Day 9: It's over!

It is the last day of the group hiking adventure!  I have never been so ready for something to end.  I know at some point I will look back and be happy but right now . . . not so much!  Today was to be a difficult hike but it is raining and apparently we were going be climbing over lava boulders and it is not safe . . . too bad . . .  no Mistérios Negros trail hike!  So we are headed to the east coast area for an easy hike, Fortes de São Sebastião . . .  I am suspicious.  

I was enjoying the hike and the views . . . water always makes me calm and hearing waves crash against the coast is refreshing.  

Then a rainbow appeared as we were starting the hike . . . that has to be a good sign, right?

The views were beautiful and these cows have the best fields to roam.

I am not saying it was super easy or flat but it was enjoyable and probably the second easiest hike of the trip.  There were several uphill climbs that almost did my knees in but, we did have short breaks.  Usually since I was usually the last person to the rest area, I got the shortest breaks but that is just how it went.

And back at it . . . 

Then the bus appeared, and we made the short drive to lunch.  It was nice to not have a sandwich and man was that food hearty and delicious!  I do not remember what it was but it was homemade sweet bread, then roast, with the a gravy sauce.  

Quick stop to a church . . . 

The bus managed to drive to the a viewpoint that was cool seeing the patchwork of land below!

Thank goodness there were no more hikes for the day.  Our last stop of the day was a quick stop to explore Gruta do Natal Cave.  

Yep, that's a cave but the views outside were much better!

It was back to the hotel to relax and change before a city walking tour.  Vasco da Gama disembarked at the Azores to bury his brother at the monastery of São Francisco in Angra do Heroismo, and lingered there for a little while in mourning.

. . . on to our farewell dinner!

A quick walk back to the hotel to pack for an early morning pick up to the airport!

Day 8: on to Terceira Island

The tour is island hopping today. We are flying from São Miguel Island to Terceira Island.

We said good-bye to our guide Ayla and meet our new guide Marina. We make a quick stop at a local grocery store to pick up snacks, water, and lunch. I love a good grocery store.

As we are driving I noticed the cows are all laying down so hopefully they are just resting and not a sign of something bad is coming.  I think the Azores has the happiest cows because such a beautiful area with volcanic rocks and lush green pastures.  No time is wasted as we head to our hike for today, Rocha do Chambre, that is rated as average.

The first few miles were walking on large rocks formed from lava . . . not easy!

Then into the forest . . . at any minute I expected the Hobbit to pop out!

Well it was a lie as this is was HARD!  See those metal grates and green ropes?  That is how we had to get up the trail.  I was so afraid of falling backwards to my death!  It was tough . . . big steps while balancing weight and trying to hoist myself upward with the ropes.  

Just when I thought we were walking flat . . . 

. . . I was wrong . . . up, up, up we go!  

 

I hope you don't think that I am miserable and hating this experience.  I really am glad I am doing it.  It sort of proves to me I can do hard things which was one of my goals when I quit teaching.  Of course I did complain to myself because it was hard and I was out of shape but that is all my fault!  The end was near  since we were at the highest point of the hike!

The bus was waiting and I was last again!  We made the drive to Ponta dos Biscoitos which is a coastal area known for swimming.  I was so ready for lunch!  I was starving after all that hiking.  I was very happy with the lunch I purchased and ate it all.

There was still free time so headed out to explore and watch the waves crash into the huge lava boulders; the water has to be freezing cold.

We drove the highest point of Angra do Heroismo where we will be staying the next two nights.

And that was all I saw of Angra do Heroísmo tonight as I hunkered down in my room to relax!  The hotel hallways were interesting . . . into the woods we go . . .

. . . but the room was comfortable and the shower amazing!

Day 7: I am alive . . . barely!

Today's fact is the Azores Islands were accidently discovered by Portuguese sailors in 1427.  I am wishing I would not have discovered this organized tour!  My body is not hurting as bad as I thought it would be and today's hike is again rated as average . . . great . . . and it is called Janela do Inferno.  Care to take a guess what that means?  Window to Hell . . . hilarious I tell you.  The hike there was gorgeous and not bad compared to yesterday.  I actually thought it was way easier since there was not so much up and down or stairs.  Every time I looked around I thought I was in a fairy tale.  As much as I travel, I still get caught up in my surroundings as if it is the first time I have seen nature's beauty.

Several tunnels to go through or in my case walk up and around . . .

And then we found the Window to Hell . . .

I was sort of like, oh that's it?  But the hike there was nice and easy and enjoyable!  The hike out of hell was just as nice.

And the cows and flowers were there to greet us as we departed!

It was back to the bus to drive to the Lagoa do Fogo.  It was cloudy so we had to drive to the top in hopes of beating the clouds so we could get a look from the viewpoint.

By this point I was starving and we finally took a lunch break at a local park before our next hike.  Oh I am so lucky today is a double hike day!  We drive to the western side of the island to the area called Sete Cidades.  Sete Cidades is a volcanic complex and civil parish on the island of São Miguel in the Azores.  We stopped at Caldeira das Sete Cidades which is known as King's View.  The front is green and back is blue but with the overcast you really can not tell the difference.  I am just thankful we are not hiking to the bottom today due to the trail being closed for repairs!  

There are several other hikes in the area to lagoons and viewpoints so we are doing several small hikes.  

And since we have time we are doing one more hike . . . at least these average hikes are not bad.  I found these signs helpful to guide me how miserable or happy I would be before each hike started!  I could not read them, but I could see the elevation change and trail rating.

The weather was weird with the low fog but just beautiful too.  I loved seeing the markers with yellow and red because I knew I was on a trail . . . maybe not the correct trail but at some point I would reach the end.

I was happy to get some relax time at the hotel before dinner.  It is our last night in Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel Island so I treated myself to dinner at Stage . . . today marks 20 years since Sean died so I just wanted to have a nice meal by myself.  

And I had dessert which was the locally grown pineapple.  It was delicious!

It was just what I needed.  Tomorrow we fly to a different island.