ISLAND HOPPING ACROSS THE ATLANTIC


“As we negotiated the hairpin turns that followed the fall of the land, we couldn’t help noticing the flora. It was untamed, astonishing. Only Nature could have produced the mad profusion of blossoms that entangled the rich green landscape. Bright reds, oranges, blues, and purples dumbfounded our eyes. At almost every bend in the road waterfalls splashed downward sometimes ending in still or swirling, dark, mysterious pools.” – Bob Silverman, A Pause in the Azores

We have departed continental Europe, and are now slowly making our way across the Atlantic, with stops at a few islands along the way. I had assumed these island stops would be little more than ways to break what would otherwise be a weeklong sail across the ocean. I completely underestimated them, even though I’d been to all of them at least once before.

I’ve already written about Madeira, where my previous visit had been limited to a visit to a garden and a trip down a hill in a wicker basket. As discussed in that entry, a trip across the island revealed a beauty I’d never previously guessed.

The next island, San Miguel in the Azores, offered a similar experience of great beauty. And its tiny Arzorean neighbor, Faial, provided more of the same. Again, let the pictures tell at least a bit of the story:

San Miguel landscape

Church in a little town on San Miguel

Santiago Crater Lake, San Miguel

Faial shoreline

Volcanic landscape, Faial

Faial vineyards

A small town on Faial


The final stop, Bermuda, was an overnight stay in a place I love. The first day was devoted to one thing: the wonderful beach at Tobacco Bay. That evening was a barbeque and party on the ship’s deck with ideal temperatures, a lovely breeze, the cute town of St. George’s in the background, and a spectacular rainbow as a kind of exclamation point to the whole thing. Great food, good music, excellent company, and a cloud overhead that never produced any rain, made for a great evening.

Bermuda coastline

Unfinished church in St George's. Bermuda
(the minister ran off with a parishioner,
taking with him the funds to finish the church)

Our ship only just fit through this pass
leaving port in Bermuda




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