But first a few photos from our walk yesterday. The motor launch you see is one of the two stored on the quay from the whaling days I mentioned to you. Bumble bees abound here as do the pretty, slimline lizards, and we watched Lasers, Optimists and 420 racing dinghies from all over the Azores enjoying a sailing rally in good winds just outside the harbour, while sitting on what looked like an amphitheatre but was really an amphitheatre of war with the concrete bases of the guns telling the tale at Forte da Greta, which we passed on our way here.

 

Today, this very morning the 31st May, we dutifully set off on the short hike up to the Covid test centre for our third and final test before returning via the Continente supermarket for some supplies for our homeward journey we think will start this Wednesday, the day after tomorrow.

 

Then it seemed appropriate to call into Peter Cafe Sport for a coffee so we could ask permission to add a posh, unused red ensign from Zoonie to the vast collection already pinned to the wall and ceiling. The gentleman behind the cash desk looked like a slightly older version of the dark haired and bearded lad on the scrimshaw upstairs if you remember the photo, I have added it here anyway.

 

“Are you Jose?” I asked as he leaned over a shelf behind the counter to retrieve something. “I am indeed” and so our conversation continued as he swapped me our ensign for a flag showing the whale symbol and reef knot on blue which is his cafe flag and now adorns Zoonie’s mast as you can well imagine!

 

He has a son working full time with him so the fourth generation tradition of the business is ensured, and his other grown children help out when they can. I mentioned being a watch leader here on the tall ships with members of the Sea Scouts as my watch crew and he told us how the organiser of the Sea Scouts, Luis Machado, was here only a couple of weeks ago having lunch with him. Some of our crew referred to Luis (who was cruising on the brig with us,) affectionately as ‘Mr Click’ as he was for ever taking photos, more even than me!! He is now organising the GPS Locator side of hiking trails on the islands. Jose stamped our passports with the cafe stamp and this was very special to us; to know that the history of the family Azevedo hospitality in Horta continues to all and sundry in these changing times.

 

As Rob went to pay Jose said “No need, it was my pleasure.”