In pursuit of normal
Lunch at the shore
2/28/25
I woke yesterday feeling somewhat normal. Laurie has kept me on light foods but I was doing well enough to get out and about. After a quick stop at the rental car agency to get our new tire, we headed off to explore. We drove west on the coast highway, eventually cutting inland and up into the mountains.
Our planned destination is an overlook, above Sete Cidades. The overlook is called “Miraduro Grota do Inferno”. The trail to the overlook is a hugely popular Instagram photo op, and runs along the spine of the ridge to the overlook. Sete Cidades is two lakes in separate volcanic craters.
I woke yesterday feeling somewhat normal. Laurie has kept me on light foods but I was doing well enough to get out and about. After a quick stop at the rental car agency to get our new tire, we headed off to explore. We drove west on the coast highway, eventually cutting inland and up into the mountains.
Our planned destination is an overlook, above Sete Cidades. The overlook is called “Miraduro Grota do Inferno”. The trail to the overlook is a hugely popular Instagram photo op, and runs along the spine of the ridge to the overlook. Sete Cidades is two lakes in separate volcanic craters.
Miradouro Groto do Inferno trail
The walk is on a very well established trail and the round trip walk is around 1.5 miles or 2.4 kilometers. One section is fairly steep and those with mobility issues may struggle, but it is otherwise a fairly easy hike. Most of it is level and flat.
The forests are so lush and green, similar to the Pacific Northwest. It looks like where the Ewoks lived in the Star Wars movies. There are all different kinds of trees and plants, growing so densely you can’t see too far through the woods. It is noticeably cooler than down in town, with the overlook being at 2400 feet above sea level.
The forests are so lush and green, similar to the Pacific Northwest. It looks like where the Ewoks lived in the Star Wars movies. There are all different kinds of trees and plants, growing so densely you can’t see too far through the woods. It is noticeably cooler than down in town, with the overlook being at 2400 feet above sea level.
Sete Ciadades
The views are fantastic, looking out over the lakes and mountains. It was hazy so we couldn’t see all the way to the ocean but I don’t doubt you can do it. With an easy hike and the social media popularity of this site, this is the most crowded place we have visited.
We have spoken with a few other visitors in our time here as well as observing others. We have met people from Poland, some we think were from England, some from Germany, others from Holland. Most of the visitors are from Europe with few from the US. We have yet to meet anyone else from the states but they get 1 or 2 flights from the states every day. Even though it is the off season, they get probably a dozen from Europe every day.
We have spoken with a few other visitors in our time here as well as observing others. We have met people from Poland, some we think were from England, some from Germany, others from Holland. Most of the visitors are from Europe with few from the US. We have yet to meet anyone else from the states but they get 1 or 2 flights from the states every day. Even though it is the off season, they get probably a dozen from Europe every day.
I'm proud of this photo
We make our way back to sea level and after a brief bathroom stop we follow the coast road. We go in and out of little towns, we go to Miradouros (overlooks), and just check things out. We stop along the ocean in a town called Mosteiros and take some great photos. I’ve always struggled to get Laurie to work with me when I try to take photos of her and she actually did this time. I think this is a fantastic photo of her.
We wind up in a little beachside food stand called “Sunset Steve’s”, where we share an order of fries and a local sandwich called a “bifana”. It is thinly sliced marinated pork on a crispy panini style bun. It was really tasty. She’s trying to keep me eating lighter until my stomach gets back to normal so we split it. I’m starting to get closer to normal.
We wind up in a little beachside food stand called “Sunset Steve’s”, where we share an order of fries and a local sandwich called a “bifana”. It is thinly sliced marinated pork on a crispy panini style bun. It was really tasty. She’s trying to keep me eating lighter until my stomach gets back to normal so we split it. I’m starting to get closer to normal.
Tricked into hiking by Laurie
Cats are very common here and even the strays are in really good shape. The locals love them and take care of them. Many of them have seen a little too much care and are actually fat! You don’t see many fat stray cats back in the states! We pet the bar cat who is friendly and head down to the beach.
