A Birthday Trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden

I went to Atlanta to see the Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, for my birthday, but an unexpected bonus was the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  The flowers were stunning, and the holiday decorations were pretty impressive, too!



 

Azores Part Four: the Rest of Terceira

So you've read about the garden outside our hotel, the town of Angra do Heroismo, and the fantastic Angra museum ... now it's time to learn about the rest of this amazingly beautiful island!

Just outside of Angra is the beautiful Monte Brazil, the remnants of a tuff volcano overlooking the city.  Visitors can drive to the top or walk from town, which is what we did.  On rainy days, you might even catch a stunning rainbow over Angra!

Monte Brazil offers hikers magnificent views of not only the island, but the bays leading out to the Atlantic Ocean!

Even hiking in the rain is fun on Monte Brazil!

But to go farther afield, a car is necessary. There are plenty of taxis available to drive you around the island for a reasonable price, but rental cars are also available in town and at the airport. Whichever way you choose to explore the island, you won't regret it!

One of the recommended activities is to visit Praia da Vitoria. We were told, the view is amazing - you can see fields. We were not all that excited about it, but we went because it was highly recommended and, frankly, we didn't know what all else there was to see on the island. The short version of this story is that after driving for what seemed like forever, we all agreed: the view is amazing!

The fields, which are divided by rock walls, lead all the way to the sea. It's hard to believe how amazingly beautiful something so simple can be. Why are these fields here? Cows!

Terceira is said to have two cows per person, and it's not hard to believe. Everywhere on the island are these rock walls dividing fields of cows. The farmers move the cows from field to field throughout the year.

Another surprise on the island were the hydrangeas. There were abundant and extremely beautiful!

And the lakes in the middle of the island were quite lovely, as well.

But the real draw is the sea. The beautiful, magnificent Atlantic Ocean, crashing all around.

Terceira is a fantastic place. If I ever get the chance to return, I'll go in a heartbeat.

5 Days, 2 Adults, 1 Carry-on: is it possible?

One carry-on:




K's stuff:
Four pairs shoes, four shirts, three dresses, one skirt, one pair of pants, one vest, one scarf, plus personal items.




D's stuff:
Three pants, three shorts, three dress shirts, three ties, four t-shirts, plus personal items.




Halfway done (with my helper, Pepper):




And ... TADA!

Azores Part Three: the Museu de Angra do Heroismo

One of the big surprises of Angra was the fantastic museum, Museu de Angra do Heroismo, which is housed in the former Convent of St. Francis and overlooks the city garden.

The museum tour started with the "Stones of Humankind: an exhibition of carved stones." This special exhibit included all kinds of carved stones, including the one we called "Marvin the Martian," a calendar of sorts, and the tombstone of a British sailor who died in the Azores.

The museum explores the history of the Azores and of this island, Terceira. I especially loved the maps and navigation tools on display!

 

 

But the museum includes all of the history: farming, military, music, religion, royalty.

 

 

 

 

 

But the highlight of the museum is the church inside! This magnificent church of Portugese-Manueline style was begun in 1665 by Franciscan monks, replacing the original shrine that was built on the site in 1521. The interior is lavishly decorated in Baroque style (with Corinthian influences). The floors house many tombstones, some of which are intricately carved, while the chapel to the right of the altar holds numerous relics.

 

 

 

 

From the main part of the church, a choir loft is visible, but it is not accessible except through the museum. After learning so much history of the Azores, stepping in the choir loft is a welcome reprieve. The view from the top is incredible, and the blue tiles surrounding you create a peaceful and beautiful feeling.

 

 

 

After completing the tour of the museum, the terrace offers a lovely view of the Angra city garden, which just begs you to wander its paths.

 

 

I was not expecting much when I first learned of this museum, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much information it contained, how well curated it was, and how many of the signs were in English to be easily read by tourists. I definitely recommend a visit to this museum.

 

Next up ... Azores Part Four: the Rest of Terceira!

(To see Parts One and Two, click on the number.) 

Azores Part Two: Around Angra do Heroismo

So you've read about the amazing garden in Angra do Heroismo ... but what else is there of interest around town?

Angra is on the coast, like most of the populated areas of the island of Terceira, and our daily habit included walking past the statue of Vasco da Gama to see the harbor and the nearby water.

On our first day walking along the water, we turned back and saw this bright blue building, the Igreja da Misericordia (Church of Mercy).  The site was the location of the island's first hospital, established in 1492.  This church was built in the 18th century, and approximately 100 years later, the hospital was moved to a nearby convent.

We climbed the steep stairs to the balcony, where we saw this interesting building next door.  According to the interesting lady who greeted us inside the church, the building is completely empty: only the outside is kept up because it is in the historic district.

Another church in Angra is the Ingreja do Santissimo Salvador da Se (Church of the Holy Savior of the Cathedral), which was begun in 1570.  Outside is a statue of Pope John Paul II, commemorating his May 1991 visit to the island.

The church is best known for its 16th century paintings depicting the life of Christ and the exquisite silver antependium made by metalworkers from Terceira, but I liked it best for the chevron steeples!

Most of the Catholic churches on the island have nearby Imperios, or shadow churches, devoted to the Holy Spirit. They are brightly colored, topped with an imperial crown, and feature an altar inside. Each Imperio is opened once a year for a celebration.  This one is right in the town of Angra (but I was unsure which church it was related to).

Unlike the bold exteriors of many of the churches and Imperios, the Convent de Sao Goncalo is not impressive upon approach.  Getting inside is something of a challenge, as guests have to be buzzed into an entry room where they wait for a tour guide.  

   

The nun who served as my tour guide spoke no English, and I spoke no Portugese, but somehow we communicated well enough.

I was the only person on my tour.  The nun brought me through locked doors to the chapel, where she had to turn the lights on.  But WOW!  I walked in and literally gasped in awe: it was truly that impressive.  Although no photos were allowed inside, you may find one picture and a lot more information here.

In the center of town, the center of the UNESCO World Heritage site and across the street from our hotel, was the town square, where we rang in 2017. And on that square is the Town Hall, which houses the Supreme Court of the Azores.

 

 

Every day, we explored a little more of the town. One day near the end of our trip, we walked to the opposite end of town, where we found (more!) bakeries - there were several delicious ones near our hotel! - and yet another stunning view.

 

 

In addition to the fantastic views, the Supreme Court of the Azores, the churches, the Imperios, the public garden, and so much else, Angra houses a great museum featuring the history of the Azores. Tune in to Part Three to learn more about the museum!