SELF SERVICE ANYONE??
The American Dairy Science Association says it takes only twelve hours for grass to morph into cow's milk. So, if you have time I can get you a really fresh glass of warm milk. Last October, after springing Bob from the French hospitals, we traveled from Europe to Miami via Celebrity's "Eclipse". We hopscotched, ports along the Meditteran coast before the six day crossing. The last port was the Azores.
We spent the day touring the beautiful island of
Sao Miguel.
Today I am sharing some scenes from that fabulous day.
One of our first sights!
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| We happened upon this herd of dairy cows switching pastures. Our guide says this is common practice. It was quite a sight for this city girl. Don't get me wrong, I have seen cows in pastures, just never sauntering down the highway |
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| It made for an amusing beginning to a beautiful day. |
We then made our way to one of the highest points on the island for a view of the Sete Cildades Volcano Caldera.
The two crater lakes (Portuguese: Lagoas das Sete Cidades), 500 m (1,500 ft) within the crater, are referred to by the color of the waters: blue, reflecting the sky (Portuguese: Lagoa Azul) and green, reflecting the ground (Portuguese: Lagoa Verde). According to legend, the differently colored lakes were created when a princess and her lover, a young shepherd, had to part from each other. The tears they shed at their farewell became the two lakes, with the water colored like their eyes.
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| At the same stop we encountered the local economy. For a few coins you could take his photo. His pockets were loudly jingling when we left! |
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| What remains of a luxury hotel, that operated for about three years. With the worldwide economic downturn it failed. We made another stop at the local pineapple plantation. Unlike Hawaii and South America this pineapple is grown in greenhouses. The pineapples are grown using hydro agriculture (no soil). The pineapple is used strictly for making liqueur that is marketed primarily in Portugal. |
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| According to our standards, this would be considered a crude operation. That certainly did NOT reduce the quality of the liqueur. |
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| Mr. Bob has found the perfect spot for a smoke and comfort break! The fuschia colored flower is Bougainvillea. |
These were typical potted scenes.
We stopped at a small public garden in the center of Ponta Delgada, the largest city on the island and our port city.
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| Rugged access |
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| Not a lot of flowers, seemed strange, but plenty of places to sit and rest. |
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| This is called a paper tree. |
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| Walkway inside botanical garden |
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| Cool and lush. |
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| It's back to the ship to prepare for departure. |
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| Sun sets on a beautiful day in the Azores as we turn toward Miami. |
If you are ready, I think we might get that
glass of milk now!!
I am linking to the following gracious hostesses. Please link back to their fun parties.
20 comments:
You take the best pictures! Now I feel like I've been on a mini-vacation. :) Hope you are feeling well. Best wishes, Gillian
Lovely, lovely photos! What beautiful scenery. At last you have some photos of plants I can identify with ... bougainvillea! I have one just like your photo, growing madly over an old shed at the back of our house block. Your ship was HUGE! It looks like a floating city. I also love your photo of the gentleman with the donkey. You do take amazing pictures, Ginger.
Suzy xxx
Great pics of what looks like a great day! Happy Monday:@)
What gorgeous pictures Ginger..looked like an awesome vacation. Have a wonderful week, and I hope you enjoyed your Mothers day.
Ginger these pictures are beautiful,looks like a wonderful vacation! Martina
WOW!..thanks Gran,you just took me out of the country and southeast Ga,I enjoyed the virtual trip so much,can't wait to travel with you and sweet ole Bob again.These photo's transported me into distant lands,whoohoo.
That was sooo much fun,let's do it again!!
~Jo
LazyonLoblolly
What a fabulous trip...aside from the hospital stay in France.
Thank you so much for this wonderful tour, your pictures are amazing. Those trees are really unique...paper tree and those roots.
Wow great pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing -- what a beautiful world we live in!
What beautiful pictures- every one of them. I grew up on a farm in the mountains of PA and we would often herd cows from the main pasture to a back one for feeding..Take them over in the morning and bring them back at night- that was always my job...and I was always amazed that people using our road for a shortcut between the Valley and Elmira, NY found that so amusing. Until I left home I did not know that other areas of the country did not do that. lol Let me tell you, it is hot, stinky work walking behind 50 cows on a hot, humid summer day!..and..I always HATED warm farm milk! lol Hugs- Diana
Hi Ginger, thanks for your comment on my post, I had a giggle. Buster is a Maltese/Shitzu cross. He is the friendliest, dearest little fellow. Before him, my small dog was a Jack Russell. He was so affectionate to us, but to any other human or dog he was vicious. We couldn't take him anywhere. He was two when he came to live with me and had already formed his bad habits. I bought Buster as a tiny puppy and made sure he was well socialised, he is such a gentle boy and loves everyone. Our bougainvillea is a monster of a thing, and very difficult to trim because of the huge thorns, but it is a beauty. I will have to photograph it one of these days. Love the name OC your son gave to your cat!
Suzy xxx
Great pics Ginger! Looks liked a wonderful vacation!!
Thanks for the gorgeous tour - I guess that is the next best thing to actually being there.
sandie
Beautiful photos, Ginger. Is that a banyan tree? I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! I have a giveaway. I hope you will sign up for it....Christine
Dearest Ginger,
That sounds like quite a lovely trip you both took! When we were in Portugal in the 90s I recall that their were lots of unemployed youth. When I did engage in a conversation we learned about the poor economy and looking at the elderly man begging for money for a photo-op with his donkey; not from wealth either!
Glad you enjoyed it and took great photos too.
Lots of love,
Mariette
Ginger,
Love all your pics! Such gorgeous views! Thanks for sharing!
Wishing you a wonderful week,
Jodie
Thank you so much for the sweet comment on my teacher wreath! I'm so happy you stopped by!
such lovely pictures, i am sure it was all beautiful in person. last year in hawaii we passed random cows along the road. they were so close to the car, i snapped a pic as quick as i could but they came out blurry.
Great pics! They show how much fun you had.
I love a cruise!!! Your pictures are just gorgeous. I enjoyed each one. P.S. I thought you were just the sweetest when you wrote that you wouldn't choose between mine or Pete's recipes.
Lori
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