Azores

Judith and I finally made it to the Azores in October 2010. We had discussed this as a holiday destination when we first met about 30 or so years ago. Whales were what we went for but we missed them. However, we still enjoyed ourselves. We had a good deal direct from Sunvil to stay at Hotel de Colegio on Sao Miguel island. Of course others we met had a better deal from Travel Zoo - c'est la vie.

These are a few images from our first day on the island.









On Monday we went to Furnas by bus. Buses on the island are not designed for tourists but for locals. We caught the 9 am bus and it took an hour and half and went on the coastal route giving fabulous views. The weather was misty and showery. We spent some time at the Terra Nostra park and bathed in the waters. Unfortunately, we didn't realise how close the volcanic rocks and pools were at Furnas so missed out. There were tours arranged by Sunvil which many went on to see all the sights but we decided to chill and do our own thing.













Our hotel was lovely but I am pleased I am no longer as het up re noise. Our hotel room must have had the most noise outside that I have ever had. The cobbled streets do not help. There was a restaurant nearby which had jazz music going until 2 am then of course the people coming out and talking loudly. In the day there were budgies or parakeets caged up somewhere as they squawked all day while it was light. On Monday night, I was reading at around 10.30pm when I heard this droning like a hydraulic jack. It went on for about half an hour. This pic shows what was happening. It went on for an hour as they were putting lights up in our street. Every night at around 11.30pm there was the rubbish collection which was very loud. Judith slept through it all.



On Tuesday we caught a local bus to the pineapple farm which is just on the outskirts of Ponta Delgada. There were a few groups from the cruise ship - P&O Aurora but we still found some space to look around.






Wednesday was our whale watching day. We saw three types of dolphins - bottlenose, common and the rarer Risso dophins.



A few images now from the walk around Ponta Delgarda which we did on Thursday. Judith noticed some soldiers coming out from the Fort Sao Bras and so we followed them to the church Sao Joao and joined the service. Apparently it was the day of the army and they were giving thanks. The pigeon was outside the convent & chapel of Nossa Senhora de Esperanca. We went in there the evening before to see the statue which is shown from 17.30 -18.30.






We had lunch by the theatre - where I saw the window and then visited the market.




More lights being put up on the front and a pic from the town hall.



I noticed these boxes in the pharmacy near our hotel and just had to take this image.



On Friday, Judith took a taxi to Sete Cidades and took my other camera with her. I spent the morning in the botanical gardens of Jose de Canto.



Sete Cidades




On our last day we just had a wander and visited Fort Sao Bras museum. The green abstract photo was of the mold in the museum.

Northumberland in October

I booked a week with Seafield Cottage in Alnmouth early last year. My friend Yvonne and I were going to spend a week there. Yvonne couldn't make it so my mum came with me instead. I can recommend the cottage. We were made very welcome by Jenny Trapp when we arrived. There was a welcome basket of milk, bread, preserves, biscuits, tea and coffee and a bottle of wine to greet us when we arrived. Mum had the double bed and I had the comfortable sofa bed in the lounge. There are several good pubs for eating in the village - The Red Lion being the best. The post office is opposite and is open from 7.30am.

Luckily there is plenty to do in all weathers as it poured on Sunday. I drove to Craster as I was hoping the Shoreline Cafe would be open. I knew they do a good double expresso. It was open and they welcome dogs. Millie the Westie stayed in the car this time but came in later in the week. We then popped into Alnwick and spent a pleasant hour in Barter Books. I think this must be the largest second hand bookshop in the UK. Certainly a good place to be in the rain. There is a cafe there too but we didn't try it out.

On Monday we had a quick walk on the beach at Alnmouth.





We then drove up to Kelso via Wooler (excellent double expresso at the cafe there) and Coldstream. We went into Floors castle which had lovely grounds (pictured below) but decided we were not up to going around the castle. Stopped off at Ford & Etal on the way back.



On Tuesday we met up with Mary and Terry who have been featured previously in this blog. Mum and I met them some years before on a Great Rail journey. We had a lovely lunch at Warkworth golf club which has beautiful views of Coquet island and the coast line.

The rain came back for Wednesday but lifted by ten. We changed our plans and decided to go back to Craster for the walk to Dunstanburgh, lunch in Seahouses and a walk on the beach to Bamburgh.





It was a quick visit to Lindisfarne on Thursday as the tides were not with us this week. We were on the island by 8.45 and off again by 10am. I had to drive to Wooler as we visited the wrong cafe on Lindisfarne - no proper machine and the coffee was terrible.



We enjoyed a lovely walk by the River Aln at Alnmouth when we returned. I had to snap these colourful cottages in Alnmouth.




Finally a trip to Alnwick Gardens on Friday. It was a very misty day but kept dry for us to go around the gardens. Mum had not visited Northumberland before so I had to show her one of my favourite gardens.