It has been overwhelming to decide how to write this post. The Azores are an island archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean near Europe. I am on the largest island, Sao Miguel, in the capital city Ponta Delgada. The Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal.
The streets are beautifully decorated with black basalt from the volcanoes and white limestone from the mainland. This is known as calçada portuguesa or simply calçada. It is a traditional-style pavement used for many pedestrian areas in Portugal. It consists of small flat pieces of stones arranged in a pattern or image, like a mosaic.
I could not photograph one of my favorite street decorations. It’s just two blocks long on a busy street. So, instead, I captured the icons separately.
Sidewalks and Pedestrian Crosswalks Decorated Using White Limestone
The city center area is especially beautiful.
City Center In Front of the Main Church and Clock Tower
The city has a truly European feel with its architecture, alleys, and street cafes.
The next photo shows City Hall. For one Euro, you can climb to the top of the bell tower and have a spectacular view of the city.
City Hall
A View from City Hall
The waterfront and harbor areas are just one block to the right (south) of City Hall. As a commercial harbor, it is incredibly clean. You can walk along the rocks and see through the crystal clear water and watch a variety of fish swimming around.
Ponta Delgada Waterfront
Tall Ships visit as they cross the Atlantic. Ponta Delgada is a great place for a respite.
A German Navy Tall Ship
In the main square along the waterfront, there are several food trucks serving a variety of foods. Two of my favorites are the ice cream (Gelato) and the gourmet hamburgers. I rarely eat red meat, but those hamburgers are amazing! The owner is a 5-star Gourmet Chef and makes his own sauces… get the garlic sauce on your fries!
Gourmet Hamburgers Are The Best.
One block to the left (north) from City Hall is Azores Forever; a diner and bar, which is owned and run by my friends Andy and Maria. This small cafe is an excellent place for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon beer. It was an anchor location for me. I could get bacon and eggs in the morning and listen to Rock ‘n Roll music. Some Friday nights, they host an open mic night on the sidewalk; serving beer.
Azores Forever
During festivals, the streets are decorated almost like Christmas at times.
Communities really get involved. In the above picture food and wine were provided at no cost. To be served, you wait until someone at the two-block-long table finishes. Then, you sit down. Servers come serve your meal and pour your wine. It was a hot day and I was offered wine while I stood waiting for a seat.
I took a whale-watching tour while waiting for a boat part to arrive. There were only sperm whales, which are unimpressive from a distance unless they go for a deep dive. In this case, their tale flukes stand up out of the water. I waited in anticipation, but it never occurred,
Common Dolphins Jumping while on the move.
The smaller Common Dolphins are much more active than Bottle Nose Dolphins.
Just as Bermuda architecture was unique with the white roofs and storm shutters. Sao Miguel has decorated streets, red-tiled roofs, and balconies.
I like the clarity of your writing Kev, I’m also learning about the place I live in. Keep up the good work fella
Kevin, what a beautiful city. I’ve never seen anything like this place. And what fun you are having. The stone work, the festivals, the food truck! This is a pretty spectacular post. Thanks for taking the trouble to share it in words and pictures. I will never see these amazing sites but I shared your blog link with my niece and her husband.. They travel the world, hike all over Eastern and Western Europe, from their home base in the Netherlands. Maybe someday I’ll get a post card from her… stamped Azores.