My favourite experiences on São Miguel, Azores
I
keep telling Marcel that São Miguel became one of my favourite islands. I know
that I need to go back – I owe it to my traveller’s heart – and discover the
remaining 8 islands of the archipelago, but this first trip to the Azores was
so lightly-vibed and so beautiful, that it turned unforgettable.
It
was also intense – we experienced so many mesmerising sceneries, tasty foods,
and lovely interactions with people! When you say ‘it’s hard to choose’, you’ve
already chosen, so here are my favourite experiences on São Miguel, in the
order of their occurrence--
Mosteiros
Not
knowing what to expect, the first wow flew out of our mouths when we saw the
ocean. Wilder than the wild Atlantic we knew, but romantic at the same time: the
black and rocky shores typical to volcanic islands, dotted with dramatic
islets. The natural pools were flooded, but this added to the beauty of it all;
I guess, winters in the Azores are like that.
Kayaking at Sete
Cidades
Most
of the travellers reaching Sete Cidades are into hiking the trails above the
twin lakes, in search of that perfect view. I, on the other hand, have always believed that a perspective from water is unmatched. Marcel and I were lucky enough
to be in the right place at the right time (on a Sunday, with a massive weather
improvement that we had no idea about), so we rented a double kayak and went
paddling. It felt very relaxing, the green was surreal and it went well with
the happy Azorean cows. ‘We found spring’, I concluded.
Jardim António
Borges
I
had read that Ponta Delgada’s gardens are absolutely charming, but my
expectations were still exceeded. Close to its closing time, we found our way
to Jardim António Borges, studied its impressive plant collection, climbed its interesting
structures, and fully unwound. I wished we had more time, but this is the way
great memories are created. ‘The best things in life are free’ ♪♫♬ --
do you know the song?
A Casa da Cascata
When
I booked A Casa da Cascata, I knew that it was going to be special – and I am looking
for unique experiences in all aspects of my life. When we entered A Casa da
Cascata, I understood that it was truly special. Attention to details and to
the needs of travellers, interactivity, sensational design… and simply a
welcoming feeling passed on to the guests. I could see the stars while
going to sleep, that’s the kind of view we had of Ribeira Grande!
Whale watching with
Picos de Aventura
Let
me first say that Picos de Aventura is one of the most eco-friendly companies
we’ve ever relied on while booking water-related activities. They are involved
in conservation and are encouraging the community to contribute to the
well-being of the ocean. Secondly, they are very receptive and organised and,
given the good-weather window we had stumbled upon, we did go out to sea eager
to see whales, while our guides communicated with their connections on land, in
the lookouts, searching for the mammals on the horizon. We weren’t lucky to see
whales or dolphins (and were given our money back, based on the company’s
policy). However, we were lucky to spend our morning with some dedicated and warm-hearted
people and the Zodiac ride was… wild. With sun, wind, rainbows, repeat. Did I mention that the Atlantic was ‘peaceful’
that day? J
The
visit to the Tobacco Museum in Maia felt like quality time spent with family.
The official English speaking guide was not in, but we didn’t mind joining a
tour in Portuguese, as we both understand the language and Marcel can also
speak it a bit. Plus, the Azorean accent is much easier to understand than that
of mainland Portugal, in my opinion. We were accompanied by a very nice young
lady, who had moved to São Miguel from central Portugal (hope I remember well)
and was – as we had become accustomed to people telling us – thrilled to have
started a new life in the Azores, eager to understand the culture of the
archipelago. We were shown the garden of the museum, we were explained the way
in which islanders would smoke and prepare cigars back in the day, as well as
the entire process of manufacturing cigarettes using the methods current for
that period. Of course, we bought some ‘Dom Pedro’ cigars and enjoyed them back
home with friends and a glass of strong wine. They’re exquisite! (I still have
one left, btw!)
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