THE AZORES …“ HAPPY COWS ”

So we have been at sea for the last three days traveling 1300 miles from Southhampton England to the Azores … Docking in Ponta Delgada. This stop on Day 190 has special meaning since it is the last stop of the final segment of our cruise.

Neither of us know much about the Azores …. so we are heading their “ bright eyed and busy tailed ” ( As we use to say in Girl Scouts …. Not sure what “ bushy tailed ” means … but I am not going there ) … just looking forward to what we might discover.

The Azores … pronounced and spelt “ Acors” in Portuguese … is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia Region … another new word on me ( A group of “ archipelagos ” located in the northeastern Atlantic … Azores, Madeira, Sevagens, Canaries and Cabo Verde.)

The Azores is 870 miles west of Lisbon. Ponta Delgada is the capital city … located on Sao Miguel Island. It is home to the main airport of the archipelago … serving as the gateway to the other eight islands.

Ponta Delgada is like a mini Lisbon. Cobbled stone narrow streets lined with colorful houses, traditional-style churches with unique tile patterns on the pavement and city squares …. “ a little gem ” like Portugal.

The city is a mix of old and new with a charming Old Town …cute boutiques … a few a bit smelly from the age of the building, sidewalk cafes, restaurants, beautiful green spaces and a lively waterfront area. What more could you ask for ??

The Azores is an “ automous region” of Portugal … having established its independence in 1976. The new flag … introduced at that time … represents their “ new found ” autonomy. The Portugese “ crown ” moved from the center of the flag to the left corner visually and literally creating some distance. The nine stars represent the nine islands … the bird … the Golden Goshawk … chosen because of the meaning of the Portugese word “ Acor. ” ( meaning Azores ) But truth be told there are no goshawks on this island … they confused it with a common buzzard … but they stuck with the emblem … I suppose is was better then having a buzzard on your flag. ( Go Figure🤷🏼‍♀️ )

Today the Azores is a population of around 250,000 with almost as many cows. The Azorean economy is driven by Agriculture and Fishing with growing numbers in Tourism. The region is ideal for farming … known for high quality dairy products due to its’ mild Climate and Fertile Land. Grass-fed cows graze the island … guided by the “ St Miguel Cattle Herding Dogs ” … a breed of Mastiff indigenous to the island.

The Azores have ALOT of cows … last count … 125K …. 1/2 the population of the country … producing 50% of Portugals Dairy production. The islands are known for “ healthier cows ” because of access to natural pastures for grazing. The cows tend to be heavier … rarely needing supplements … and machines are brought “ to the cow ” for milking … rather than the cows going to the machines … making for healthier animals.

Clearly proud of their distinctive status for grass fed cows they introduced a “ Happy Cow ” program … a strict set of requirements farmers have to meet … ensuring the cows happiness and wellbeing.

The higher quality milk produced makes a butter that is a brighter yellow … coming from the beta carotene in the grass.

They produce many cheeses … best known for “ Sao Jorge ” cheese named for Sao Jorge Island. An island in the middle of the archipelago. It is a tangy, semi hard, flavorful cheese … with 1800 tons produced annually … employing about 70% of the Islands population.

So along with milk and its bi-products, butter and cheese … there are numerous cow souvenirs … at least one in every shop. Big Cows, Little Cows …. Everywhere a “ Cow Cow ” … “ Old McDonald had a Farm ” … just reminded me of the song.

Besides cow merchandise, many local shops sell the traditional Portuguese mementos … ceramic dishes, tiles, wines and of course sardines. The shop keepers are welcoming, friendly and many … at least in the city … speak English. Their standard of living is modest but seems to be manageable and locals seem content. Why not? When you have those beautiful surroundings?

The other Azore Islands are less developed and suppose to be equally spectacular in a natural way … in particular the island furthest west … “Flores” … considered the most beautiful for nature enthusiasts … known for its spectacular scenery.

So having a quick look at the Azores and its’ breathtaking scenery I can see why they would have “ HAPPY COWS.” What cow wouldn’t be happy if this was their home and their view. Some say the Azores is … “The Hawaii of Europe ” Looks to me like a place definitely worth further exploring.

A great stop to wrap up this Amazing Adventure …. Sad for it to End but ready for a New Chapter. The next 5 days we travel the Atlantic 2500 miles … home to the Port of New York … bringing an end to this amazing Journey.

HOPING FOR ONE MORE POST SUMMARIZING OUR LIFE ON SHIP EXPLORING THE WORLD