Today was the day then, the “about water”-Exploration to start. Hochmotiviert kümmerten wir uns erst einmal um ein Auto und waren am frühen Nachmittag wie geplant mobil 🙂 Bus fahren ist auf Santa Maria wohl möglich, aber doch eher schwierig 🙂 Da das Wetter heute noch nicht so prickelnd war, extra so we rented the car, that we could do something tomorrow morning even :-). Sicherheitshalber 🙂

The island of Santa Maria is a really beautiful and informative travel guide. Many points of interest are shown there clean numbered with photos and described in detail. The only drawback: You can find anywhere, wo sich die Orte auf der Insel verstecken 🙁

However, since the roads on the island are only very sparsely signposted, We were not always there anyway, wo wir eigentlich hin wollten 🙂

By chance we stumbled on our Holy Seniora of Fatima Chapel. Were actually in search of the red sand desert, that somewhere in the North of the island hidden was. Big it might not be so comfortable. Let's see, ob wir die noch finden würden 🙂

Today, the weather had read clearly the weather and the rain clouds, in the afternoon the rain should bring, were there already. But it was still dry and warm, nur die Aussicht war etwas eingeschränkt 🙁 Schade, because the coast is really impressive with the rugged cliffs and the Caribbean turquoise water. Das kommt jetzt auf den Bilder nicht ganz so deutlich heraus 🙂

Is on Santa Maria, as well as on Pico, Wine grown on all slopes. The houses are painted here generally white and nearly all well maintained.

Our last destination on our tour was in the northeast of the island of São Lourenço. From a vantage point overlooking probably large parts of the East coast on sunny days.

When then the announced rain, We finished our trip and drove back to Vila do Porto Marina. In the evening we had with Steffen, arranged for his parents and the rest of the team of Wahoo diving for dinner. For this we wanted us in Maia in the restaurant “O Grota” meet. Actually only off 1. Opened July, The landlady for us but made an exception.

After our rain break on the boat we headed to half on the way. Unfortunately, it was still raining :-(. Aber wir wollten ja nur Essen und das an einem Tisch der hoffentlich im Haus steht 🙂 Der Weg über die kleine Insel zog sich kräftig in die Länge und nachdem wir länger hinter einer Herde Kühe festgesteckt hatten, We came across “UN-German” actually a bit too late. There, but all in the “Cow jam” have plugged, fiel es gar nicht weiter auf 🙂 – Inselleben eben 🙂

The evening was fun and the food excellent. There was an old family recipe in the pot with potatoes fish, Geschmorrt tomatoes and spices. Very tasty, aber ich persönlich bevorzuge bei dieser Zubereitungsweise eher Tintenfisch 🙂 Da muss man nicht so viele “Fish bones” im Heuhaufen suchen 🙂

The next morning, early, we made on the way towards Santo Espírito. There should be the best bakery on the island and we wanted to have breakfast there too. Although Santo Espírito consists only of a few farmhouses and a church, had we ask only in a bar after the bakery. But the searching was really worth. Wenig später saßen wir mit unseren Leckereien in Maia am Wasser in der Sonne und ließen es uns schmecken 🙂

In the back of the bakery were several looms, where hand-crafted fine blankets and towels are manufactured, just like in old times.

Maia is a beautiful village on the East Coast. Last night was not even noticed us from sheer rain. Bei Sonnenschein sah die Welt sowieso gleich ganz anders aus 🙂

At the end of the village, you can find a waterfall next to the obligatory picnic area. Despite the rain of the last few days, the water was not very economical, from the rock face good 110 Trickled meters in depth. The winter was a little too dry on Santa Maria. Trotzdem ein toller Ort 🙂

The vineyards of the village pull up accurate and clean the mountain slopes is. Create the walls must have been a very hard work for men :-(. But it looks really great.

The Lighthouse is located at the Southeast tip of the island “Ponta de Castelo” and the old and abandoned whaling station of Santa Maria. Gut dass diese Tiere generell nur noch mit der Kamera gejagt werden dürfen 🙂

If you have a cloud-free day in the Azores, should you go directly to the next mountain and enjoy the view. You never know, When the opportunity comes again. 🙂 Der höchste Berg auf Santa Maria ist der Pico Alto mit knapp 600 Meters.

