Azores - Lagoa do Fogo, delicious food and beautiful flowers

After breakfast with my "local" brother in law, we went to "Portas do Mar" (Sea Doors) for a stroll along the ocean and to have a look at  the marina.

This area also houses a pavilion for exhibitions and events, underground parking, restaurants and bars as well as the maritime terminal for ships and inter-island ferries.
Whale-watching and dolphin cruises also depart from here.

A mural near Portas do Mar

We had been invited for lunch by my husband's Uncle and Aunt to a restaurant known for their steaks. Well, I don't think any restaurant in the island cooks bad steaks...

left to right - my sister, Uncle, my daughter, niece, Aunt, husband's brother,  my sister's husband, my husband and myself

After lunch, the Uncle and Aunt went home and we promised we would go past their house for a quick visit after our visit to the Lagoa do Fogo, (Fire Lagoon). 

Located in the centre of the island of Sao Miguel, this is the second biggest lagoon of the island, also located inside a volcanic crater.

Probably the prettiest of the islands natural attractions, this lagoon is about 2km long and 1km wide and is surrounded by a high mountain and lush green vegetation.
The island of Sao Miguel is called the "Green Island" for all it's vegetation.

If you like hiking you can go down to the lake through very uneven steps until you reach the sandy beaches. On the north side, halfway up the crater there is a natural pool with a cascade with warm sulphurous water (38C) in which you can bathe the whole year.

Views over small towns from one of the look-outs

Fire Lagoon

The beaches below - can you see a lone walker in an orange top down there?

It was time to descend the mountain and go to Porto Formoso, on the north side of the island, to visit one of the two tea plantations - Porto Formoso, the one we visited and Gorreana. 

This is the only place in Europe where tea is cultivated due the area's micro climate.

It was almost closing time, but the lady was kind enough to show us a 10 min video presentation and then walk us through the machinery used in tea production.

Afterwards you get served a cup of tea in the kitchen or terrace and you can buy packets of tea as well.

Tea plantation


View from the tea factory down to the sea and surrounding villages

Pots, teas and old outfits at the Tea Museum

After tea, it was time to go back to Ponta Delgada and visit Jose's Uncle and Aunt at their house. We first went around the garden at the back of the house, to admire the fruit trees and flowers, then climbed up to an area where they have a pergola and from where they have a great view of their suburb, the city far away and the sea. 

The sun was setting and it was the perfect place to take some photos.  After this stunning sunset we went indoors for some tea and cake. Our Uncle gifted each couple a box of pineapples, which are grown on the island.

It was close to 8pm, and time for all of us to go and have dinner, (yes we were going to eat again!) at my ex-sister in law's house, just 5 minutes away.

View from the terrace over the city 

The sun setting behind the church tower

L to R - me, my sister, brother in law, Jose, Aunt, Uncle and ex-sister in law

After a tasty dinner made by Jose's ex-sister in law, who is a wonderful cook, it was time to go back to the hotel and pack our bags. We would be checking out the next day and flying back to Lisbon.

5th March - Departure day

After our last breakfast at the hotel, we collected our belongings, checked out and put our bags in the cars. 

We still had a couple of hours before we had to be at the Airport, so we went to the City Market.

Lots of local pineapples and other fruit and vegetables, plus an array of fresh fish and flowers. There was a cheese shop selling local cheeses, biscuits and liqueurs - the pineapple and the passionfruit being the most popular (the passionfruit liqueur is my favourite!). We bought cheese to bring to Australia and some to give to my parents in Lisbon - I love the Sao Jorge cheese!

Pineapple stand at the market

Fresh fish at the market

We also bought "Queijadas", little pastries typical of the island for the family back in Lisbon.

Try the "Queijadas do Morgado", moist pastries typical of the island

The visit was followed by lunch at a Fish restaurant by the beach. Wonderful view and wonderful food!

Views from the restaurant

Some of the dishes we ate

After lunch it was time to drive to the Airport, hand in the rented car and check-in. 

When we should be embarking we were unfortunately advised that the plane they were expecting to land from another island, had a mechanical fault.

So another plane was requested to come from Lisbon, blowing our waiting time by another 4 or 5 hours, which we spent talking and playing cards until it was time to depart.

The time wasted was a pity as we could have been in the city doing some sightseeing, but we had already handed in our car..

Our stay was wonderful, the hotel was great, the food was delicious, the scenery fantastic, the flowers were beautiful - pity that the Hydrangeas were only starting to bloom, (I managed to find a couple like the white one in the middle) as when they are in full bloom the island looks even prettier.

All in all a fantastic and relaxing holiday.

I hope that I managed to persuade you to visit the Azores islands.

Flowers seen around the island

Map of Sao Miguel - Seven Cities Lagoon on the left, Fire Lagoon in the middle and Furnas where the cozido is made to the right. Ponta Delgada, the capital is on the coast where the plane is.

Wednesday 4, and Thursday 5 March 2015