We stirred at 0630 as we heard a bit of noise as the ship took on escort from tug boats as we approached Terceira but went back to sleep and properly woke up at 0830 when we heard the announcement that the ship was docked and cleared for disembarkation.
We had decided to do our own thing and explore Praia da Vitoria, the port town where we had docked rather than take one of the tours. Although today was dry and quite warm really at 19C, the sky was overcast with very low cloud and it didn’t look as though sightseeing would be particularly good outside of the towns. There was plenty to see in Praia da Vitoria anyway.
Terceira is the third largest of the nine islands of the Azores and like the rest it is the product of massive volcanic eruptions in the ancient past where volcanoes from the seabed were pushed upwards and the ancient volcanoes are still visible today, some with their tops blown off, some still the iconic shape. It is a very green island, covered in part with forest but in the eastern part where we were, it is heavily agricultural. The volcanic soil is rich and supports many crops and also rich green pasture for cows which are plentiful here both for beef and for dairy products. It has the same mild, rather wet climate as Madeira. There is a huge network of tiny fields all bordered by dry stone walls designed to protect the crops from the Atlantic winter winds. There are vineyards, also in tiny fields. The stone used for the walls is noticeably volcanic.
A full part of Portugal for the last 700 years, the island has seen many battles off its coastline between both Portugal and Spain and also different Portuguese factions. However today the Azores are a very peaceful, remote group of islands popular with sailors making a transatlantic passage.
The town itself shows its Portuguese roots in the design of the picturesque houses, painted in white with bright colour trims, and in the architectural style. Notable are two beautiful churches and we visited both. The decor inside was gorgeous with side chapels thickly coated in gold leaf, and filled with treasures including very old paintings, panels, an amazing antique organ, a model of a galleon and numerous statues. The streets were cobbled and the cobbles arranged in black and white patterns which we have seen before in the Azores and Madeira.
We had a good wander around the narrow streets, the area behind the beach in the old town, and the two churches and we spent a happy hour enjoying coffees in a little bar in the old market. A very nice visit and good to get off the ship and stretch our legs properly. The weather obliged and stayed dry for us and we were in long sleeved t shirts for the day.
The above small blue building is not a house but one of the hundreds of “imperios” that dot the island, tiny chapels dedicated to the Holy Spirit. Apparently, some of the early settlers struggled with the main beliefs of the Portuguese but they could understand and appreciate the concept of a Holy Spirit. So, the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit was formed to build these chapels in as many places as possible to aid the conversion to Catholicism and the assimilation of Portuguese culture.
Returned to Queen Victoria at about 3pm and had a quick snack and then settled up on deck till the sailaway at around 6pm. We are both a bit “coldy”. Bob came on the ship with a cold and now I’ve got it too although not (as yet) quite as bad as his is. It isn’t impeding us too much though and better now than when we get to the Caribbean and want to go diving.
Tonight we went to a brilliant show in the theatre from the resident musical company. The show was a selection of songs and dances from the Hollywood films and a very high paced 45 minutes. They really were first class and we enjoyed it a lot. The theatre on the ship is very beautiful. Probably my favourite of all the ships I’ve been on.
We now have 6 sea days ahead before reaching our first port of call in the U.S.A., Port Canaveral in Florida. There is a very full schedule of things planned and the weather is supposed to really improve in a couple of days to the point where we may get to join those brave souls in the pools…..