| On Monday afternoon, August 9, we departed Angra do Heroismo on the island of Terceira and sailed overnight 95 nautical miles to the city of Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel. Sao Miguel was the largest island in the Azorean archipelago with 288 square miles, and almost half the population of the Azores lived on this island. During our eight day stay at the Ponta Delgada Marina, we explored the island, enjoyed some of its festivities, plus prepared the boat for its passage to Portugal. |
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| Sao Miguel was known for its spectacular beauty. We rented a car for a day with another cruising couple to tour the island and take in the main sights. As Sao Miguel was a large island and difficult to see in one day, we were quite lucky when our car rental began at 5pm. This allowed us to traveled the western part of the island in the evening, allowing the entire next day for the eastern half of the island.
The picture shown in most tourist pamphlets of the Azores is that of Sete Cidades, a crater located on the western side of the island with its two beautiful lakes. Although the sun was low in the sky when we arrived at the viewpoint for Sete Cidades, the lakes were still a beautiful sight with their tranquil and verdant scenery. The fresh pine scent of the conifer �cryptomeria� permeated the air. As we passed through the village of Sete Cidades, a few farmers were still bringing in their milk from their dairy farms by horse and cart to the local cooperative, a sight not often seen. We ended the evening enjoying a fish dinner in Mosteiros. |
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