Monday 23rd June, Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel island, Azores

Spellbinder
Mon 23 Jun 2008 06:02
After a very enjoyable 3 days in Angra do Heroismo, spent sightseeing around the very attractive town, and enjoying the remarkably good value in the shops and restaurants, we awarded ourselves a posh lunch in the Pousada located within the walls of an old castle, and then set off on Wednesday evening for the 80 miles to Ponta Delgada.A lovely beam reach, and a brilliant full moon, made for a lovely trip, and we were alongside the reception pontoon at Ponta Delgada marina by 11 0'clock on Thursday morning. Fuelled ship, and were just discussing the rather unattractive options for berthing in the very crowded marina when a Finnish man came over anxious to discuss the right amount of bend for the mast, as he had a very similar Naijad yacht and thought there was far too much bend on his mast. Were able to reassure him, and he then volunteered that he was leaving in two hours from a very favourable berth. Quickly fixed it with the marina offfice, and then settled down to a leisurely lunch while we waited for them to depart.
Ponta Delgada is big city life compared with the other visits in the Azores, but we have had a very pleasant few days exploring the town, and touring the island in a hire car on Saturday and Sunday to admire the magnificent volcanic scenery, with lovely lakes in the calderas, and everywhere lush green forests and pastures. Lunched on octopus in a remote fishing village, with varying degrees of enjoyment amongst the party, and had Sunday lunch cooked in the hot ground at one of the volcanic sites.
This morning Eric has departed for home, leaving the two of us to make the final leg of our Atlantic circuit in to Lagos in the Algarve, about 800 miles, and with favourable looking weather forecast we hope to cover that in 7 days. Final shopping and preparations this morning, and we should be off after lunch.

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