Although it is the main island and considered the most "touristy" I would still consider it worth an extended stay. The narrow range of the side dishes in the restaurants, consisting mainly of potatoes, carrots and cabbage is my only criticism. The fish and shellfish are excellent, as are the white wines from Pico. The people are hospitable and helpful, (the only exception being a taxi driver who deceptively left us off 100 meters from our B&B in Faial.) But, at least 2 times people got into their cars and said "Follow me" when we were lost. Roads, primary and secondary were generally excellent and traffic was almost non-existent. Scenery was outstanding.
Here follows a non-sequential series of photos from Sao Miguel with commentary.
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| The bill was delivered in a sardine tin, possibly at Restaurante Ponta do Garajau, a very enjoyable place in the southeast of the island. (A fine lunch for two with a bottle of wine was 27 Euro) In general, restaurant prices were very reasonable. |
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| One of the few desserts on the trip. A lemon tart with a galao (coffee) at Louvre Michaelense in Ponta Delgada, the main town of Sao Miguel. |
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| Chickpea soup with kale. |
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| The custom of sailors leaving painted souvenirs of their visit has apparently arrived in Ponta Delgada from Faial (where it is well-established) and this tribute to Emma was a nice coincidence. |
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| Canned fish display. |
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| Blood sausage and pineapple, spotted at the next table at A Tasca, an enjoyable restaurant in Ponta Delgada where we ate twice - but failed to get the fish soup we coveted because it was finished. |
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| Squid at A Tasca |
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| Sesame coated tuna. |
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| Waiting to be seated at A Tasca. |
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| Lapas (limpets) |
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| Clams |
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| Excellent fresh cheese (already half-finished). This was a a regular item served with bread and olives at the start of a meal. |
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| The beach at Santa Barbara on the north shore. A surfing spot. |
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| But not on the day we were there. |
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| Cave at the end of the beach. |
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| Swordfish with the standard sides of potato and cabbage plus a root concoction we never figured out. |
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| Fava Beans. |
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| Squid |
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| Pineapple display in the food market. |
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| Snazzy canned fish store. |
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| Kale soup with sausage. |
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| Ceviche |
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| Veggies |
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| Another squid dish with standard vegetables. |
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| Azorean fish soup. This one had too much pasta but at the Cais de Angra restaurant in the town ofAngra de Heroismo on the island of Terceira it was superb. |
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| Hiking sign. |
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| Hiker on the way to a waterfall. |
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| Hot spring feeding into bathing area. |
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| Part of bathing area. |
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| Breakfast at Sul Villas |
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| Lava walk. |
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| Hydrangeas closer to what they look like in season. Imagine miles of this lining the roads. |
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| Can boats be cute? |
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| Restaurant toilet sign |
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| Small fried fish with standard veggies. |
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| Tuna with standard veggies. |
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| Root system of highly invasive Himalayan plant whose lovely yellow flowers also line the roads. |
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| Octopus salad. |
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| Mussels |
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| Red fish with standard veggies. |
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| Trees |
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| Cows - when they gather in a circle it is said to be a sign of an impending storm. |
END
