With a Renault Clio hired from the airport we had two glorious days exploring Sao Miguel. The overwhelming impression is of an island bursting with life: lush green fields, hillsides, and woodland. After the arid shoreline of Spain and Portugal it was a very pleasant shock to the senses. Abundant water and shade giving trees create a landscape coloured with every shade of green interspersed with blue hydrangeas. We had a superb 3 hour walk around the rim of the volcanos that formed the beautiful lakes at Sete Cidades: Laga Verde and Laga Azul. The views (more atmospheric through breaks in the cloud) were glorious. It seemed so strange to be walking around bogs and marshes listening to croaking frogs - we have seen so little fresh water for so long. After a packed lunch at the lake shore by the Green Love Cafe we went for a swim in the Ponta Feraira natural pool at the coast where hot water flows into a surging huge rock pool - great fun!