29yBO2g/s1600/DSCF2622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7D5OxpF3iHc/UEdznlxkVLI/AAAAAAAABdQ/O1WUylywc54/s1600/DSCF2625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></td><td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBJc0XKonT0/UEdzqntZ0vI/AAAAAAAABdg/9_CtZchs0q4/s1600/DSCF2628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBJc0XKonT0/UEdzqntZ0vI/AAAAAAAABdg/9_CtZchs0q4/s320/DSCF2628.JPG" title="WALKWAY2" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost ready</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Terceira – August 13 to 20, 2012</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">We made the 52 nm run back to Praia da Vitoria on Terceira
in time for a final dinner out with Rhett. After he flew out on the 14<sup>th</sup>
we ran Starlet back to Angra, the place Jennifer wanted to celebrate her
birthday. Shopping, a mani/pedi – this town met the requirements! Before
heading out for a birthday dinner, we had an impromptu gathering on Starlet
with Bob and Janice from Tsamaya plus new friends Jim and Carole from Nepenthe.
Those two are easing their way north through the Atlantic after spending 13
years going west from the US through the Pacific, Indian Ocean and Africa.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_X55joRFwU/UEdhjrTacoI/AAAAAAAABMA/8zpwMuBOmxU/s1600/DSCF2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_X55joRFwU/UEdhjrTacoI/AAAAAAAABMA/8zpwMuBOmxU/s320/DSCF2310.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At anchor in Praia and ready for Gordon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">The buzz around the docks was that TS Gordon was aiming for
the Azores and predicted to become a hurricane. We had planned to leave on
August 18<sup>th</sup> for Sao Miguel, 120 nm to the SE, but that would put us
closer to the predicted path. Not wanting to face weather from the storm in
Angra, we ran Starlet back to the protected anchorage inside the harbor at
Praia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">We dropped the hook in 25 feet of water and 300+ feet from
any other boat. Mark dove on the bottom and found the Rocna anchor nicely
buried in firm sand. We had a day and a half for the storm to approach – so we
went exploring! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Having missed the north side of Terceira on our driving
tour, we took the bus to Biscoitos.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> It
was just under an hour away with stops through the villages along the way. In
Biscoitos we walked to the harbor and found a crowd of beach lovers on the
rocks and concrete platforms.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gUKSb7jmppM/UEdg4MVEIII/AAAAAAAABII/E6qC1FXTTT0/s1600/DSCF2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gUKSb7jmppM/UEdg4MVEIII/AAAAAAAABII/E6qC1FXTTT0/s320/DSCF2661.JPG" title="SWIMMERS1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming hole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMhxXzF1dlk/UEdg_KJgP7I/AAAAAAAABIo/sNygTgS6tgg/s1600/DSCF2670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMhxXzF1dlk/UEdg_KJgP7I/AAAAAAAABIo/sNygTgS6tgg/s320/DSCF2670.JPG" title="SWIMMERS2" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concrete beach</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Not a
grain of sand anywhere.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> The seas were
very rough but rings of boulders break the waves and form channels for swimmers. After lunch by the swimming rocks, we visited the local wine museum.</span></div>
<table border="0" style="width: 150px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlrOOa78Cwk/UEdhDjVwfsI/AAAAAAAABJA/4X86918BNf8/s1600/DSCF2681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlrOOa78Cwk/UEdhDjVwfsI/AAAAAAAABJA/4X86918BNf8/s320/DSCF2681.JPG" title="WINE1" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1BZ5RgpVbGc/UEdhGJ7RdLI/AAAAAAAABJI/TbSskYbYSno/s1600/DSCF2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1BZ5RgpVbGc/UEdhGJ7RdLI/AAAAAAAABJI/TbSskYbYSno/s320/DSCF2688.JPG" title="WINE2" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum grounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Gordon ended up no big deal!</span><span style="font-size: small;">
The eye passed right over Santa Maria, coming at closest 120 nm from us.