The waves crash into the black volcanic stone, with a fair amount of intensity. The peninsula we are on was formed by a volcanic eruption only 900 years ago. In geologic time, this is the equivalent to 30 seconds ago. We learned in Iceland that anything that has erupted in the last 10000 years is considered to still be active, making this area one of the newer active places.
The waves crash into the black volcanic stone, with a fair amount of intensity. The peninsula we are on was formed by a volcanic eruption only 900 years ago. In geologic time, this is the equivalent to 30 seconds ago. We learned in Iceland that anything that has erupted in the last 10000 years is considered to still be active, making this area one of the newer active places.
Our Czech car!
The rocks are sharp and jagged and you have to be careful and in reasonably good shape to navigate them. There are tide pools and “spouts” where the waves blow up in the air when they hit. Set against a blue sky, the dark stones, and blue sea and sky make for great photos.
We head back into town and park our car in the garage under our apartment building. Our rental is a Skoda, a car company based in the Czech Republic. They have been around forever, even back to the communist days. They were purchased by Volkswagen at some point and so far it has worked pretty well. We call it a day and will start again tomorrow.
We head back into town and park our car in the garage under our apartment building. Our rental is a Skoda, a car company based in the Czech Republic. They have been around forever, even back to the communist days. They were purchased by Volkswagen at some point and so far it has worked pretty well. We call it a day and will start again tomorrow.
Birthday pineapple with my cat friend
Today, Laurie woke me to wish me a happy birthday and get me out of bed! I’ve been sleeping late, like you’re supposed to on vacation. The weather outside is vicious, with winds of 50 mph and driving rains. We have breakfast at the apartment and head out for our day.
The weather is just horrible and we decide to try to visit something….and we wind up at one of the pineapple plantations. Pineapples are grown here and they are a variety only found here. They’re all grown in greenhouses and not in fields like in Hawaii. Azores pineapples are also smaller than most.
The weather is just horrible and we decide to try to visit something….and we wind up at one of the pineapple plantations. Pineapples are grown here and they are a variety only found here. They’re all grown in greenhouses and not in fields like in Hawaii. Azores pineapples are also smaller than most.
The pineapple crop!
We check out the greenhouses and learn how they grow pineapples. It turns out it takes two years to grow a pineapple! They have them in all different stages of growth so they always have a harvest going on. We had fresh pineapple, pineapple cake, and coffee in their on site cafe. Laurie even sampled pineapple liquor.
The pineapple was very sweet and tasty and the cake was superb! We were joined by the cafe cat who sat up in his chair and tapped me on the shoulder so I would pet him. He then laid back down in the chair and went to sleep. We head back into the driving rain to drive east along the coast.
The pineapple was very sweet and tasty and the cake was superb! We were joined by the cafe cat who sat up in his chair and tapped me on the shoulder so I would pet him. He then laid back down in the chair and went to sleep. We head back into the driving rain to drive east along the coast.
A nasty storm video
We want to check out a few towns and take a look at the ocean. The seas are violent as can be seen in the photos and video, and we could only manage a few photos and such. As the daylight faded we decided to check out the hot springs in Furnas for a possible trip tomorrow.
We drive through Furnas, and check out the hot spring. I think we’ll try to come back tomorrow or the next day to swim in the springs. From there we head back to our apartment, about 40 minutes away. The entire island is about 40 miles long and ten miles wide, so it’s not a long trip to anywhere.
Tomorrow….we’ll check the weather and decide where we’re heading! Be sure and check out the photo gallery for more pics. Goodnight everyone!
We drive through Furnas, and check out the hot spring. I think we’ll try to come back tomorrow or the next day to swim in the springs. From there we head back to our apartment, about 40 minutes away. The entire island is about 40 miles long and ten miles wide, so it’s not a long trip to anywhere.
Tomorrow….we’ll check the weather and decide where we’re heading! Be sure and check out the photo gallery for more pics. Goodnight everyone!
