The Azores - Faial & Sao Miguel

After leaving the Caribbean, we had 5 days at sea before reaching the Azores. On the way we saw some dolpins. They look quite small from high up on deck 10!

The Azores are a group of 9 volcanic islands in the North Atlantic sea, 1360 km west of Portugal. They are one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal along with Madeira. We visited 2 islands, Faial and Sao Miguel.

We stopped at both those islands last year, so this time I didn't take many photos. Most of my photos of  Horta and Faial can be seen on this blog. This was also our first stop on this visit.
The pilot climbing the ladder up to our ship -

I'd missed Peter's Cafe Sport last year. It is a yachting pub and cafe popular with yachtsmen and other people who cross the Atlantic. It was established in 1918.

I then went to the beach and walked along to the headland.

In the morning I'd tried to get on the public bus that goes around the island, but it was full. The bus
company laid on another bus in the afternoon for us, which was really nice. And we had a lovely driver who stopped at a few viewpoints and allowed us to get off and take photos.

The bus went anticlockwise around the island, covering much of the area I had seen last year. It took
almost 2 hours.

Capelinhos Volcano and lighthouse

Next day we were at Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel. I was lazy and didn't do much. Morning and sunset views -

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See the next blog on my Amazon & Caribbean cruise - Vigo in northern Spain

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

Funchal was our 3rd stop on the Amazon cruise in Jan 2020. The earlier stops were Porto and Rotterdam. Funchal is the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. Madeira is situated off the west coast of Africa.

I went to Madeira in May 2019, and spent a week there. I went into Funchal a few times. I had really liked the botanic gardens and wanted to go back. I'd remembered to take my Giro bus card with me and was able to top it up just 2 fares, at €1.35. Took bus 31 up to the Botanic Gardens. Entry was €6. 2020 display -

I didn't spend too long in the park as the buses were only half hourly and I wanted to see things in town.

Back in town I went to Anadia supermarket and to Pingo Doce for an egg tart.

The river ducks were still there but hadn't any babies this time of year. However there were a lot of pigeons.

 I popped into the market and Christmas decorations were still up.

I went to the nearby Rua de Santa Maria, a small alley where most of the doors now have murals. There are many restaurants and cafes.

  

Along the water front

Funchal from the ship

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See the next blog on my Amazon cruise - Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Cape Verde.

Porto, Portugal

Porto was the next stop on my 6 week Amazon cruise, after Rotterdam.

We docked at Leixoes and I took the Metro into Porto. This is a long tram, mostly above ground.

I'd been to Porto in May 2017 (but didn't blog about it). So this time I wanted to see sights that I had missed then.

Christmas tree outside the town hall.

The naked lady statue, Juventude

I had to see the world's most beautiful McDonalds. Located in an emblematic 1930s building that formerly housed the historic Imperial Café, its name taken from the huge regal bronze eagle statue that stands protectively over the door, wings outstretched. McDonald’s has retained many of the building’s original art deco décor, features include stained glass windows and crystal chandeliers.

Porto Sao Bento station has the blue paintings.

Street scenes -

It seems gulls sit on statues everywhere!

Then down to Ribeira. I'd missed it last time as I was on the opposite bank.

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See the next blog on my Amazon cruise - Funchal, Madeira.