- whaling-tools
Whaling Tools The inscription reads "There are three types of men: the living, the dead, and those who walk in the sea." The third tool down was used for butchering. - whaling-museum
Whaling Museum A tourist in the obligatory pose with the harpooner. - whale-butchery
Whale Butchery They would drag whales up this ramp to butcher them. - whale-boats
Whale Boats We visited a whaling museum and the whale boats were inside. - whale-boat-rudders
Whale Boat Rudders After harpooning a whale the line was run through a slot in the bow and then tied around that post on the stern. The rudders are in the boat transport position. - we-found-representation
We Found Representation - walking-down-the-sidewalk
Walking Down The Sidewalk - visiting-with-vasco-da-gama
Visiting With Vasco da Gama Angra was presented with this statue of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 2016. It was commissioned and gifted by Vitor Baptista, a Portuguese immigrant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was born in Terceira. - Vineyard Windmill
Windmill In Vineyard Our first stop on the island was at a vineyard and this windmill was there. It was one of the few functional ones left on the island having been rebuilt in the early 2000s. Many of the other windmills have fallen into disrepair due to age and lack of maintenance. - tiny-streets---tiny-autos
Tiny Streets - Tiny Autos Subcompacts are the transports of choice and for all intents and purposes all vehicles are standard shift. I was told that the only automatics were rental vehicles. - this-doesnt-look-good
This Doesn't Look Good Yeah, dropped some euros here! I knew it was a mistake to let her enter, but I didn't want to cause a scene. - the-sunsets-are-okay
The Sunsets Are Okay - the-beach
The Beach - taking-a-break
Taking a break We strolled about Angra and had a break at this fresh-air restaurant. - street-sweeping-with-unique-broom
Street Sweeping With Unique Broom Living on an island necessitates the occasional creative solution. This one works. - split-rock-goat-island
Split Rock (Goat Island) This is a well known landmark associated with many stories from the past. Among them is the story that a German submarine used to hide between the outgrowths during the war, and another, that a young lad was exiled here for seven years by the father of the young lady he loved. - shore-walk
Shore Walk - sailor-records
Sailor Records One morning we walked to the marina which is a very popular stop for cruising vessels. Many voyagers leave a record of their visit as can be seen here. Literally every smooth surface in the marina is covered with these colorful documentations. - ruben-our-guide
Ruben Our Guide Ruben Goulart was our very excellent Faial guide. I believe he works for Aerohorta. - rifle-range
Rifle Range While not a huge presence, there are military personnel on the island. - relaxation-after-a-long-day
Relaxation After A Long Day The water bottles in the hotel were these rectangular glass bottles which were way more classy than a plastic Poland Springs. - rafted-boats
Rafted Boats The harbor has a space problem so boats have to raft with other boats of similar size and kind. This row is three abreast for maybe 10 deep. - praia-da-vitria-city
Praia da Vitória City Praia da Vitória translates to "Beach of the Victory". From Wikipedia - The Battle of Praia Bay was fought by the coast of Terceira Island on August 11, 1829, between Portuguese loyalists and a Miguelite fleet as part of the Portuguese civil war. The Miguelites under command of José António Azevedo e Lemos attempted to disembark troops on Terceira island, but were defeated by the loyalist troops under command of the Duke of Terceira who controlled a dozen small forts and artillery batteries along five kilometers of the coast. The defeat of the absolutists in this battle was decisive for the affirmation and posterior victory of the liberal ideas in Portugal. - pool-ladder
Pool Ladder - patchwork-quilt
Patchwork Quilt One large crater today is called a patchwork quilt. We were on the crater ridge which you will see in the next photo. - painted-pier
Painted Pier - overlook
Overlook Somewhere down in that village is where we had lunch. - overlook
Overlook The island has many beautiful overlooks but they are best visited when the lighting is in your favor. Unfortunately, we had no choice in this matter. CLICK HERE - to see a short video of the natural wind barriers along the coast protecting the fields. - out-for-a-stroll
Out For A Stroll In search of rest rooms we ended up high above a rare Azorean beach in Angra which is seen in the next photo. - one-of-many-churches
One of Many Churches We stopped at the Bandeiras church in Madalena and the inside is quite spectacular. - One of many vineyards
