Wednesday, 30th September 2009

Ponta Delgarda, Azores

Janet said I have to write something true and sensible about Ponta Delgarda so this is as close as it gets.

We arrived about 11 o'clock and Captain Me Again reverse parked into the tiny harbour (nobody likes a smart-arse). It was such a nice day that I decided to go for a swim before we went ashore. It was more of a float really because the pool is filled with sea water which is very salty and buoyant. After the float I tried the Jacuzzi, which is kept at a constant temperature of 99 deg F, before jumping back into the pool for a thermal shock. Later I learned that Janet would have come swimming too if she'd had someone like Dave S* around to bully her.

We'd walked about 100 yards on shore before it started to rain so we went back for our waterproofs and brollies. It's a beautiful little town with old Portuguesy (architectural term) style buildings which we photographed against a leaden sky. The sun them came out and we started to steam in our waterproofs. We went back and photographed the buildings again against an azure blue sky.

The island is made of three volcanoes and all the paving is black basalt. It's lovely but a bit gloomy so they liven it up with white marble mosaic. The zebra crossings are all white which appropriately is the colour of death. The town with its new seafront looks very affluent and everyone seems to have nice new cars which they drive very quickly between zebra crossings. It is probably not a coincidence that the Azores ar strategically very important and have large USA and NATO air bases.

After a beer we went back to the ship for a rest with the intention of returning in the early evening, but it rained again. Then the sun came out and then it rained again. Nice place, funny climate.

Dave