Yes, we made it… We are back in BCN. After one hour delay in Sao Miguel and two in Lisboa, we finally arrived at our flat around 02:45 in the morning. Let’s assume we were at a good party…  

Today everything is a bit slow and unsteady, but we are getting back to our feet. The worst part was the search for some green food as all supermarkets are closed (normally they would be open – just not in August); fortunately the one in the filling station has loads of good stuff and after a nice Indian curry and some real green salad, which can be considered more than decoration on bread, we feel quite wholesome again!

But back to Sao Miguel where we tried to enjoy the last full day as much as possible by taking a more “tourist like” approach.

Lake Fogoa (yes, you got it – it’s a caldera ) on a sunny day

And some overgrown trees

Beautiful

We have never seen something like this before – interesting… Yet when you drive, you do get headache quite soon…

Afterwards we visited one of the two still existing tea plantations in Europe – both next to each other. This one is Gorreana (http://www.gorreanatea.com/) and a fully organic producer (no herbicides, pesticides or anything else – just pure tea). The other good thing is that their factory is completely open, so you can look everywhere and just enjoy  

Artificial panorama

Tea

Inside they use the old machines from 1883

from a time (fortunately) long gone

turners

the sampling room

packaging tea bags

and larger units. There is a nice pat-pat-pat-pat-pat (5 times) sound as each bag gets a pat at the bottom

and quality control of the leaves

The tea is dried in huge ovens

At quite high temperatures

The raw produce

is collected in boxes

and then stored in rooms

in bags

plain tea

Electricity is produced on-site by a water-stream power generator (since the 1920s) and I assume the mainboard is from the same time

Pretty arcane

On the 2nd floor the fresh tea is spread out for drying

in several banks

and constantly shifted around – temperatures are around 45° and humidity at 90%

As green tea must not oxidize they cover the windows as well (otherwise too much light enters)

After seeing all there can be seen of the plantation our next stop was one of the best parks in the Azores – Terra Nostra Gardens (http://www.parqueterranostra.com/).

Before we actually entered we had to visit some Yam-plantation on the way in Furnas set alongside a warm river. You eat the root (up to 2m length) which tastes very, very good (if made properly – otherwise you could eat cardboard as well)

The flowers are beautiful

The park, originally the residence of the American ambassador in the 18th century, who created the basis of the park, then owned by some nobleman and in the mid 19th century bought by the still owning family Bensaude who create the accompanying Terra Nostra Park hotel as well.

Nowadays the park (with thermal pool) is open for a small fee and contains thousands of amazing species

Victoria & Ginger

“Yam in the park”

The water is not only volcanic, but contains loads of iron as well

Mighty nobly trees

and beautiful lotus

A pure pleasure

The paths are starting to be re-claimed

by nature

Ginger – variety 20010 (or was it 20011?)

Another creeper

mixed mode

A passion fruit flower

“no idea” flower

mighty

leaves

Unknown 1 & 2

Colourful

Unknown 3

Sweet chestnut

just loads of them

In the bromelia section

Very pink, red, all colours you want

And always some play with light, shadow and water

sedate walks

old stone

Age needs support

A view from the grotto

Another tree we didn’t know…

Reflections the other way round

Green & peaceful

Black beauty

Family gathering

Tarzan & Friday? No – just stupid locals trying to impress the lasses

The iron water rivers around the volcanic areas

One of the nicest bridges in the park

The “claw-flower”

After so much beauty we retired to our balcony to enjoy a pick-nick (we started to purchase our own food as otherwise vegetables would be only mere decoration) with a beautiful evening sky

And even got some entertainment when local people performed dances

You have to start early…