One of Many Vineyards Pico's main industries over the years have been wine and whaling and now of course tourism. Because the island is essentially a pile of basalt (lava rock) growing anything was a real task. They used the basalt stones to create barriers to protect the growing plants from the wind as seen here and these walls go on for miles. Some of the walls are hundreds of years old. The plants are a low growing vine. Verdelho, one of three traditional plants grown there and the most famous was wiped out by powdery mildew around 1850. It was replaced with resistant hybrids from America but other plant diseases in the late 1800s nearly wiped out the industry. Today Pico makes some of the best Portuguese wine Verdelho is making a comeback. - old-swimmin-hole
Old Swimmin' Hole These are the brave ones. - octopus-salad
Octopus Salad Our lunch restaurant serves this octopus salad as an appetizer and it was very delicious, way more delicious than the blood sausage and fish. - my-azoris-breakfast
My Azoris Breakfast Where ever we were, the breakfast was always a buffet with numerous juices available and tray after tray of meats and cheeses. The also had the more traditional bacon and eggs, etc. - museum-entrance
Museum Entrance The Capelinhos volcano erupted in September of 1957 and ceased in October of 1958. As a result of this volcano thousands of islanders immigrated to the United States and settled in places like New Bedford, Taunton, Fall River, Gloucester and Provincetown to name a few. Today there is a museum on the volcanic site, the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Center which was built underground near the lighthouse which was there. This is the lobby of the museum. - mother-church-of-st-sebastian-from-1455
Mother Church of St. Sebastian From 1455 This is the oldest church on the island and while it has changed some as a result of modifications and a fire it is used to this day. Not long ago it was discovered that beautiful frescos on the side walls had been painted over so restoration work is now in process. - marina-with-pico-in-the-clouds
Marina With Pico In The Clouds The weather is hit or miss in the Azores and can change quickly. We hit this one just right. - lunch-downtown
Lunch Downtown Each meal is served with farmer's cheese and bread, - looking-up-the-chimney
Looking Up The Chimney One of the dormant volcanoes has a lava tube with a small pond at its base 300 feet down. This is looking up the chimney to the outside. - local-swimming-pool
Local Swimming Pool This is a "beach" and swimming pool when the weather is warmer. - limestone-street-repair
Limestone Street Repair A man was doing repair work and this is what his wheelbarrow looked like. - limestone-and-basalt-surface-material
Limestone And Basalt Surface Material The black and white paving designs seen all over the island are created piece by piece and laid by hand as seen in the next photo. The basalt which we would call lava is locally sourced but the limestone needs to be imported. - light-house
Light House This lighthouse withstood the eruption but it is not as tall as it once was. Beneath the 2 windows you see on the left, near the ground, you can see the tops of the windows on the first floor of this 2-story building. - lava-beach
Lava Beach Luis, our guide, is giving Debby the scoop. - island-hopper
Island Hopper This is the aircraft type which flew us to the next island, Terceira. - imperio-of-so-sebastio
Imperio of São Sebastião Each community has a chuch; each church has an imperio associated with it, but not connected to it. Imperios are small temple-like structures integral to the doctrines of the Cult of the Empire of the Holy Spirit. In some areas the buildings can be simple but in the Azores they tend to be ornate. From Wikipedia - - "...the cult of the Empire of the Holy Spirit is a religious sub-culture, inspired by Christian millenarian mystics, associated with Azorean Catholic identity." This sub-culture is alive and very active in the islands and also in diasporas in the US and elsewhere. - imperio
Imperio Empire of the Holy Spirit of the Twelve Rivers or Império do Espírito Santo das Doze Ribeiras CLICK HERE - to see a short video of an Imperio. - hydrangeas
Hydrangeas The hydrangea season was a couple weeks away but here and there would be examples of what the island would look like shortly. - hotel-caracol
Hotel Caracol The hotel is located in Angra do Heroismo, one of the three Azorean capital cities which is located on the southern shore. Angra, as it is commonly called, has been the center of a number of historical events since its founding in 1478. It was once Portugal's capital. - hortas-narrow-streets
Horta's Narrow Streets The back streets are very narrow. Actually, most streets are narrow since many buildings predate autos.