It really was a Christmas miracle that Will and I managed to get off of Peaks to Boston, and then on to Punta Delgada in the Azores during a serious wind and rain storm. After a morning nap in our hotel, we wandered around the capital city admiring the green lushness of everything.
We took bicycles from our hotel and rode up the coast a bit to explore the windy roads and beaches. Christmas Day was very quiet with few people out, except for those carrying platters of food to visit relatives. It sprinkled on us a few times.
The street art all around is reminiscent of some we saw in Lisbon a few years ago. Lots of traditional signs for Catholic saints, and other beautiful expressions about the sea and life.
Monday while Will went for a run, I found my way to a local pineapple plantation. The greenhouses are old style made with wood and glass, and they whitewash the glass panes to adjust the strength of light coming in to the plants. The pineapples are grown organically with no fertilizers, so they grow slower than others that are commercially grown. Check out their website to learn about the process of growing them- it’s very cool.
In the afternoon, we drove up to Lagoa do Fogo, a lake in the caldera of a volcano. It was created 15000 years ago, and is a source of potable water for the region around it.No boats are allowed or swimming. We hiked down the steep path, and a ladder, to reach edge of it.
We’ve been lucky so far with clear weather. Tuesday we drove north and east on the island. Sao Miguel is the largest of the Azores archipelago, and has so many beautiful vistas wherever you go.
Birdgirl’s travels 
It sounds wonderful, Kath! Enjoy!!
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I would definitely swim in that “protected” pool. I would even more swim off that calm beach with the gorgeous shower. Everything is so beautiful with a lovely balance of whitewash and splashes of colors. It all seems so quiet and calm too. Wish I liked pineapple more than I do. My dad loves it. He would love the Azores. Enjoy, K. xoxoxo, kk.
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