We felt some swell in the harbor but saw at most 25 kt winds. No major losses in the other islands. On the 21<sup>st</sup>,
a day and a half after Gordon passed, Starlet left for the overnight run to Sao
Miguel.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Photo album links: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresTerceiraAngra?authkey=Gv1sRgCOSNv9_fgsHmwwE" target="_blank">Angra do Heroismo</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresTerceiraBiscoitos?authkey=Gv1sRgCIaa94uwyv-VRQ" target="_blank">Biscoitos</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresTerceiraCavesTerceiraIsland?authkey=Gv1sRgCKiFgrmP-4iuJw" target="_blank">Caves</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresTerceiraPraia?authkey=Gv1sRgCLndlZvk4czNvQE" target="_blank">Praia da Vitoria</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresTerceiraPraiaParade?authkey=Gv1sRgCO_dk9XIvMmzvwE" target="_blank">Festival Parade</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresTerceiraLajesAirForceBase?authkey=Gv1sRgCMmu6-buuo3eSg" target="_blank">Lajes Air Force Base</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresGraciosa?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ2K6qzj3tL4aA" target="_blank">Graciosa</a> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.87179,-27.531738&spn=1.026407,1.757813&z=9&output=embed" width="640"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.87179,-27.531738&spn=1.026407,1.757813&z=9&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Starlet in the Azores</a> in a larger map</small>
Starlet - Mark and Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545555893406833466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946484551281235732.post-73916269659684173212012-08-14T14:20:00.001-07:002012-08-14T14:21:41.577-07:00Azores - Sao Jorge<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69spfm-vBzA/UCpb1ucP5-I/AAAAAAAAA7o/GUFZQrzKI60/s1600/DSCF1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-69spfm-vBzA/UCpb1ucP5-I/AAAAAAAAA7o/GUFZQrzKI60/s640/DSCF1426.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of Sao Jorge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Velas on Sao Jorge</b><b> - July </b><b>26 - 27, 2012</b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ELxaojD7tI/UCpbbuHF_uI/AAAAAAAAA6U/Ju6MrQdylfY/s1600/DSCF1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ELxaojD7tI/UCpbbuHF_uI/AAAAAAAAA6U/Ju6MrQdylfY/s200/DSCF1358.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3CjMoP4n0I/UCpbXDVPI4I/AAAAAAAAA6M/3lixpkWljoo/s1600/DSCF1422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3CjMoP4n0I/UCpbXDVPI4I/AAAAAAAAA6M/3lixpkWljoo/s200/DSCF1422.JPG" width="200" /></a>Our visit to Sao Jorge started off following the pattern set
on other Azorean islands. First drop anchor in the harbor at the town of Velas,
and run in on the dink to walk the dogs and check out the marina and town. The
next day move into the marina, hose the salt off Starlet, and nose around town
visiting shops to replenish perishables. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMM4pMqOqnw/UCpa_xc6v_I/AAAAAAAAA5g/QjeRb8elS_s/s1600/DSCF1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMM4pMqOqnw/UCpa_xc6v_I/AAAAAAAAA5g/QjeRb8elS_s/s200/DSCF1357.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympic Venue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One priority in Velas was to find a café with TV for Friday
night’s Olympic opening ceremony. Watching the ceremony over dinner, we
realized that this was the first time we had seen TV since leaving Bermuda six
weeks prior. The US TV’s on Starlet won’t receive over the air broadcasts in
Europe, so we’ve made the transition to getting our news on the web. We still
can't get over the low prices here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
dinners with a bottle of wine, beer, 2 hot teas and ice cream was about $30
including the three hours of TV. No tax/no tip!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Tour guides - Carolina & Rui</b><b> - July </b><b>28, 2012</b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zwgXky14-E/UCpdLvxb7DI/AAAAAAAAA_c/hIev1bWV1hs/s1600/DSCF1580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zwgXky14-E/UCpdLvxb7DI/AAAAAAAAA_c/hIev1bWV1hs/s320/DSCF1580.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina & Rui</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the marina, we continued the constant process of
maintaining Starlet, cleaning and waxing the exterior stainless steel. With a
good internet connection, we got caught up on correspondence and were even able
to stream some of the Olympics live! Late Saturday (after 10:30 – Mark was
snoozing!) after Skyping with friends, Jennifer met a young local couple
walking the marina docks. They wanted to meet the dogs, then spent a good hour
