The Azores, that archipelago of islands extending into the
Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal, is famous for its
year-round temperate climate and exotic vegetation. It is a given
that this is a paradise for every form of watersport diving,
surfing, sailing and whale-watching. And it is not surprising that
the Azores, with their protected parks and forests, are attractive
for hikers, bikers and horseback riders.
While the above reasons may have drawn us to the Azores, it was
the out-of-the ordinary accommodations with their gracious hosts,
which made this trip special. In selecting a seven-day, two-island
fly/drive package through Abreu Tours, we opted for rural
guesthouses or small farms, known as quintas. The English-speaking
owners proudly invited us to tour their properties and provided us
with excellent suggestions for excursions and dining.
On Faial, a tiny island known for its profusion of hydrangeas,
Manuel Brum, proprietor of Quinta das Buganvilias in Castelo
Branco, welcomed us warmly. Mr. Brum’s family has lived on this
land for more than a century. Located on the south coast of the
island, this is a working farm complete with animals and orchards.
The beautifully maintained property offers elegantly furnished
rooms in the family home as well as modern apartments in the annex.
Mr. Brum is pleased to share his heritage and Faial’s culture with
his guests.
On Sao Miguel, the largest of the islands, we stayed at the
Quinta da Terca outside of the capital, Ponta Delgada. This
17th-century estate was purchased three years ago by a Swedish
couple, Claude and Christina de Laval. The de Lavals have lovingly
preserved and restored much of the original manor. The manor house
has five guestrooms with private baths, but is still a work in
progress.
The couple also has a passion for horses. Their current project
is construction of a covered riding arena. The de Lavals offer
riding tours for individuals or groups.
With suggestions from our hosts plus our own preparation, we
circled the islands, visiting craters, thermal springs, parks,
viewpoints and harbors. We tried gastronomic specialties such as
cozido das caldeiras, a hearty stew cooked in the heat of volcanic
earth, and we drank excellent wine from grapes grown in lava soil.
We took the ferry from Faial to neighboring island Pico, home to
Portugal’s tallest mountain. We admired a variety of Azorean
crafts: lace work, embroidery, pottery and scrimshaw. The islands
are clean, safe and a reminder of simpler times.
Land and air packages arranged by Abreu Tours, which has been in
business since 1840, include air service from Boston to Ponta
Delgada through SATA International operated by Azores Express on a
charter basis.
Agents need be aware that charter flights are subject to
cancellation. This occurred in our case, but to the credit of
Azores Express, we were compensated for losses caused by flight
changes. Our flights were on comfortable airbuses with on-time
arrivals.
A fly/drive program such as ours should appeal to the
independent traveler with a sense of adventure and an appreciation
for culture and tradition.
Abreu Tours
800-223-1580
www.abreu-tours.com
Gayle Christensen is a travel consultant with Alamo World
Travel, in Alamo, Calif.
Send your travel story to: travelagewest@travelage west.com.
