We are back on board after a gentle stroll around San Miguel
and another relaxing hour in a café bar.
The guidebooks say the islands were discovered in the 12th
century. To be honest I discovered them
in 2014 when booking this cruise. What a
beautiful surprise, green, mild, very Portuguese with whitewashed buildings and
spotlessly clean tiled streets. Looks
like the kind of place it would be lovely to take a summer holiday on if you
like the quiet life, with the exception of the church near the city gate, which
on the hour wasn’t at all quiet, no exaggeration the bells are still ringing in
one of my ears.
The map shows an archipelago of 9 islands split into 3
groups. San Miguel the island where we
are now, in its port Ponta Delgado, looks to be the biggest at 39 by 10 miles.
It seems to be famous for growing exceptionally tasty pineapples, and its hot healing
volcanic springs. Language officially
Portuguese, and currency officially Euros, but unofficially all languages and
GBP, USD and Euros all accepted. This is
good news, as we both bought a pair of shoes as soon as we could, and with
Khachik’s wine loving we soon ran out of Euros.
When we leave the port later I will be looking out for the dolphins and whales we have heard live round here. Hopes are high. Cameras at the ready.
I am now proud owner of a pair of sparkly gold pumps, which
should help protect my toes when dancing, and help me look the part a bit more
than my pink and grey trainers. No dancing though or art on port days, but a
hot tub followed by a taught yoga class for me soon, and for Khachik, well he
will have to suffer making do with the MUFC v Southampton match, poor man.
Bye for now – news and views from the sea and sky for the
next 5 days