chatting. Carolina was eager to refresh her English, having lived in Rhode
Island for 12 years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rui, her boyfriend,
understood most of the conversation but felt more comfortable using Carolina as
a translator. This chance meeting set our visit to Sao Jorge apart from the
norm: lucky for us Carolina & Rui took it upon themselves to show us their island
and their Azorean lifestyle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsBagmVi-Xg/UCpbt4iZpqI/AAAAAAAAA7I/YjrRjdkSlW8/s1600/DSCF1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsBagmVi-Xg/UCpbt4iZpqI/AAAAAAAAA7I/YjrRjdkSlW8/s200/DSCF1394.JPG" width="200" /></a><b>Limpets & Festival - July 29, 2012</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following evening, Carolina & Rui came by to make traditional
Azorean limpets for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a shell
fish that grows on rocks, kind of like a miniature abalone. They brought the
limpets plus fresh garlic cloves, butter and a red pepper sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rui, who is attending culinary school, cooked
two plates of them for us, then we went to the dock to pry off a couple more to
try raw. Limpets are quite salty and chewy, but very good with the sauce,
garlic and butter. It's Sunday night and way past our bedtime at 11:00 PM, but
we headed out to a festival in Carolina & Rui’s village of Beria. This was
a gathering of all ages with kids playing on swing sets and teeter totters, teenagers
checking each other out, and adults chatting. Bright lights strung around the schoolyard,
a band playing, vendors selling food and beer. We met Rui's Mother and Father
at the festival, then dropped by Carolina's home (after midnight!) to meet her
parents and pets. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FenGVpGL8KM/UCpb_1Y1aOI/AAAAAAAAA8A/OkDKJR42jUk/s1600/DSCF1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FenGVpGL8KM/UCpb_1Y1aOI/AAAAAAAAA8A/OkDKJR42jUk/s200/DSCF1434.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nlOoVzWfQc4/UCpcrBZn5BI/AAAAAAAAA98/9DEWC8JncF4/s1600/DSCF1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nlOoVzWfQc4/UCpcrBZn5BI/AAAAAAAAA98/9DEWC8JncF4/s200/DSCF1518.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dxToA2DFezI/UCpcaFJ6NaI/AAAAAAAAA9I/quzm5VCSEcI/s1600/DSCF1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dxToA2DFezI/UCpcaFJ6NaI/AAAAAAAAA9I/quzm5VCSEcI/s200/DSCF1476.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dxToA2DFezI/UCpcaFJ6NaI/AAAAAAAAA9I/quzm5VCSEcI/s1600/DSCF1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b>Island Tour & Festival - July 30, 2012</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day Carolina & Rui picked us up early to take
us on a tour of the east end of the Sao Jorge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From a high vantage point on the central ridge we could see Faial, Pico
and Graciosa. We visited the Parquet Florestal das Sete Fontes (Seven Ponds
Park) with a mini zoo that had deer, birds, ducks and a pair of Vietnamese
potbellied pigs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Midday we were invited
to Rui's parents house for a heavy lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The main house has four bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and dining room over
2 levels while across the drive they have a small "day house" with a
kitchen and dining room plus a sofa and a TV. The houses overlook a huge
vegetable garden, with a chicken house and a hog pen behind the garage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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picked us up that evening to take us to another celebration for the festival. A
stage was set up in a parking lot by a dairy field, featuring singers
improvising “cantares ao desafio” ballads of social critique. Horse rides for
the kids, cotton candy and popcorn. The ever popular beer tent also offered
grilled sausages and roast rabbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
fundraiser, you can buy a bag with dozens of rolled up squares of paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone works at unrolling them, searching
for the lucky squares marked with numbers. Then it’s time to collect the prizes
associated with the lucky numbers. Our group ended up with thirteen treasures
ranging from perfume to needle work and dishes. </div>
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<b>Cheese Factory & Bull on a Rope - July 31, 2012 </b></div>
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The next day Jennifer visited a hair salon on the main
street in Velas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner didn't speak
English but they went next door for a translator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jennifer was very pleased with the
