Azores v. 4.4

Yesterday (the 20th) was a rather long day, a lot of driving... these are some moments:


Right cow: "What's the hurry, young man?"
Left cow: "Step away, he's mine!"


There's this long straight road (the "longitudinal") in Pico, which is really hard to drive... straight.


"The sea is so calm and blue..."


This is where I've been going to the "beach". There's great snorkeling on the other side of the rocks.


Two "vejas" (Sparisoma cretense), the red one being the female, speared by a local kid underwater.


Spooky... Mordor's Land of Shadow came to my mind.
The Pico mountain, seen from Lagoa do Capitão.

Azores v. 4.3

These lava fields near Pico airport make life hard but not impossible.


Ermida de S. Mateus in Cabrito, on the northwestern coast of Pico, against an overcast sky.


Cais do Mourato is a nice little village where locals spend the summer. Some crazy kids having fun on a rough sea. In the distance, you can see Faial.


I guess teenagers act similarly everywhere.


People no longer leave the keys under the mat, which is sad.


Cais do Mourato, once again.


I think yacht owners should be obligated to host whoever wanted to spend a few days on their boats. It'd only be fair, ah!
Madalena, Pico.


This is only the second time I was able to see Pico's peak. The first time, yesterday, I ruined several frames in a few seconds. Not that this one's perfect, but I like anyhow. Madalena, Pico.

Azores v. 4.2

Woke up to beautiful weather, but decided to drive the mighty Micra through some clouds today.


Decisions, decisions...


Food!


"Check out my hairdo!"


"Say, is that a Canon?"


Santo Amaro, on the north shore of Pico. On the horizon, São Jorge and some clouds too!


That's São Roque do Pico in the distance, my place :P


A church in Prainha.


A garajau (Sterna hirundo hirundo) screaming his way to somewhere.


"If you dare to park your car here, we'll dispatch you!"

Azores v. 4.1

Here I am again, for the fourth time!


Biscoitos (that's right, biscuits!), a rugged stretch of coast on Terceira's northern coast, is a great "introduction" to the unique azorean BLUE. Since I had a few hours between flights, I thought I should return to the place after 16 years (... jeez, this doesn't sound good) and leave some knee and elbow flesh on the sharp lava rocks. There, done.


"Veja só esta veja (Sparisoma cretense), tire uma foto a esta veja!"
The thick azorean accent is a bit hard to understand. This proud fisherman was on his way to the grill, whereas I was feeling like Averell Dalton as a fat cow crossed the road.


Lava rock walls provide shelter to some vineyards near Biscoitos.


Captain, sir... this plane looks kind of slow at 1/1000s.


Quechua quechua under a Castanea sativa.


This is across the road from the campsite. Deep, clear water... dark cliffs... screaming garajaus (Sterna hirundo hirundo) by the dozen... I guess I'll be allright.


Night falls over São Roque do Pico.


Is that you, Moby?