Uh uh, the alarm clock rang at 6:16 am. Our Azores trip is a package and some tours are included. Today we are supposed to be at a place in the harbor at 8:30 for whale watching.
Breakfast starts at 7 am and we were the first. Coffee-country! I forgot to bring my large cup (bought years ago at a Starbucks in Brazil) for making my tea. James usually has coffee but he said it was not drinkable. We found yoghurts which is always a plus. Otherwise there was plenty to eat but we were in a bit of a hurry.
The view this morning from the room.
We found the place were we were supposed to be but were right away informed that the boat tour was cancelled because of the weather. It was not favorable. Too hazy for the spotters to see any whales or dolphins etc and just in general to rough. We were able to book it for Friday when we have an unscheduled day and the weather is supposed to be the best.
So, we had the morning free. We walked along the harbor and then around in town. I am not very happy with my photo taking. I can't capture how it is here. The narrow streets, the buildings, the pavements, the people. The cars seem to be whizzing by really fast but may be it only feels like that because the streets are so narrow. The drivers are very polite though because as soon as they see that you might want to cross the street, they stop for you. I keep waving thank you at everybody.
The post office. The man on the horse sign means "correios". This is where we bought stamps for the boys' postcards yesterday.
Time for a rest at the hotel. I wanted to write the cards for the boys. Sorry, those two cards is all I am doing.
Our itinerary told us to be at the tourist office at the harbor at 2 pm. So in good time we went again on our way. We got it figured out by now. Almost all streets seem to be one-way but there are never any signs. But almost always there are cars parked on one side. The one-way seem to be in the direction they are parked. We always pick the streets were we can go against the traffic. You can walk on the street if nobody is coming and squeeze on the narrow pedestrian strip when a car comes. I am looking back here to take the photo towards the little eating place "Apito" we had breakfast yesterday.
We also figured out that the main street along the harbor has parking underneath and there are steps on both sides of the street to go down. Easy walking there to the sign "Acesso Parque Portas do Mar" and you can get out there to the harbor. Much easier than crossing the street above.
Well, good thing we were early because there was a mix-up. On our itinerary the city tour was today at 2 pm. They had us down for 1:30 but a tour had just started. They called the guide and he waited for us. Somebody brought us across the street but he took us the way across on top which took much longer (ha-ha).
Hugo, our guide, only had one other couple (from Canada, had arrived this morning). There was also a young local man which was a tour guide in training. We were led to different places ...
... and soon were at the Farmer's Market. Hugo was very good explaining and talking about things typical Azorian.
Guess what these are?
He cut one open and let us smell. Lemons grown here. Lovely aroma and so juicy.
Hugo explained that lots of things are different here. The pineapples are grown differently and are not good for transporting long-distance but so much better at the peak for the season eaten fresh. He talked about the local honey and spices. Bananas are also much smaller but so sweet even still slightly green. The nice greengrocer told Hugo to give us each one. Yes, very good.
This is Anona. When I asked Hugo he said he doesn't like it. The greengrocer came right away and cut one open. We all liked it very much. But we had very sticky hands after the banana and the anona. I could not think of what eating the fruit reminded me off. I just googled: Annona (with 2 n) is in the pawpaw/sugar apple family. Of course: pawpaw. That's why I liked it.
Hugo took us also into the cheese shop next door. We each got plenty of samples. It was all very interesting. As older the cheese so much more flavor. The cheese made with pasteurized milk was pretty tasteless.
More walking around the town. We ended up on the plaza with the old fort which is now a military museum on one side and a convent on the other. He talked about that and the annual festival on this plaza which is a big thing here. The tree in front is gorgeous. A shame that the photo didn't capture it.
Then we were on our own again. We did not have lunch really, except the tastings, and we were not very hungry but felt like wanting something. James had a cappuccino which he really liked and a piece of lemon brownie. I like savory so I had a cup of fish soup and a hot chocolate. All was really good. The hot chocolate was something I had never had like that. It was more like hot chocolate pudding. Oh my. That's how it should be.
Walking back to the hotel of course you glimpse into the shop windows you pass. You know I do collect nativities but I did not get one of these. Mmhh, no.
We did stop though to get ourselves something to drink. A big bottle of water and a size beer bottle I have never seen. Between us we managed it though. We were thirsty.
Later came the question of dinner. What to do? It's difficult when you are not really hungry. But a little walk around the block ... a sandwich would do. We popped in where we had breakfast the first day. They offered "plato do dia" for 6.90 Euros but we thought even that would be too much for us to eat. So we just had the soup of the day and a cheese sandwich. The soup was home-cooked and very nice and the cheese aged. Perfect.
We were happy with our decision. We didn't need more than that. Back to the hotel and chilling.
Yesterday's step count: 17,249
I don't think I will have a problem sleeping.
Wonderful day! The nativity was kind of hilarious!
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