Azores Island Hopping: May 2013
(continued)
At the Parc Natural da Ribeira dos Calderas
we see a demonstration of the flour making process and also admire a superb waterfall
before
moving on to a tea plantation called Cha Gorreana
The tea plantation is near to the village of Maia. Tea has been grown in the Azores since 1874, but the Cha Gorreana plantation
is one of the last of several estates that once thrived on Sao Miguel. The tea is grown on rows of low, squarely-cut bushes and processed
using old (made in England), but beautifully engineered machines. After drinking a sample, we return to the hotel following the coastline
and admiring the many agapanthus flowers by the roadside
On the morning of Tuesday, May 14th, we join a whale watch trip that departs from the marina opposite the hotel - no whales are spotted
but we do see lots of common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. In the afternoon we explore the town of Ponta Delgada with the aid
of our guide book
One of Ponta Delgada's charming squares contains the Town Hall and a statue of St Michael.
We find a small cafe for sandwiches, coffee
and cake, that we are to return to again during our holiday in the Azores
At the Convent and Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperanca the Ascension Day decorations are being removed
We discover a street with a familiar name before returning to the hotel for our buffet meal