The Azores, September 20 through 22, 2019 (Ponta Delgada, flight to Faial on September 22)

Our Azores Airlines flight departed on the evening of October 19, 2019, and landed in Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island around 7:00 in the morning on the 20th ("Day 1"). After stowing our luggage in a room in the hotel lobby, we set out to explore the city. Days 1 and 2 were spent touring around the city on our own. We met our fellow group members on the morning of Day 3, and flew on to Faial later that day.

Note: I've had to pare down the 1400+ photos and videos I took to a manageable size. Quite a challenge!

This is a part of Forte de S. Brás, a coastal Renaissance fortress dating to 1552, now home to a military history museum.

The Ponta Delgada harbour

A cafe located next to the Portas da Cidade (City Gates).

We had already searched the Internet for a coffee shop and came across Intz48 where we both had a really great cup of coffee (I live by their motto!).

These hydrangea grow everywhere in the Azores. They come in a variety of beautiful colours.

This is but one small part of the lovely José do Canto Garden. We paid just 1 Euro to enter this park.

Beautiful!

This is the Palácio de Sant'Ana, located in the José do Canto Garden.

José do Canto Garden

Taken in either the José do Canto Garden or another park, possibly Jardim António Borges.

By this point we were able to check into our hotel. The view here is from the area on the roof where the swimming pool is located. The photo was taken at around 1:40 pm (we were pretty tired but resisted a nap).

Another view from the roof of the Hotel Talisman. The parkette in the foreground is named Jardim Padre Sena Freitas. The hotel's outdoor eating area is next to this green space.

Along the Ponta Delgada waterfront.

A swimming area on the waterfront.

Various fare at the Saturday market (including eels). The market is named the Mercado da Graça.

Mercado da Graça

This is but one photo we took from the Hermitage of the Mother of God (Ermida da Mãe de Deus). This location offers some great views.

I usually can't resist taking photos of animals, particularly - so it seems - of cats, goats, horses, cows, bulls, roosters, etc.

Portas da Cidade - City Gates

Portas da Cidade - City Gates

Another view of the swimming area displayed in an earlier photo.

I think this vehicle might be an Italian APE (pronounced awe-pay), equipped with a Vespa motor scooter engine.

220 millilitres: the perfect size of beer for me (just enough to be refreshing and relaxing, but without any loss of consciousness)!

The square where this tree is located is a short walk to the west of the Hotel Talisman.

A monument to immigrants

A ferry boat; it's rented from elsewhere in Europe on a seasonal basis.

A statue of Gonçalo Velho Cabral. He was a Portuguese monk and Commander in the Order of Christ, explorer and hereditary landowner responsible for administering Crown lands during the Portuguese Age of Discovery.