We have visited Ponta Delgada a few times over the last 10 years, it being a favoured stopover on a transatlantic voyage. Sao Miguel, the island, is the largest island of The Azores, volcanic and green with the beautiful springlike climate that encourages lush floral growth and green pastures.
On this visit we were overnight in Ponta which was a first. On previous occasions we have hired a car and explored the island but this time we decided to just enjoy exploring the town. It is reasonably sizeable and very walkable and scenic.
Weather has been very kind. Sunday was very sunny and 17C, hot in the sun with little or no wind. Today has been cloudier but warmer.
We walked ashore yesterday and took a quick cab ride to one of the two botanical gardens in town, Jardim Botanico Antonio Borges. What a lovely park! Totally free to enter too. It is full of beautiful specimen trees and shrubs.
Tbe azaleas are all in bloom at the moment.. The park has several pools and waterways which have attracted ducks and provide lovely reflections. A special feature of the garden are the grottoes, tunnels and platforms built of the local volcanic rocks and providing ferns and mosses niches in which to grow.
We really enjoyed exploring here and would definitely return.
After that we wandered down through the narrow streets of the old town. It is Very Portuguese in flavour with colourful small houses with balconies and many flowers. The pavements are decorated inthe traditional black and white stone patterns common in the islands of the Azores and Madeira.
Eventually we found ourselves in the large square on the waters edge that contains the triple arch gateway to the city. There was a half marathon in progress and we watched the finishers from a nice little cafe as we enjoyed coffees.
We also took the opportunity to explore the lovely old church in the square, the Church of St. Sebastian built in the 1500s. Absolutely beautiful inside with superb carving and lovely side chapels.
We wandered back to the ship in the early afternoon, examining the pavement art commemorating all the yachts and crews that have crossed the Atlantic to and from Ponta. Or at least those of the last 10ish years. There are a lot. There’s a big 3 masted bark in at the moment, a very splendid sight. The Gunilla, a Swedish sea training vessel. She’s moored up right next to us.
This morning we were a bit delayed disembarking because Bob had to have another round of talks with Pegasus Airways customer services. This has been ongoing for weeks now. We had booked to be in Cyprus 3rd April through 2nd May. Then Bob’s dear cousin, Heather, became very ill and we decided we’d not stay so long and attempted to change our tickets home to April 15th. Their computer system repeatedly failed at the point of payment and they advised us to buy completely new flights on 15th April, pay for them, and then they would sort out the cancellation of the May 2nd tickets and refund us the most expensive set of fares. We did book the new fares and ever since have been chasing them to sort out the cancellation and refund.
Our situation was further complicated then when poor Heather passed away and we determined that Bob could not travel at all but would stay at home for the funeral with the girls and that I would open up the Cyprus house on my own. How to sort out Bob’s flights without them cancelling mine by mistake as we were of course on the same booking. Anyway, hallelujah, this morning we actually got a member of staff on the phone who understood the system, spoke great English and wasn’t afraid to take responsibility for sorting it all out. It’s all done and refunds on the way….. Thank you Abdul!
Once all that was clear, we came ashore and had a wander about the town looking in some of the shops that were, of course, all open today. We had been recommended to a local restaurant, A Tasca, by Danny who ate there when he came across the Atlantic, and we wanted to have lunch there. What a great little place! Very authentic, full of locals enjoying lunch and later on people waiting outside to get in. It was buzzy and bustling in there but service was great. The menu was interesting. Plenty of fresh fish, beef and some interesting local dishes – tripe stew, roasted cow’s feet…… Bob started with soup of the day which was hearty vegetable. I had fried octopus coated in a herb crust and served with chutney. Really tender octopus and a good portion. Then Bob had a casserole of pig’s cheeks in a wine gravy with chips and vegetables ad I had fried skate with boiled potatoes and salad. We washed it down with a bottle of Portuguese Vinho Verde which was gorgeous. Finally 2 double espressos and a local brandy. What a fantastic lunch and with service it was about £53. Would highly recommend this restaurant and would plan to eat there again on any future visit.
We came back to the ship just before 4 and we sailed at about 530, pulling away with a full company on the upper decks, most sipping some champagne and enjoying some live music. That’s our last port of call on this voyage. Next stop is Southampton on Friday but we will aim to enjoy the sea days before then.
