Ponta Delgada
Within a week of its enlargement from fifteen to twenty-five nations, we find ourselves on the outermost western fringe of the European Union, in Ponta Delgada, the capital of the autonomous Portuguese region, the Azores. It is so far to the west, that European guests took considerably longer to get here than those who took the charter flight from Boston that arrived here, a little ahead of schedule, early this morning. After settling into our cabins and an invigorating brunch, the group was ready for an afternoon tour of Sete Cidades, two lakes nestling in the crater of a once great volcano on the western tip of the island. Spring sunshine provided perfect viewing conditions: one lake reflects the green of the vegetation on its steep slopes, the other, more open in aspect, reflects with startlingly clarity, the sky's blue. The afternoon included the opportunity for an interpretative walk beside the lake that proved the perfect antidote to airplane fatigue and served as an appetizer for all that the springtime in the Azores has to offer.
What were our first impressions? The lushness of the green fields, perhaps, with their small herds of healthy Friesian diary cattle that have made Azorean cheeses so sought after on continental Europe. Many of the cheeses are smoked – a tradition that reminds us of the historic role the Azores played in supplying provisions to ships in the days of sail. What about the riot of color in the hedgerows? It is azalea time here, with crimsons and pinks that will before long give way to the distinctive blues of the hydrangeas for which the islands are justly famous. There are exotic overtones: this island of San Miguel was once famous for its oranges, "St Michael's" oranges finding their way into the children's Christmas stockings in all but the poorest of Victorian household. Oranges were succeeded by pineapples, grown under glass, and the Azores is still the only part of the European Union with tea plantations. As we set sail this evening for Pico, famed for its "smoky" wines, we are already aware of the sensory delights of the week ahead. Food for thought and conversation at this evening's Welcome Dinner.
Within a week of its enlargement from fifteen to twenty-five nations, we find ourselves on the outermost western fringe of the European Union, in Ponta Delgada, the capital of the autonomous Portuguese region, the Azores. It is so far to the west, that European guests took considerably longer to get here than those who took the charter flight from Boston that arrived here, a little ahead of schedule, early this morning. After settling into our cabins and an invigorating brunch, the group was ready for an afternoon tour of Sete Cidades, two lakes nestling in the crater of a once great volcano on the western tip of the island. Spring sunshine provided perfect viewing conditions: one lake reflects the green of the vegetation on its steep slopes, the other, more open in aspect, reflects with startlingly clarity, the sky's blue. The afternoon included the opportunity for an interpretative walk beside the lake that proved the perfect antidote to airplane fatigue and served as an appetizer for all that the springtime in the Azores has to offer.
What were our first impressions? The lushness of the green fields, perhaps, with their small herds of healthy Friesian diary cattle that have made Azorean cheeses so sought after on continental Europe. Many of the cheeses are smoked – a tradition that reminds us of the historic role the Azores played in supplying provisions to ships in the days of sail. What about the riot of color in the hedgerows? It is azalea time here, with crimsons and pinks that will before long give way to the distinctive blues of the hydrangeas for which the islands are justly famous. There are exotic overtones: this island of San Miguel was once famous for its oranges, "St Michael's" oranges finding their way into the children's Christmas stockings in all but the poorest of Victorian household. Oranges were succeeded by pineapples, grown under glass, and the Azores is still the only part of the European Union with tea plantations. As we set sail this evening for Pico, famed for its "smoky" wines, we are already aware of the sensory delights of the week ahead. Food for thought and conversation at this evening's Welcome Dinner.