results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The price . . . 15 Euros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Carolina & Rui picked up us early that afternoon to take
us to the cooperative cheese factory in Beira for a tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a large operation with 80 employees in
a modern facility, one of 3 cooperatives on the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each cooperative provides the economic base
for its village, providing jobs and export income. The member dairy farmers need
to deliver their milk twice daily, 365 days a year! At the end of the tour we
bought some of the cheese made by each cooperative for a very good price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take
pictures of the factory interior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Later we went back to Rui's house to get ready for the Tourada
a Corda (Bull on a Rope), to be held in Beira that evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rui’s mother was very busy as a volunteer making
150 donuts for the event. After forming blobs of dough into rings, they are
fried, six at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dipped in sugar
and cooled, they were boxed for delivery to the event bar. Just before the Tourada a Corda was to start we walked the main street in Beira inspecting the
barricades being installed to protect people & property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mk6q5B66hgs/UCpeaubr1qI/AAAAAAAABC0/71jkSrobK4Q/s1600/DSCF1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mk6q5B66hgs/UCpeaubr1qI/AAAAAAAABC0/71jkSrobK4Q/s320/DSCF1653.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7gvxnod1xI/UCpfJY1US7I/AAAAAAAABEw/GrJa7M249Bk/s1600/DSCF1707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7gvxnod1xI/UCpfJY1US7I/AAAAAAAABEw/GrJa7M249Bk/s320/DSCF1707.JPG" width="238" /></a>Professional wranglers were contracted to bring in four
bulls that ran the street one at a time for thirty minutes each. Very “brave”
men, encouraged by beer, dared to get close but hopefully not too close to the
bull. The bulls know their role: chase anyone they have a chance to catch! If
that means jumping over a wall to chase someone through a field, so much the
better! Thankfully no one was hurt and especially the bulls were not hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really was a lot more fun than
anticipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the Tourada a Corda
we walked back to Rui's house for a lovely dinner with soup, a variety of baked
meats plus a rice pudding dessert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulls can go everywhere</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23Hj1R1SoOM/UCpfofm43oI/AAAAAAAABGI/oLT70VnlyEI/s1600/DSCF1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23Hj1R1SoOM/UCpfofm43oI/AAAAAAAABGI/oLT70VnlyEI/s320/DSCF1752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--n28va5o3NE/UCpeTiHAPEI/AAAAAAAABCc/jDsRwFh-EPk/s1600/DSCF1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--n28va5o3NE/UCpeTiHAPEI/AAAAAAAABCc/jDsRwFh-EPk/s320/DSCF1639.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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Back at the marina, we said good bye to Carolina & Rui.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides providing us with this unique look at
Azorean life, they sent us off with a huge basket of potatoes and fresh eggs.
The whole time they wouldn’t allow us to even put fuel in the car, and we had
to fight to pay for a beer or coffee!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rUXSjhta6Ok/UCpf7fEClCI/AAAAAAAABHI/VKbdIA82npc/s1600/DSCF1798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rUXSjhta6Ok/UCpf7fEClCI/AAAAAAAABHI/VKbdIA82npc/s200/DSCF1798.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-Ot2fUfAds/UCpf-hBgxoI/AAAAAAAABHQ/r_MmXE8kCtk/s1600/DSCF1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-Ot2fUfAds/UCpf-hBgxoI/AAAAAAAABHQ/r_MmXE8kCtk/s200/DSCF1802.JPG" width="150" /></a><b>On to Terceira - August 1, 2012</b></div>
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Before leaving the next morning, we had a quick catch up
session with Bob and Janice from Tsamaya, a couple we had previously met in both
Flores and Horta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then set off on a
calm 52 nm run to Angra do Heroismo on the next Azore Island, Terceira.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way we passed by southeast Sao Jorge -
the high central ridge and the prevailing winds create a very isolated and lush