Von der kleinen Aussichtsplattform kann man rundherum die Ganze Insel sehen 🙂

Before we had to return the rental car we bought some fresh things do Porto in Vila, and promptly fired him then at the airport.

Here are the towers for the air traffic control from the “Present and past” in lockstep next to each other. Why also tear down, es ist doch genug Platz da 🙂

The morning before we left was actually completely normal and peaceful. Nothing indicated, was für traurige Szenen sich später noch abspielen sollten 🙂 Während ich noch ein Abendessen für die Überfahrt vorbereitete, checked Dietmar in the Harbour Office from. Then we took even a walk down to the Marina area, where were some boats ashore. There he wanted to introduce his new love me: a blue Nautors Swan 55 Yawl. Good, that nothing got with our SUMMER of :-). I'm there patient…..

On the way back we stumbled over a soapbox, its finish line located directly on the Harbour. We let us not escape, because we were not in such a hurry. We wanted to not leave the port before noon, to be quite sure, To reach Santa Maria the next day not in the dark.

Then it was ready and it was “Leinen los”. There already neatly blew wind from the side, We talked through whatever briefly the berthing. The last line, that should be solved, was the stern line. She should prevent, that the wind pushes us on our neighbours. Also, I could solve this line of Board. Soweit der Plan 🙂

When I had the first lines on the bridge, two lines were left and I got the instructions from the captain: “Now the stern line” Ok????? I'm used to from it me long time ago, in solchen Situationen zu diskutieren 🙂 Dann halt die Heckleine zuerst. Immediately saw movement in the boat. Dietmar could keep the SUMMER against the wind in position and had to quickly back out of the box. Quickly, I solved the last (ineffective) Spring and looked after the buzzer. Weg waren die Beiden 🙁 Wollte er mich etwa hier lassen?

So I stood on the bridge and looked stupid out of laundry. After swimming was really no alternative, I found. After all, the SUMMER not quickly disappeared from the port, but Dietmar did his rounds from our former place of refuge. Dann wollte er mich wohl doch nicht hier lassen 🙂 Wenigstens etwas. Jetzt musste ich nur noch wieder zurück aufs Boot kommen 🙂

Maybe front at the reception bar??? Unfortunately fully occupied. And the wind was blowing right on the pier. So we threw away the plan, on one of the boats to go alongside. After an unsuccessful exercise we were going no further risk.

Perhaps with a small fishing boat, that drove up just in the port??? Unfortunately, the Fischer understood no English, and so I could not bring my concern him. War aber ein guter Versuch 🙂

In the meantime, we were also observed. Port cinema at its finest, but this time we as actor. The Norwegians, which are your boat at the reception stage had, kindly offered, Images to make and to make the Internet. As it is always: Who does the damage, braucht für den Spott nicht zu sorgen 🙂

Maybe on the harbour wall opposite??? I makes me go walking on the way to the other side of the Harbour, While Dietmar in the dock turned laps. Once there a leap in good one and a half meters deep appeared uninviting me, because it was only a place on the ferry free.

Front of the Yacht Club I had see arrive a dinghy. Maybe I could convince someone there, for me to play taxi? Arrived at the pier, I tried my luck with English, Unfortunately again in vain. But the second young man, then back came to boat, could understand me. First he wanted to help but not. He must now start the regatta of sail children out there. Apparently he had not quite grasped the situation because when it became clear to him, He would pass on the SUMMER anyway, He immediately relented. I was so by two nice, young men brought directly to the bathing platform – What kind of a service. Aber so viel Service möchte ich in der nächsten Zeit nicht wieder in Anspruch nehmen müssen 🙂

So we continued our way together with a half-hour delay to Santa Maria. Dietmar was visibly pleased, to have me back on board. Das wollte ich ihm auch geraten haben 🙂

The crossing with pleasant wind and a shaft from the rear went quickly and smoothly. In the morning at 9: 00, we reached the Marina at Vila do Porto Santa Maria. An hour later the SUMMER was already neatly desalted cleaned and a hearty breakfast was on the table.

