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…
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