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresSaoJorge" target="_blank">Link to Azores - Sao jorge photo album</a> </div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.544943,-28.214264&spn=0.515557,0.878906&z=10&output=embed" width="640"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.544943,-28.214264&spn=0.515557,0.878906&z=10&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Starlet in the Azores</a> in a larger map</small>Starlet - Mark and Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545555893406833466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-946484551281235732.post-75310824731610630972012-08-02T10:19:00.000-07:002012-08-03T12:11:37.850-07:00Azores - Pico<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9z1G8eYJOWw/UBAlrhi1AyI/AAAAAAAAAM4/tfhhk6KtP-U/s1600/DSCF1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9z1G8eYJOWw/UBAlrhi1AyI/AAAAAAAAAM4/tfhhk6KtP-U/s640/DSCF1291.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbor view from Lajes do Pico</td></tr>
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<b>Pico beckons </b><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q52WLCHntQ4/UBqehv9xflI/AAAAAAAAAj0/sshH2VPxyLU/s1600/DSCF1116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q52WLCHntQ4/UBqehv9xflI/AAAAAAAAAj0/sshH2VPxyLU/s320/DSCF1116.JPG" width="240" /></a>From the harbor at Horta, Pico dominates the horizon. Sunrise over Pico, sunset lighting Pico up.<b> </b>When we went whalewatching from Horta, we found them just south of Pico. Wine from Pico is featured on the menus throughout the Azores. So visiting Pico became a natural thing to do...<br />
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<b>Ferry to Madalena - July 17, 2012</b><br />
Madalena is the major town to the NW on Pico. Starlet wasn't welcome - the harbor isn't ready for yachts. So we grabbed the ferry from Horta for the half hour run over. The town was bustling with groups of noticeably younger tourists wandering around. Lots of cafes sprawling out on the sidewalk overlooking the whalewatching and dive boats in the harbor. The harbor itself is being improved with an additional breakwater under construction and rumors of a yacht marina in a couple of years.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCq5LWdG4ek/UBqel5hc0_I/AAAAAAAAAko/q9pyvN3RoEk/s1600/DSCF1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCq5LWdG4ek/UBqel5hc0_I/AAAAAAAAAko/q9pyvN3RoEk/s200/DSCF1125.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L7d2e0dftkk/UBqelSbYD2I/AAAAAAAAAkc/gqVA76dXyOM/s1600/DSCF1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L7d2e0dftkk/UBqelSbYD2I/AAAAAAAAAkc/gqVA76dXyOM/s200/DSCF1124.JPG" width="200" /></a>We lucked out on our visit to the wine cooperative, just south in town. The first person we met was Maria, the enologist for the operation (we had to ask too - it means winemaker). She took the time to give us a personal tour. Owned by local vineyards, they pool the grapes to be processed into about 8 different wines. Red and white, upper end and mid grade, Maria directs the fermenting, ageing in American oak casks and bottling for distribution. The personal attention and relaxed pace made this our best winery visit ever.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31SSXaaBqM4/UBqemuuOUbI/AAAAAAAAAkw/Q269Cp1lIvE/s1600/DSCF1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31SSXaaBqM4/UBqemuuOUbI/AAAAAAAAAkw/Q269Cp1lIvE/s200/DSCF1131.JPG" width="200" /></a>When asked for a lunch recommendation, Maria suggested <span class="gphoto-photocaption-caption">Marisqueir<wbr>a Ancoradour<wbr>o, on the water a couple of blocks down. Hard to find since there isn't a sign and it is hidden behind a house, but a very nice place. We enjoyed one of our best meals so far in the Azores. </wbr></wbr></span><br />
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Heading back to the Madalena harbor, we passed by a campground provided for backpackers. This was a very nice facility with showers and a picnic area with grill. Apparently the Azores are a popular place for European students to spend their summers. In addition to the harbor, there is a lot of construction in town. Roads and sidewalks are being rebuilt, and buildings refurbished.<br />
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Downtown Madalena was a flurry of activity. A major festival was starting the next day. Blocks of tents were being set up for all kind of booths. No problem going thirsty - there will be a beer tap about every 15 feet!<br />
