The Azores
The nine islands of Azores are in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Portugal. The islands belong to Portugal and are part of Europe.
The first two nights we spent on the small island of Flores which reminded me of the Yorkshire moors and yes, it was misty and raining too – the drizzle that soaks you through! We took a boat rip over to the tiny Corvo Island which measures a minuscule 8 x 4 square miles and has only 470 inhabitants! We toured this island in a mere 20 minutes, enjoyed the most spectacular views from the hill-tops and left with a feeling of peace and tranquility, marvellous.
Faial, the Blue Island (named because of the vast quantities of blue Hydrangeas found on the island!) is my favourite (so far! I have four more of the islands to visit yet before I make up my mind!)
We stayed at the elegant ‘Pousada Santa Cruz’ which was just lovely! It offers very high standards, an outdoor pool and is perfectly situated on Horta’s harbour front.
I just have to mention our visit to the family owned ‘Quinto do Vale’ situated three kms from Horta. It is a superb, a completely renovated manor house with just four bedrooms. It operates on a bed and breakfast basis but the owners will provide an evening meal, you can choose to dine with the family if you like! They have a recently completed pool table/TV and bar area.
One of our meals in Faial was at the ‘Canto da Doca’ where we cooked our own food on hot volcanic rocks, different! We enjoyed a morning (dinghy!!) excursion where we were surrounded by dolphins, we were soaked to the skin but it was more than worth it!
Sao Miguel (the main island) was our final destination. We stayed at the Royal Garden but my favourites were the tiny four bedroomed ‘Quinta do Mar’ owned by TV producer Nick Heathcote. It has its own infinity pool, breakfast pavilion and honesty bar with fabulous view. It is slightly out of town but a ten minute, 15 Euro taxi ride gets you there.
My other choice would be the elegantly styled ‘Talisman’ which enjoys a perfect location (with most rooms overlooking gardens) in Ponta Del Gada. It has a pool, good rooms and a lovely breakfast!
If you love the outdoors, flora and fauna, bird-watching (the Azores have their very own ‘Bullfinch’ which is a major attraction for bird-watchers I’m told!) exploring, walking and anything to do with the Ocean then the Azores is for you – give it a try!