Azores and lisbon stopover

Well decided to see if I can spot some whales, and Ilha de Sao Miguel is meant to be a great place to see a variety of species. Read more

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Trip start
May 10, 2023
Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 1
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 8:31 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 32 m
Portugal Teatro Micaelense 37.741667, -25.66666737°44’30” N 25°40’0” W
Day 1 traveling to ponta delgada
May 10, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Well azores here I come, I decided to visit here because it is meant to be one of the best places in the world to see whales, and after my failure to see any in Iceland I thought he'll why not 😎

My journey starts at Manchester then change aircraft in Lisbon and on to the island of Sao Miguel for 10 nights, then on my return, I have a 4 day stopover in Lisbon.

I'm not expecting glorious weather as Sao Miguel is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but from what I've read the place is warm and spectacular.

What a massive airport Lisbon is, took me ages to find the lounge but food is good, plenty tapas style bits, mousakka beer etc, and a free bar I'm tempted to try as I've a couple of hours till next flight 😎Read more
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 2
Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 10:29 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Portugal Forte de São Brás 37.736667, -25.67166737°44’12” N 25°40’18” W
Fort sao bras
May 11, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Well worth a visit, it's a working barracks so a few areas out of bounds but the museum was very good , it had a lot covering the Portuguese role in the Angolan war which was fascinating.
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 2
Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 12:06 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Portugal Praia das Milicias 37.75, -25.62833337°45’0” N 25°37’42” W
Day 2. Ponta Delgado
May 11, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Well today's a day for roaming the town and finding out the festival timings.

Went to market to get some bits and pieces the wandered round the
Forte Sao bras and little train ride 😎

Everywhere is really busy preparing for the festival, I had a chat with a security guard who said that fromFriday evening and right through next week it's manic with thousands arriving, not sure about thousands but for being the capital this place is really calming and quietRead more
TravelerAhh I never got a notification only just catching up now! Wow the colour of those crabs! Looks like a lovely place!! X
5/15/23Reply
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 3
Friday, May 12, 2023 at 8:22 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Portugal St. Peter's Parish Church 37.74, -25.66333337°44’24” N 25°39’48” W
Todays the day
May 12, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Late start 09:00, down to the port to get catamaran to go whale watching, I decided against going on a rib mainly because I thought it might be too bumpy, and very wet lol, well let's see what today brings eh 🤓

Well certainly had a tear in my eye today, saw a sperm whale, humpback whale, an orca (just) and two different types of dolphin. Weather has been brilliant and the boat crew were really knowledgeable, in fact I might go again on Sunday morning 😎Read more
Amazing x [Lisa]
5/13/23Reply
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 3
Friday, May 12, 2023 at 2:37 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Portugal Marina Ponta Delgada 37.739845, -25.66633237°44’23” N 25°39’59” W
Whale watching
May 12, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The boat company have sent some photos of the trip I went on, somewhat better than mine 🤓

I've added some more of mine too, truly memorable events planted deep into my memory 😎
Bucket list stuff for sure! X [Lisa]
5/13/23Reply
TravelerGorgeous! How amazing to see them all and what lovely blue water too! X
5/15/23Reply
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 3
Friday, May 12, 2023 at 9:04 PM
🌙 18 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Portugal Santuário de Nosso Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres 37.738333, -25.67333337°44’18” N 25°40’24” W
Evening festival
May 12, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Well got to the church at 7pm and most people were just say around at the café bars, by 9 they were nearly ready, first the church musicians played a tune as the lights were all turned on, this was followed by this really good drum and bugle band who absolutely rocked it.

A few beers and then strolled Bach to the apartment, they say tomorrow things get manic as they parade this saint around in a big sort of sedan chair, can't wait everywhere is buzzingRead more
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Day 4
Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10:28 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Portugal Ponta de Pesqueiro 37.739572, -25.66380337°44’22” N 25°39’50” W
Sunshine and chill
May 13, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Up early (ish) and a long walk along the seafront, then to find a bar for footy.went to the festival parade, god what a mob
, Loads of people to watch this idol go round streets that had flowers on the road, more surprised by how much the military were involved including a couple of marches.

Yet another roasting day, chemist clock showing 25° 🥵Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, May 14, 2023 at 11:56 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
North Atlantic Ocean 37.611667, -25.65537°36’42” N 25°39’18” W
Quiet sunday and more whales
May 14, 2023, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
DAY 5
Lazy sunday

More whale watching this morning, saw some humpback whales and then a few sperm whales, one with a youngster. Photos on camera though, definitely a few years in the eye today , got really close and a few good videos too.

Afterwards went to seafood restaurant had black pudding with pineapples because everything has pineapples here (going to plantation tomorrow), then a genuine seafood cataplana with some fish I'd never heard of or tasted before along with prawns mussels cockles clams etc - really tasty.
Now waiting for parade, captain of tour boat explained there are 20+ bands in the parade unlike yesterday's church one. All the streets the parade goes along are strewn with flowers, getting busy and looking good, bloody hot againRead more
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Day 6
Monday, May 15, 2023 at 10:31 AM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 32 m
Portugal Parque Século XXI 37.748333, -25.65537°44’54” N 25°39’18” W
Pineapple farm
May 15, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
As it's a holiday today in the town I decided to stroll out to a pineapple farm.

