The Azores really are a destination in themselves and not just a refuelling
stop on the way across the North Atlantic. In our time in Horta it was
incredible the number of yachts that stopped for just one night
refuelled, took a gin tonic at Peter Cafe Sport and carried on. They are
missing out! All of the ARC Europe crews have been pleasantly surprised
by these beautiful islands and the friendly people that live here. http://www.visitazores.com/en
Since Horta crews had a day (motor)sail to the next island of Terceira where they spotted whales and dolphins on the crossing. In Terceira the marina is at the foot of the colourful city of Angra do Heroismo, UNESCO World Heritage listed - follow this link for more info on that http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/206 and crews were taken on a guided walking tour by Paulo. A passionate man from the island he explains a lot of the important history (did you know Angra was twice the capital of Portugal?) and gains access to some buildings that would otherwise be difficult to see the interior of.
The street bull running fiesta is always interesting to see, a completely unique passtime found only on the island of Terceira the 'Tourada a Corde' takes place almost every night for a couple of months and is hosted by different villages and parishes around the island. In a fleet of cream coloured Mercedes taxis the crews arrived shortly before the first cannon signaled the bull was out on the streets and most of the crews found high ground to watch from! It wasn't long before the bravado kicked in and there were crews out on the street with the local guys getting their adrenalin flowing...
An overnight downwind trip brings crews ot the almost metropolitan city of Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores. Well dressed people come down to the cafes and restaurants to look out over the marina and the cruise ships and yachts berthed here. After the smaller islands of Faial and Terciera it has the feeling of a busy place, but once out on the coach tour it's soon evident this is also a beautifully quiet place aswell. Visiting the western half of the long island the tour heads to the sete citades village in the base of an extinct volcanic crater and also a local pineapple plantation - did you know it takes 2 years to grow a single pineapple?!
Tonight we have a little 10-pin bowling planned at Atlantic Bowling right here in the marina, who will be crowned 'King Pin' this year..? Then it's an early night for most before the 55 mile day sail to the next island of Santa Maria. With 20 knots of wind forecast it should be a great downwind sail to the fishing village of Vila do Porto where an island tour is planned followed by a Medieval Farewell Dinner :)