Ponta Delgada, Azores January 6

January 6th, and our first stop was Ponta Delgada, situated on Sao Miguel Island (with its140.000 residents) in the the Azores. The Azores are a remote Portuguese, volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. 

2 years ago we were supposed to visit this volcanic Island, but then the weather was so bad that we went to Spain (La Coruna) instead. But this time we could enter. We have felt the Ocean becoming smoother since yesterday, and the temperature now is 17C.

We did not really have a plan when we left the ship, we thought we might just wander a little around in the city. Then we met taxi driver Jose Joao Ferreira (jjftaxitour@gmail.com) driver who asked if we would like to go around the island. He offered us to see the tea plantation, liquor factory++ but we did not fancy anything until he suggested visiting a volcano with hot springs. Of course we had to do that, and off we went to Laguna des Fumas.

Our first stop was to a beach with black sand, which made a beautiful contrast to the waves. The sand is fine, and it must be even more fantastic to visit when the weather is better.

Our next stop was to buy bananas, and I have to say I never had a more tasteful banana in my life. The soil here must be very fertile, as it is green grass everywhere and you can see that even the cows have a good life. The island produce pineapples, bananas and probably every fruit they like.

Visiting Lagunas des Fumas was amazing. The ground is bubbling, the water is coming up along with lots of smoke.  Adam with his toy Peppa Pig were specially excited to see all the muddy puddles, and was really tempted to let his mascot jump.

It was really interesting, but the smell….was like Iceland for those of you who are familiar with that…

At one point Daniel, who held his nose most of the time, looked at me and said: «I will never ever ask to see a volcano again. I had no idea it smells like this».

Another local speciality is to cook food slowly in the ground. Meat and vegetables are placed down to be boiled for about 6 hours, and then be transported to local restaurants. And it tastes delicious as we were to find out around lunch time.

The architecture here is cute, and there are lots of churches, and we also visited one.. Majority here are Chatolics, and for some reason all the churches seem to be painted black and white.

Most of the day we were out, and we came back to the ship quite wet, but very happy.

Obrigado.

Next stop will be Barbados.

Aurora webcam today we are crossing the Panama Canal

http://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/aurora/webcam/

We left Southampton January 2.

Finally we have a kind of internet connection, so I will try to update the blog.

It is always weird to publish something after it is done, but never mind, here we are sweating at Barbados trying to explain how we left Southampton.

It was great fun to catch up with Nicky and MJ. 

Watching the firework as we sailed out from Southampton was amazing.

Some rough sea days for some of us….

Still a good time.

Finally the ocean calmed down, we are having a great time together,  food is good and now stays...
as we were heading towards our next stop Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

We are ready for our next adventure.

We left happy days in Spain with my mother, going back to Norway to unpack and repack suitcases.

What a great surprise for the boys (and of course for me, but I knew) that Helene would meet us at the airport in Norway. The boys had no idea that she would be there, as they thought we would meet up later. Last time we seen her was in the summer, before she went to her studies.

Next day, New Years Eve, we finished our grapes and beer, so hopefully 2016 will be an amazing year.

January 1. we met up with Anna at the airport, and we could finally fly to England all of us.

There is no greater feeling than to have all my children around me, and don`t get me wrong, it is loud, they are not always friends, but we are a family and at the end of the day it makes life interesting and fun.

With all the suitcases we were happy to be met by our driver at the airport, taking us to our hotel in Southampton.

Had a great dinner at the hotel, and went to sleep early, and o´happiness, for breakfast the hotel had a pancake machine.

Today is when the fun really begins. After breakfast we went swimming at the hotel, soon we will have lunch, and then we are ready for the taxi to come and take us and all our suitcases to the ship. We have been looking forward for this day so long, that it almost does not feel real that we are finally here.

I am so thankful to life, family and good friends who give us so much fun to look forward too.
Next stop Portugal.