Island of Flores, Azores July 2009.

We arrived early morning Thursday 23rd to this little pearl of an island in the middle of the Atlantic.
We put down the anchor in the harbour bay at the village of Lajes das Flores in the south east corner of the island of Flores, which is the most north- western of the Azores .There is 138 Miles west of the central group of islands. It is supposed to be the most beautiful, and its people the most friendly. Well, I can believe all that now that we have been there.
The Quay area is small and the swell and the tide would have made it uncomfortable to be lying along side. Three other yachts were also anchoring, one British, one Canadian and one South African yacht. Two French yachts were along the quay but one were later asked to move out as an inter-island ferry were due to arrive. Uppersite the quay is a big cliff, lush in vegetation and full of nesting birds who chirp away all through the night.
We ventured up in the village which stretches itself charmingly up the hillside on the south east side of a mountain. Very pretty whitewashed houses in lush well kempt gardens gave us the impression of prosperity and tidyness. Everywhere beautiful wild flowers grew in abandance. Especially Hotencia, which bordered fields and pastures.
Unfortunately we don’t speak Portuguese but everybody were very friendly and helpful. A little lady, by the name of Florence was happily letting us use her internet from a bench in her very pretty garden. She also gave us tomatoes, couchettes and herbs from her garden .When asked she would take a very nominal fee only. She was just extremely friendly and helpful. She even offered us a lift to a festival in a neighbouring town.
We didn’t take the lift. In stead we took our bikes, which we bought last year, and which normally live in the forepeak of the boat all folded up. The bikes were transported in the dinghy to the pier and we then pushed them up through the town and much further up hill to the top of the mountain along the road, in baking heat (Mad dog an Englishman!). It was very beautiful with the views all over the countryside to the sea. We could see two crater lakes from the top of the road. The water was green and it was very scenic. Every where we found blue Hotencia growing all over the hills. We took hundreds of photos as one view was prettier than the previous one.
Yesterday we lighted ancher at Flores at 10.00 and in light SW winds we sailed to the island of Faial and the capital of Horta. The distance is 138 miles and boat went like a dream doing 6-8 knots all the way so that we arrived in a speedy time of 7.15 this morning. We are in the marina along the quay-side. For the first time since I arrived on the boat about a month ago is the table flat- horisontal without rocking and rolling all over the place. It is a strange but lovely feeling.