Full day on Horta
Trip Start
May 29, 2010
1
2
4
Trip End
Ongoing
Horta, Azores, Portugal
Sunday, June 6, 2010
So today is one of those days where you have to pinch yourself throughout the day to make sure you are not dreaming. I have only had to do that a few times and today was one of them. I still have this smile across my face it seems it may be permanent. Good.
I had to opportunity to further explore the island of Failai today and it was spectacular. This island originated from a volcano much like the islands of Hawaii and it is composed of Basalt a black volcanic rock, hence black sand beaches like the ones you find in Costa Rica, Alaska, etc... Part of today led to two craters where the volcanoes had erupted long ago. One was atop one of the mountains and the other along the coast. But first let me begin by saying how beautiful this place is.. OK its Pretty Amazing. It's completely green, gorgeous green, very healthy looking its hilly, mountainous, there is elevation so it has dramatic topography (haha Katie ;) . Traveling on the roads to get to this first crater is pure driving heaven, the road turns through small villages, weaves cedar Forrest's and curves blooming wildflowers its awesome. Arriving at this crater you just don't know what to expect I guess that is sometimes the best way to do things. Have a clean slate, take what is given and react. Well my reaction was that I was blown away, at the size of this monstrosity of a crater it was about 2km across and about 400m deep just huge. It looked like a massive salad bowl, everything inside of it was green. It's a sight that you just don't see everyday I guess that's why i was so amazed by it.
After the crater I drove on this old, bumpy, pot holed, dirt road along the north coast of the island and the contrast between the briny cobalt blue Ocean and the bright green country side was spectacular. I stopped at a few more vantage points for more photo taking. On the way to the West side of the island there was this small park called ahh i can't remember the name of it it was Portuguese and it meant Deep Valley. So yes it was a valley and it had a great sea view and it also had a waterfall. I could have stayed there all day the sound of the water and the view it was breath taking. I thought it couldn't get much better but it did. I then traveled on down to sea level and went this surfing beach don't remember the name of it again, Portuguese names are tough to remember. But this spot I fell in love with. I don't know what it was about it but I liked it a lot. The surf was only about 4-5' if you were patient it perfect for a longboard only if I had mine with me. There was 1 surfer out there but I think he was teaching his lady friend how so they weren't catching many and they had their dog. The sand was black volcanic and the beach about about 50m which then met a dramatic vertical green wall of mountain which rose up a few hundred feet. Maybe that's what did it for me. I ran around on the beach and the dog chased me wanting to play i wanna say he was a Portuguese water spaniel, fitting. This beach was good karma i wish I didn't have to leave.
After this I went to the second crater on the island this and it was equally as impressive so different. I believe it was much more recent of an eruption as there was no vegetation, only granulated basalt but the surrounding area was breathtaking. I visited one more spot after this before calling it a day. It was an area down by the sea on the south coast where natural bathing pools were made which was fed by the rising tides. The whole surrounding area was encompassed by jagged volcanic rock, very cool.
Later this evening I went out to dinner at this restaurant called Peter's. Anyway the funniest thing was this motley crew of sailors they all must have been at sea much longer than as they were all pretty drunk off porte. But I'm telling you it was like like Laurel&Hardy meets Will Ferrell, Meets Dumb & Dumber, meets Beerfest. They're antics were hilarious. Man shouts "Waiter, I want a beer. What do you mean what kind??" Pal walks in wearing shades, jacket, iron maiden shirt and 4 huge .5l of Beer. Other guys looks like he just won the lotto jumps up and screams BEER. the whole table cheers. Then you can't forget the guy with the glass eye. ok i wasn't dreaming CLASSIC
