We have decided that the Açores is officially our favorite cruising area. The people, wine, cheese, topography, weather, and cost add up to the best of the best. Here is a photo journal of four of the nine islands.
Horta on Faial: Here is our marina from the plane
Alembic sandwiched between a British and French boatGorgeous natural coveHiking out a peninsulaA band outsideA band insideGetting a tooth repaired
Bill’s design for Alembic
Twenty miles east is Velas on São Jorge: The Matador excites the bull at the bull fight
Two Teams, one from Portugal, one from California, parade around at the startThe Cavaleiros is readyThe Portuguese Team gives a giftThe forcados tame the bull with their handsCreeping to the edge for a picture belowLooking straight down gives you the butterfliesThe cliff from the side
Bill stands away from the edgeHydrangeas are everywhere
An awesome surf campThis person must have been tiny!Mamas tending their youngThe farmer’s homeBeachside hutsAnother ornate church
Alembic is the fifth one down the line
Another 52 miles east is Angra do Heroismo on Terceira: A spectacular waterfall
The succulents are Huge!Bouganvillea ArchwayThis fern stood like a palm treeWe stayed in the anchorageOld fashioned dancersThis church had many functions over the years, one being a hospital
The marina was full; we are the one on the rightBlue Yonder and Alembic shared many harbors together
David and Marilyn of Blue YonderOur favorite Tea spot shaded on the sidewalkThe Madona led a parade while we were in TerceiraThe cathedral artifacts survived an earthquake and a fire
Whaleboat race
The cliffs make a nice backdropWe head to the Corrida a Corda (running by rope)
This bull is on a rope held by 6 menThey push the poor thing over the wallHe comes out unharmed, ready to chargeBack on Alembic for more projectsExploring Algar do Carvão, a lava tubeAmazing roof of caveVolcanic ventEnormous Cathedral
Anchored beside us was Pinocchio, a Canadian family with seven children sailing the world Saying Goodbye to Blue Yonder, who we have traveled with since Bermuda
One Hundred Miles southeast is Ponta Delgada on São Miguel: Jenny and Simon on Fenicia
Bill and Laurie from Toodle-OoAn Italian training ship Amerigo Vespucci lit up beside ussilly artMore ChurchesHorseback in the rain
A natural Hot SpringMy hydrangea garden home
Bill’s tiny stone housePracticing snuggling an infantA delightful Polish family was on a boat beside AlembicBill helped on FlyingFlying’s spreaders needed to come down for replacementCaptain David and his son Albert helped from belowSaying Goodbye to the Açores
Alembic Adventures 