It's greenhouses with qr codes instead of a guide but as it's free there's no problem. Went to cafe where there's free samples of the products, pineapple liqueur (a bit bland for me) pineapple tea (which is quite refreshing hot) pineapple jam which isn't very sweet at all, and pineapple beer 😍Read more
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Day 6
Monday, May 15, 2023 at 12:14 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Portugal Marina Ponta Delgada 37.74, -25.66666737°44’24” N 25°40’0” W
Bits and bobs
May 15, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
More bits and bobs, hundreds of motor cycles on the seafront road, everyone just relaxed and chillin
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Day 7
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 11:40 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 115 m
Portugal Miradouro da Ponta do Cintrão 37.843333, -25.4937°50’36” N 25°29’24” W
Sete cidades
May 16, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Started out on a tour , covering the west half to São Miguel, first stop was Ribeira Grande town , then we visited a whale watching post before heading to the Salto do Cabrito waterfall and on to Lake Fogo. The lake is in a volcano crater and we got there just as the clouds started to roll over the top.

We then headed to Salto do Cabrito for lunch I had horse mackerel as I'd never heard of it, I was expecting something like a mackerel fillet but it was more like a very strong whitebait, very bony and very strong, mind you the house red was really tasty.

After lunch we headed on towards Sete Cidades which is another lake in another volcano, although this has two lakes joined together, one is deep green and even though the two are linked together the other is blue! There's also an abandoned hotel that has become a tourist attraction in it own way. Finally we headed to Mosteiros before going back to pont delgada.Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 11:52 AM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 201 m
Portugal Parque de Merendas da Avenida Pereira de Atayde 37.77, -25.30666737°46’12” N 25°18’24” W
Sao Miguel east coast
May 17, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Today it's the east coast 😎..
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 8
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 2:54 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 199 m
Portugal Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeirões 37.843333, -25.26833337°50’36” N 25°16’6” W
Ribeira dos caldeireos park
May 17, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Park
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Day 8
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 4:15 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 279 m
Portugal Miradouro da Ponta do Sossego 37.8, -25.14537°48’0” N 25°8’42” W
Gardens
May 17, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
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Day 9
Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 7:55 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 92 m
Portugal Ponta Delgada / Nordela Acores 37.74941, -25.71073737°44’58” N 25°42’39” W
Lisbon next stop
May 18, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Time to leave the azores, to be honest it has far exceeded what I expected, now it's time to explore Lisbon 😎

Well that was an experience it took longer from landing to actually getting a taxi than it did time in the air from ponta delgada to lisbon. What a massive airport !Read more
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Day 10
Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:31 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 39 m
Portugal Convento de Santa Ana 38.718333, -9.14166738°43’6” N 9°8’30” W
Exploring belem
May 19, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Thought I would go to Belem , the metro doesn't go past cais do sodre so from there it's either train or bus, guess I picked wrong time of morning because the queue for both was massive! Anyhow got there looked round war museum and nice stroll and tram ride back to cais do sodre for a beer and pastel de bacalhauRead more
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Day 11
Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:43 AM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 54 m
Portugal Estação do Rossio 38.713333, -9.14166738°42’48” N 9°8’30” W
Alto barrio and castel
May 20, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Decided to see alto Barrios without the bars open , and then a trip on the infamous number 28 tram, went to castle it was rammed full walked back down into square and there was a Buddhist festival on , lovely dancing very colourful was a nice event.
Also found a real ale bar with over 36 real ales and three real Portuguese ciders so I tried all 3, a pear at 4.2, and two others that were really tasty at a mere 7.1, what a find 😃Read more
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Day 12
Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 10:24 AM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Portugal Aquarium Lisbon 38.766667, -9.09538°46’0” N 9°5’42” W
Parc de nacoes
May 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Well I had this area recommended by a woman I was chatting to yesterday so I thought I'd try it as footy doesn't start until 20:30.
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 12
Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 12:16 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Portugal Oceanário de Lisboa 38.763333, -9.09333338°45’48” N 9°5’36” W
More fish
May 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 12
Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 12:39 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Portugal Oceanário de Lisboa 38.762529, -9.09360538°45’45” N 9°5’37” W
Oceanarium
May 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
More pics from the oceanarium
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 12
Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 12:56 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Portugal Oceanário de Lisboa 38.761667, -9.09333338°45’42” N 9°5’36” W
Home today
May 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Well I don't know what's rocked my boat more the azores or Lisbon.

In all honesty it has to be the azores, what a beautiful island and the people so friendly with the added bonus of seeing the whales, most of my pics are on the camera ...it was awesome.

Mind you Lisbon has come close, some good food and some really good beer, even found a real ale bar that is self service and sells 7.1 ° cider 😍

Only 106 days until my next sojourn 😎🌞Read more
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 12
Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 1:29 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Portugal Vasco da Gama tower 38.775, -9.09166738°46’30” N 9°5’30” W
Vasco de gamma tower
May 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Highest skyscraper in Portugal at 145 metres with a nice bar at the top 😎
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Azores and lisbon stopover Steve Catterall
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Day 13
Monday, May 22, 2023 at 12:56 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Portugal Oceanário de Lisboa 38.761667, -9.09333338°45’42” N 9°5’36” W
Homeward bound
May 22, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Well homeward bound, until my next trip, sat in airport lounge awaiting flight, but despite being manic coming in it is calm and relaxing going out 😎

Only 106 days until next trip 👍🍻
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Trip end
May 22, 2023