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Wed 9Apr - 14 Apr. We traverse the Atlantic which has been very kind to us thus far and for the past few days the ship has gently rolled and the temperture starts to drop. (At breakfast this morning the swimming pool had a half metre swell and one could imagine a surfer landing in our lap with the force of the wave.) It is a time for reading, lying on the deck and attending the lectures and the water colour classes. Each evening the entertainment is very good and the ice is delivered about 5.00pm each day for the G & T. Neil and I have done a few twirls on the dance floor much to the amusement of our friends but as we near the Azores we are thinking of home.
Neil and I have read many books on this holiday and have enjoyed the freedom to do so. These include: "Mother Teresa" Ann …...- an excellent critique on her life showing both positive and negative aspects; "The Tenderness of Wolves" Stef Penney - an interesting novel set in Canada in the early days of the Hudson River Company; "Mistress" - a James Patterson thriller; "The Bonesetter's Daughter" Amy Tan - interesting story set in China; "The Man Who Saved London" George Martelli - factual story of a Frenchman Michel Holland who formed the Agir resistance group in occupied France and delivered vital information to the British via Switzerland on 98 visits; :The Man Who Buried Nelson" Robert Ward - the story of a British civil engineer responsible for constructing the first Blackfriars Bridge, maintaining the London water supply and building the sarcophagus for Nelson amongst other things; "Philomena" Martin Sixsmith - better than the movie; "A Long Way Home" Saroo Brierley - fascinating story; "The No 1 ey Ladies Detective Agency" Alexander McCall Smith - a beautifully
written book set in Botswana.
Most of our communication with family is via Facebook and we are tracking the Race-Coldreys through LA, Washington and now New York. The Hawk's results come via text. Poor TV coverage of the Masters and between soccer scores and Pistorious there has not been much news.
15 Apr Ponta Delgada, Azores
The Azores; pop 120,000. Ponta del Garda is on the island of San Miguel, one of nine, that make up the Azores. Discovered in 1423 by the Portuguese and inhabited from 1439, the islands since 1976, are independent but still remain firmly Portuguese with the currency is the Euro and number plates bearing "P". From the mid 15th century Ponta Delgarda provided water and fresh supplies to most sailing ships heading for the Cape of Good Hope and was a very busy port. It is now bankrupt like Portugal but looks clean and fresh.
There was a significant earthquake in 1620 which helped create the topogaphy we see today and perhaps as a result of natural catastrophies there is a surfeit of Catholic churches. One 17 year old girl left her wealthy family and went to see the Pope in Rome in the C18th. She returned with a wooden icon and established a convent church "Nossa Senhora de Esparanza". It is an extraordinary chapel with a depiction of her life in painted blue tiles forming a 3 metre border from the floor then gilded carved wood alters and ancient art works. Regretably the video I thought I had taken was not to be and I only have one still picture for the archive!
For many years the island grew oranges in the fertile volcanic soil but in the 19th century a disease wiped out the oranges. Today their main products are pineapples which are grown in hot houses and milk. Cows are milked in the fields using a contraption like a caravan with a tank on it and the milk is exported to Portugal. It is strange to see herds in small paddocks near the town centre but the steep misty hills behind the town reminded us of Scotland.
There are over 3000 hot houses growing about 600 pineapple plants in each and they are cultivated in such a way as to be all the same size and shape. By using gas to ripen them they all are ripe on the same day in each hothouse. Tea is also grown and the gardens Elaine visited contained mostly Australian and New Zealand trees (obviously considered exotics in the day), and camelias, azaleas, agapanthus, onion weed, fresias abounded. The trees were about 250 - 300 years old and the Queensland Kauri was massive and beautiful. The lack of possums makes a difference. One public garden was built over a series of caves formed by lava channels. The grottos and lakes were attractive but it is too dangerous to enter the caves now.
Elaine and I took different tours. Mine went from Ponta del Garda to Ribiera Grande, a village on the other side of the island and then on to Fire Lake which was created by a volcanic eruption in 1567. Unfortunately the cloud and then rain came in as we reached the lake but it was still spectacular.
San Miguel had electricity before Lisbon. Originally hydro electric, 40% of the island's power is now generated by using thermal heat from below the existing volcano's caldera. The plumes of steam escaping are spectacular. We returned via the beaches of the island which are all grey with volcanic sand.
San Miguel is very picturesque with dry stone walls, much green grass and a wide variety of trees and shrubs. The buildings are of a unique architectural style, square with black owhite stone trims and the streets made with many small square tiles in black and white.
Today the sky is cloudy, the rain falling and the temperature dropping but fortunately the seas are still calm. We are now on our way to England and the end of what has been a terrific cruise.
- comments
Pauline Fenton So glad you have enjoyed your wonderful cruise - looking forward to hearing of your plans for the next one!!!
Gail Carlyon Enjoy your last days at sea, relaxing, reading and some dancing, can't imagine why your friends were amused, perhaps you were doing a 'chicken dance'. How rude. Look forward to catching up to get extra details after you have had a bit of time to relax. Enjoyed your writings immensely.
Sharon Thank you so much for this blog. It is like we are there with you - almost :-) Have a wonderful Easter on the high seas! Much love to you both xxxx