Wheels
Scot Free III
Frank & Anne
Thu 11 Jul 2024 11:07
Faial is known as the blue island due to the miles of blue hydrangea hedgerows. Driving was interesting, should have stuck to “main”or “secondary roads”. Satnav took us on “secondary ways” - not much better than dirt tracks. The positive was we met no other traffic! One road was crushed lava.
Unfortunate day for driving, sadly, as zero visibility for most of the day, rain, mist, thick fog and very windy. Made our way up to the green caldeira (crater) a tourist must, accessed through a short tunnel which was the only thing visible at that height!
The afternoon was more successful. Went to Capelinhos Interpretative Centre on the coast, explaining 8 month story of the destructive 1957/58 eruption. A warren of a building, the centre is built underground in the ash and debris that destroyed nearby villages and half buried the lighthouse.
Visibility here at sea level was excellent unlike in the clouds a few hundred metres higher! A fascinating landscape.
Our first photo of Faial on Sunday had been of Capelinhos from the sea, but were unaware of its significance.
Made the most of the car and did a biggish shop on way back to the marina.