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São
Jorge Island in the Azores
- some shots of life in this little part of the
world...
  
The island of São Jorge is a very
agricultural island. Milk, milk products and meat make up
for about 70 percent of Azorean exports and this island produces
a great part of that. About 25 percent of the milk
consumed in Portugal is produced in the Azores. This
island in Bob and Tania's opinion has seen a tremendous amount
of growth in the past four years since they last visited.
The large homes that are being built here is eye-popping
compared to the rest of the islands (at least the ones they have
visited so far). São Jorge still has a lot of primitive
beauty throughout. The bell tower from the Urzelina
church is all that remains from a very destructive volcano lava
flow in 1808. Sunflowers are very prevalent throughout
this island...
  
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For lunch Bob and Tania visited a
restaurant ("O Manezinho") they enjoyed four years ago
(where they sampled great local fare while watching the USA
beat Portugal in Soccer - no cheering from their table at
the time - Ha!). Boy, what a change in four years!
Which further cemented in their minds the enormous growth on
the island. Gone was the small cafe/local bar of
yesteryear and in it's place a very modern stainless steel
bar complete with a huge dining area of white clothed
tables. Same owner (he explained he re-modeled three
years ago) and the wine selection he displayed was
unparalleled in what they had seen anywhere. Wine on these
islands is relatively inexpensive to what they have been
accustomed to in the US (most "drinkable" wines start at
3,75 euros (about $4.00 US) and for the reasonably "good
stuff" (mid-1990's for reds) 15 to 19 euros. Tania got
to fulfill her "Lapas Grehaldos" fix (which is the local
limpets - "ones-sided clams") and they are pre-pared like a
"clams casino" dish in the US - lots of garlic and herbs and
broiled...Yummmm! The restaurant is located near some
really great landmarks including a windmill and wonderful
sea caves. On the third picture Bob is standing next
to the windmill while Tania shoots the picture from across
the lava field.
  
The "Hôrtensias" (Hydrangeas) are
everywhere even on this island, as you can see the road in the
distance outlined by the flowers (clouds drifting on by...).
The "fajãs" are flatlands that were created by the lava flows
eons ago. The town of Topo with it's small islet (used by
farmers for cattle grazing which they take over by small boats)
is a quaint place that includes a great "swimming hole"
naturally created for the local people to enjoy. |
