Sao Jorge, Azores
A ‘giant long sea monster’ is how the island of São Jorge has been described when viewed from an approaching ship. Like all Azores islands, São Jorge is volcanic in origin, but it is not the typical volcanic cone shape. It is an elongated narrow string of volcanic peaks joined by a high plateau. Half the island is above 300 metres elevation. A big eruption on the island in 1808 produced fresh lava. Dotted at sea level around the island are fajãs, small flatlands formed by lava flows or landslides. No-one lived on the islands until the Portuguese arrived in the 1430s. The Portuguese were joined later by Flemish, Italians, British, and Breton settlers.
An early start with a zodiac transfer to Calheta, the second town of the island of San Jorge. From there a very magnificent island drive of three hours. The clear blue sky and strong sunshine was a complete contrast to the previous day. The island was steep sided, with little flat land by the sea. What land there was, called fajas, was used for growing vegetables and vines.
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We drove past vast roadside walls of Spagnum moss. The island's economy was cheese/cows, there being far more of the latter than humans, 80000 of these. We stopped three times , twice overlooking the north coast. We boarded the zodiacs again in the main town of Velas. I then had a swim and washed my hair before a very pleasant lunch on deck, followed by a coffee at the back of deck 8, watching the clouds roll over the island of Pico as the ship moved on to the island of Horta
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. But then a swell developed and after just one zodiac had been launched to take people ashore for whale watching, all operations were suspended for the day. Then I tried to get our bridge foursome together, but unsuccessfully. A swim, Trivia, Recap and briefing, then dined in the restaurant
