Moving Through the Azores

Well, we are established in a place called Lajes do Pico now. It is an enchanting marina on the island of Pico and is in a village called, as you would expect, Lajes. It is only 20 miles by sea from Horta but is a very different place being very small. There are only five other boats here and I think that three of those are here long term and do not have people staying on them. The entrance is a bit hairy looking but presented no problems to us in the near flat calm that is prevailing at the moment.

This was our first impression of the village - very typically Azorean!

We are going to spend about five or six days here and will explore the island by bus on Saturday before moving on to the island of Sao Jorge.

We were passed by lots of dolphins on the way here but no whales yet though the islands are famous for them. The weather has been nice but quite overcast but so photography has not been the best. Here are the best of an average bunch.

While sitting in the cockpit, the local old whaling boat went out to train a new young crew for the inter-village and inter-island racing. They are some of the most elegant boats I have seen! I will try and get a picture of one under sail before we leave the islands.

These rather nice power boats were used to tow the open boats out to the whales before the silent, rows and sails allowed them to get close to the hapless whale. The whaling itself was a greusome affair but the boats they used were undeniably pretty.

This is the current house we will buy if we win lots of money from the lottery! Very nice views to the west across the harbour here.

This is an unusual monement to the whalers just at the entrance to the harbour with Monte do Pico behind it (from the other side that when you see it from Horta).