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<b>Starlet to Lajes do Pico - June </b><b>21 - 26, 2012</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwpJ1Pmh6TY/UBAltD4ywxI/AAAAAAAAANA/B37GgiE6M-I/s1600/Risso+Dolphin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwpJ1Pmh6TY/UBAltD4ywxI/AAAAAAAAANA/B37GgiE6M-I/s200/Risso+Dolphin.JPG" width="200" /></a>It was time to leave Horta behind. Chuck, our neighbor in the Horta marina came along for the boat ride to Lajes do Pico, the major town on the SE of Pico. The day was sunny and calm - perfect for whale watching. On the way we purposefully eased out south of Pico to the area we had seen sperm whales during last week's whalewatching trip. We had a nice encounter with a pod of Risso's dolphin, but it seems the larger whales (and whalewatching boats) have moved on.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_gpQKPtWpA/UBqaNjUqa_I/AAAAAAAAAfc/dqF4hc3Kr7Q/s1600/DSCF1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_gpQKPtWpA/UBqaNjUqa_I/AAAAAAAAAfc/dqF4hc3Kr7Q/s200/DSCF1190.JPG" width="200" /></a>We anchored in the bay outside the Lajes marina, dropped the dink, then Chuck and Mark checked out the marina. This one is similar to the marina at Flores: small and in nice condition with modern floating docks. But no room for Starlet! Chuck caught the bus to Madalena. From there he'll take the ferry back to Horta.<br />
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The historic whaling town has re-created itself as a center of whale watching. Six large RIB's make as many as 3 whale watching trips each day. There's the Museu do Baleeiros and whale mosaics in the stone sidewalks. The large number of tourists support more outdoor cafes than the much larger town of Horta.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXg1vtar91M/UBqaaNqI_FI/AAAAAAAAAgE/sPT0ADuJeiY/s1600/DSCF1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXg1vtar91M/UBqaaNqI_FI/AAAAAAAAAgE/sPT0ADuJeiY/s200/DSCF1202.JPG" width="200" /></a>A fast (and free) WIFI connection gave us a chance to catch up with friends and family through Skype.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kPTdjBm6mDI/UBAlzAr6r_I/AAAAAAAAANg/9KKWY2YSg-o/s1600/Small+whale+mosaic+Lajes+do+Pico.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kPTdjBm6mDI/UBAlzAr6r_I/AAAAAAAAANg/9KKWY2YSg-o/s200/Small+whale+mosaic+Lajes+do+Pico.JPG" width="200" /></a>After a long Sunday morning walk through town with the dogs, the calm seas brought on by the Azores high tempted us to run out and search for the sperm whales. In a fourteen mile loop we just saw two more dolphins. Back in the harbor we noticed that a slip was available (but after anchoring and dropping the dink...), so we moved Starlet to the slip and plugged in. With the light wind and sunny skies, this was the first time since we've been in the Azores that it was warm enough to make us want A/C.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhkoJELDgLc/UBqasmYmL4I/AAAAAAAAAgs/oyZh8BTdn-g/s1600/DSCF1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhkoJELDgLc/UBqasmYmL4I/AAAAAAAAAgs/oyZh8BTdn-g/s200/DSCF1212.JPG" width="200" /></a>We ran into four Danish divers over dinner who have been diving around the world together since 2002. From Pico they had been diving on the Princess Alice Bank 42 miles offshore focusing on sharks and Mobula rays, a close relative of Manta rays. We shared stories about favorite dive locations for close to two hours. They were curious about Bermuda, we filled them in. We were curious about the Red Sea and Malta, they filled us in. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i3BY_iKBMjg/UBqdRuA65lI/AAAAAAAAAi0/hUWf_AC5E5c/s1600/DSCF1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i3BY_iKBMjg/UBqdRuA65lI/AAAAAAAAAi0/hUWf_AC5E5c/s320/DSCF1297.JPG" width="320" /></a>A low pressure system was came through bringing more wind & rain. So with a fast internet connection in Lajes, we decided it was time to set up a real blog for Starlet's journeys. It took a couple of days to get organized, but you're looking at the results!<br />
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The morning we left for the next island to the north, Sao Jorge, we were passed by a couple of whalewatching boats heading out. We eased Starlet out to see if we could use them to guide us to the sperm whales. We did see some spouts, but the whales were soon covered with up to 5 of the commercial boats. No room for Starlet in that mix!<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/101160411095657173029/AzoresPico#" target="_blank">Link to Azores - Pico photo album</a><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.48477,-28.291168&spn=0.515988,0.878906&z=10&output=embed" width="640"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206544485713916124509.0004c5cbcb6db30bfd78f&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=38.48477,-28.291168&spn=0.515988,0.878906&z=10&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Starlet in the Azores</a> in a larger map</small>Starlet - Mark and Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545555893406833466noreply@blogger.com4Pico in the Azores38.395962415445823 -28.25370311737060537.997113915445823 -28.885417117370604 38.794810915445822 -27.621989117370607