Then we phoned with Steffen of the dive. Morgen würde es losgehen und die Bedingungen sahen wohl sehr vielversprechend aus 🙂 Da freuten wir uns schon.

More joy came on but, When we stumbled in the afternoon at the Jetty of a black and white Tomcat. As it turned out, He belonged to our French neighbors and heard (more or less) the name “Sikaflex”. A little later was told how he got the name. Sikaflex is a sealant, it sticks like the plague and is made in the colors black/white. His name was really program, as we found out in the next few days :-)In the afternoon he had paid us a short visit and as evening with us, the fish in the Pan bruzzelte, did he come “random” again over. Very charming and well-mannered he advantage until our hearts and then a considerable portion of fish is. Since he had chosen just the right. So we were happy all night long about that “Temporary cat” because he had already made himself easily's the whole night with us on board. Katzentiere sind gerade für uns schon etwas ganz Besonderes 🙂

The 23. June is the day of days in the San Joaninas Festival. The most beautiful and longest procession takes place in the evening and morning two there are sardines “for free” in the “Rua de São João” for all , that have endured until then.

In the morning we had before but something else. Because we've got so far still no whale to face, We wanted to help a bit to and drive around 8: 30 for the whale-watching. Während der Festwoche wurden für die Touren sogar spezielle Rabatte gegeben 🙂

A small fishing boat, it went out off the coast. Unfortunately, the Lake was out quite wavy and you could really see anything. However, we had some luck and saw two rare Risso dolphins. Our guide had us this way as “Michael Jackson Dolphin” explains: He is black in the world and is always white in the course of his life and he doesn't have a nose also. I will probably never forget that :-). Unfortunately, these dolphins are very shy and was not to have a photo. Darauf hätten wir vielleicht noch eine weitere Ähnlichkeit mit Michael Jackson gefunden 🙂

Whales are not swimming but again us on the way. We are but keep your eyes open. At some point it will already work.

For Wednesday, a good weather window for our journey arose after Santa Maria. Da Santa Maria is one of the smaller islands, We filled our fridge in Angra again. Dietmar saw an old man with vans on the port, the seemingly fish sold, He wanted to get us to even which. So he went and asked, If you could buy fish? “No” was the answer. He would sell no fish because money means nothing to him. He had 26 Worked years in Canada, is now retired and wants only health. And she could give him probably bad Dietmar. Then he put four beautiful fish in a plastic bag and gave it with a recommendation to Dietmar, as most would be to prepare. There was even the boss speechless :-). A things happen here on the Azores, die man sich nicht vorstellen kann 🙂 und das nur im positiven Sinne. So Dietmar thanked warmly, wish him health and trotted home with the fish.

Our refrigerator has been so jam-packed, that the first two fish directly in the Pan had to migrate.

After the delicious, fresh dinner we wandered one last time through the city. In this way we wanted even Ann of the SY RESTING GOOSE “Goodbye” say, the moment not on the boat, but on land he was. Unfortunately, we were too late and no one was more at home. It was time for us, a place on the parade route to seek. Today, the city was still full as the evenings before.

The groups, you are in the official San Joaninas moving with it, magnificent and elaborate costumes and are surprisingly large. During the whole parade was sung and danced. You could clearly see some, How exhausting the number is actually. Good, that the road is not quite as long, sonst hätte man am Ende bestimmt ein Sauerstoffzelt aufstellen müssen 🙂

Between the different groups are usually longer distances, get the music group doesn't get in the way. The later the evening was, the more Feierlustige was followed by music and dancing left out on the street.

We decided to, couldn't hold out until morning to two and to forego the free sardines. We bought us yet a delicious dessert at a bar: Curros with sugar and cinnamon. Danach stand uns Beiden jetzt mehr der Sinn 🙂

Und wieder war die Zeit auf einer Insel fast vorüber 🙁 Es hätte noch so viel zu entdecken gegeben, but called Santa Maria with the great dive sites, and the weather was perfect. So we listened to the last evening concert and let the others wild until the morning celebrate. Wir würden dann die nächste Nacht zum Tage machen 🙂 Allein auf der SUMMER mitten auf dem Atlantik.