Sao Miguel

                   São Miguel, also known as the green island owing to the abundance of pasture and forest covered peaks,
                 is the largest and most enchanting islands on the Azores. On São Miguel you can spend as much time as
                   you have. The nature is so beautiful, and do encourage to tours and for walks. In the summertime the landscape
                   is full of flowers. If you want to " see it all ", you must stay for a longer period. The island is about 65 x12 km.
                   São Miguel would be a natural start on a holiday on Azores. Here lives about 140.000 people.

                                It will take far to long to describe everything beautiful and interesting on São Miguel. It might sound easy to say,
                                but it really is overwhelming. The landscape change all the time. Many deep crater-lakes and geysers. Cosy villa-
                                ges in the hilly countryside. On the island of São Miguel it is a good idea to rent a car getting around.

All over the island you will find small cosy villages, which absolutely is worth a visit.

                                Sete Cidades is situated on the very bottom of a big crater. You can easily enter the village by car. The church is
                                worth a visit. Take a detour on the small road along the crater edge, and enjoy the excellent view. Close to Sete
                                Cidades are several other beautiful lakes worth a visit. On Sao Miguel there are several small beaches.

                                I suggest that you rent a car on Sao Miguel. The eastern part of Sao Miguel is where the biggest mountains is
                                located. From "Pico Bartolomeus" you will find a spectacular view. On many maps the road to the top is showed
                                as a forest-road. But the road is actually paved with asphalt, and very good all the way to the very top.

                                If you don't want to rent a car, I suggest that you "rent" a taxi for a few hours or for a day. It might even be cheaper
                                for you, than renting a car. In addition you will get an excellent guide, who will be glad to give you all the information's
                                about the island and local issues you want. But make sure you get a driver whom speak English, or another language
                              you understand. I would like to recommend Ricardo Amorim. He speaks very well English. You may contact him on
                              his web site www.amazingtours.se

                                On Sao Miguel there is a production of coffee, tea, pineapple, tobacco, bananas and pepper. Visit the tobacco
                                plantation at the village Santo Antonio on the western part of the north coast. Visit also the tea factory "GORREANA"
                                in Maia some close to Ribeira Grande on the eastern part of the north coast. They still produce tea "the old fashion
                                way" on very old machines. There has been a production of tea since1883, and is absolutely worth a visit.

Taxies is without meters, but you pay fixed prices. You may ask for the price before you go. Look HERE to see
examples of prices on different tours.

The tourist office in Ponta Delgada will be glad to give you all information you may need.

Ponta Delgada:

Maps of Sao Miguel and Ponta Delgada: KLICK HERE.

                                Ponta Delgada is the largest city on São Miguel and on all the Azores Islands. It's an exiting and charming business
                                town with a lot of old houses and narrow streets. It has a great variety of hotels, residencias and restaurants for any
                                wallet. Her you will also find the biggest concentration of tourists on the entire Azores. But still far as many as seen
                                on other places in Europe. On the other smaller islands, you will only find few tourists. Still.

                                Staying at a hotel in the center of Ponta Delgada, and are renting a car, you will have problems parking your car,
                                unless your hotel provide you with private parking. Parking is a huge problems in Ponta Delgada, mostly due to
                                the narrow streets. You have to pay for parking between 08.00 and 18.00.

                                Many restaurant's is closed on Saturdays or Sundays. That indicates that the restaurant's who do have open, can
                                be very crowded. So eat in weekends before 20.00. I can recommend a few restaurant's. In the centre of Ponta
                                Delgada it's "rest. O Museu" and "Rest. Bar Alianca". Table reservation on these restaurant's is a must at least
                                the day before. It's not necessary for lunch. Also in the centre of Ponta Delgada is "rest. O Curisco". In the eastern
                                part of the town it's "Rest. Acores Marisqueira". These restaurant's is some expensive compared to other restau-
                                rants. But the quality is also very high. But you can still get a 2 meal dinner for less than 10 €. Some restaurant'
                                serve "dinner of the day" such as Coke, soup, main dish and coffee for as less as 5 €.

Don't miss the fountain at the end of the road " Rua Joao III". It's spectacular. There is a nice public pool near the
marina. On a raining day you should visit the Carlos Machado Museum or "Parque Atlântico"..

                                If you don't want to stay in big hotels, but instead prefer to stay in a smaller and "cozy" place, I can recommend
                                “Casa Vitoriana”. It’s located in the central of Ponta Delgada, and it’s nice, clean and calm. “Casa Vitoriana” is a rare
                                example of an older well preserved Victorian house with 3 flats; all furnished in original Victorian style, but fully moderni-
                              zed to the standard you can expect today, including shared laundry room.

                                All flats have private kitchen and bathroom, cable TV and option for wireless Internet access. In the peacefully shared
                                garden there are many flowers, and several exiting tropical fruit trees. In the back of the garden there is a small separate
                              house for rent, equipped like the flats.

7 km. north of Ponta Delgada is situated a very nice 27 holes golf course.

Vila Franco do Campo:

                                A larger charming town, from where you can take the boat to the island "Ilheu de Vila Franca". A very small and
                                exiting island, which volcanic origin has shaped in a spectacular way, and where there is a "natural pool". See
                                the pictures below.

In Vila Franco do Campo you will also find "Atlantico Splash". A very nice place for kids with several pools, and
waterslides. See the pictures below.

Furnas:

                               In Furnas you will find several geysers. It is so hot just below the surface, that you can cook your meal in small
                               wells. If you visit the north part of the Furnas Lake around 11.30 a.m., you can see how the staff from local restau-
                               rants collect there huge casseroles, where they have been placed since around 04.00 a.m., and brings them back
                               to the restaurant. All ingredients are placed in the same casserole. (Beef, pork, chicken, veal and all varieties of
                               vegetables.) Along with the earth heat it brings a very nice and exiting taste to the dish.

There is a very nice 18 holes golf course nearby. In the Furnas valley close to Furnas town there is a nice and modern
campsite.

Ponta Delgada