Ponta Delgado, Azores

August 4th, 2018

Eight of my family members hopped in a limo and headed towards Logan International in Boston, Ma. We were headed to my grandparents homeland for a week to reminisce on old memories, and create new ones together; my Vova (grandma in Portuguese), aunt, uncle, his wife, my mom, dad and brother. It was BY FAR the best trip I’ve ever been on, and the whole time, I was trying to come up with a financially stable way I could quit my job and stay there.

Our main reason for traveling there, was because my Vovo (grandfather) who passed away in 2016, was one of the first 18 men to travel from Portugal to America in 1953. There was a whole section in the Immigration Museum dedicated to the men who embarked on this journey, and we all wanted to see it. It was a beautiful tribute to all of the men, and I was so thankful that my family and I got to see it, along with my Vova.

*Top Left gentleman is my Vovo, and the photo above is my Vova looking at her husband.*

As beautiful and memorable as this day was, the rest of our time in the Azores was just as perfect. My brother and I surfed at a black sand beach in Ribeira Grande where the surf guy told us, “some rocks, some sharks, lotta sand”- not concerning at all…..

We went from exploring my Vovo’s back yard right on the ocean, to exploring the Furna’s where my Vova grew up. We visited the Terra Nostra Garden and Hotel where my Vova used to deliver cheese to when she was a little girl. We swam in the mineral pool there and ventured through the beautiful gardens that she used to walk through.

Another day, another beautiful landscape! We went to the oldest tea plantation in Europe, Cha Gorreana and sampled the teas that were made there, and went outside only to be in complete awe of the views and bountiful hydrangeas. Then we stumbled upon the most beautiful beach in Caloura, honestly the pictures do not even do a justice!

This next picture was most perfect overlook of the Furnas, I mean, look at that view!!!

Then to Sete Cidades, Sao Miguel which has two blue & green lakes that are surrounded by beautiful hydrangeas. There is a story about a green-eyed princess who fell in love with a blue eyed Shepard who were forbidden to wed, and on their last night together they cried puddles that turned into lakes, one green and one blue representing them forever side by side. But our last day of adventures, which just happened to be my personal favorite. We went on a dolphin and whale watch, in a little dinghy, and we saw about 200 different dolphins swimming along side our boat having a grand ole time!!

After the excursion, we hoped on another little boat and headed to the Islet of Vila Franca and the Princess ringlet, where they currently host Red Bull cliff diving competitions… but my Vovo did that before Red Bull discovered it, which is crazy! Overall, the views all around this island were truly break-taking.