Ponta Delgada

We arrived in Ponta Delgada on Delta which operates a daily flight from JFK.  Our flight arrived in the morning so after reaching our accommodation we decided to take a short nap before our scheduled tour which was in the afternoon.  Our tour guide, Leandro picked us up around 2:00pm and we set off. Our first stop was the pineapple plantation which was pretty cool.  They showed us the various stages of growing pineapple and we got to sample pineapple liqueur which is pretty strong!
 
Next, we drove to see the massive volcanic crater of Sete Cidades. We were in awe of the sweeping landscapes surrounding the blue and green Empadadas and Canario lakes.  These lakes are the result of volcanic eruptions occurring long ago. The last eruption occurred at approx. 500 years A.D.  Besides the two lakes, there is a village in the crater, as well as forested areas and grasslands.
 
The views were simply amazing! You will notice hydrangeas in the pictures.  They are everywhere!  We learned that they are not native to the island, however.  They were brought here and just took to the soil and grew like crazy.

That evening we walked into town to explore the town of Ponta Delgada. It is quaint and charming.  A travel tip is that you must have reservations for the restaurants so plan ahead.  Also, they do not always answer the phone so email in advance if possible.  The restaurants are excellent though.  The specialties I most enjoyed are octopus and fresh caught fish.  

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