Azores becoming hit destination spot

The Azores is fast becoming a popular destination spot. Jayme Henriques Simões joined The Rhode Show to talk more about this unique vacation experience.

Q: What are the connections between the Azores and SE New England?
The ties that bind the Azores to New England go back 300 years, when many English ships carrying what would become American colonists to the New World stopped in the Azores to rest and replenish supplies. Azoreans were among the first to fish the waters of North America. Many Portuguese historians believe that sailors from the Azores sighted North America years before Columbus.

Sailors stopped in the Azores for centuries to load up on oranges, which was the only way to ward off scurvy on board. Every major whaling expedition sailing from New England -- from ports such as Nantucket Island, New Bedford and Edgartown -- sailed to the Azores for supplies, dories and sailors before starting their voyage. In fact, it was New Englanders who taught the Azoreans the value of whaling. The Azoreans became so good at landing whales that American sea captains came to the Azores just to get crews. This built the foundation of a strong commercial bond between the sailing ships of New England and the Azores.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Azores became the main port of call for trans-Atlantic clippers, leading Boston merchants to feel at home in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel. An 18th century American consul, Thomas Hickling, built a fine mansion on that Ponta Delgada’s main avenue. Today it’s a hospitality school and hotel called Hotel São Pedro, offering fine food and lodging with a New England flair. Hickling’s original estate is in the resort town of Furnas, where he built a lush botanical garden using the heated waters of nearby geysers. The garden, adjacent to the art deco Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, is open to the public. In 1944, an American airbase was set up on Santa Maria and was later transferred to the NATO airbase at Lajes on Terceira.

As the whaling industry declined following the introduction of crude oil in the 1870s, many Azoreans began to immigrate to New England. They brought their strong work ethic to the mills in southeastern New England and the fishing industries around New Bedford and Gloucester, Massachusetts. But they also made a significant cultural impact on New England. Popular summer feasts and festivals in Portuguese communities in New England all trace their roots to the traditional Holy Ghost festivals of the Azores.

Foods that are commonplace in New England kitchens are also uniquely Azorean – Portuguese sweet bread, Portuguese muffins, red pepper paste and linguiça sausage all hail from the islands. Even the way New Englanders often pronounce Portuguese foods – “churrice” for chouriço sausage – shows an Azorean influence. By 1998, immigration from the Azores to New England had ended, but today there are twice as many people of Azorean decent living outside of the Azores than on the islands or mainland Portugal.
Q: What is there to do on the Azores?
The Azores are becoming a popular destination for active travelers, with opportunities to experience big game fishing, hiking, whale-watching, bullfighting and world-class golf. The next big surfing destination?

Catch your dinner with saltwater fly-fishing
The waters surrounding the Azores boast a veritable feast of fish and shark. Fish include the Atlantic Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Yellowfin, Big Eye Tuna, Swordfish, Blue Fish, Wahoo and Dorado, while shark species include Hammerheads, Six Gill and Mako. But the Blue Marlin hold a special place of honor--6 out of 10 fishing competition world records were set in the Azores, with the fishers in question catching impressively-sized Blue Marlin. The largest ever caught was 1,189 pounds! White Marlin are also abundant, averaging 65 pounds.

Over the years, saltwater fly-fishing has been gaining in popularity in the Azores as it continues to catch on worldwide. The combination of mellow weather conditions in the summer and an abundant supply of good-sized White Marlin make the Azorean waters make for an ideal fly-fishing experience.

Hike up, under, around and through ancient volcanoes
On the island of Faial, the remains of a lighthouse mark the site of a massive volcanic eruption that took place in 1957, gutting the lighthouse, burying a small village and adding more than one mile of new shoreline to the island over the course of a year. Today the area is a nature park, with a hiking trail to the rim of the dormant volcano.

Meanwhile, the island of Pico (which means “peak” in English) is the highest point in Portugal at 7,700 feet and also sits atop volcanic terrain. The peak can be seen from surrounding islands on clear days, with its lava cone rising above the massive volcano. The climb up to the summit takes about 3 hours, and the views are well worth the effort. It is, by the way, taller than Mt. Washington.

Lava caves run for miles under the islands of Pico, Terceira, Graciosa and São Miguel. These tube-like caves were created by the cooling lava of past eruptions, but today they provide great adventure for a spelunker.

Plus, geysers spout in nature parks on several of the islands. At the shore of Furnas Lake on the island of São Miguel, steam hisses out of a dozen geysers, offering a natural “oven” to cook food inside the caldeiras.

Three can’t-miss hikes:
1. Povoacão to Nordeste, São Miguel Island - This 11-mile hike passes through forests and small villages, with breathtaking views of the flower-covered hills. And if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the, Priôlo (Pyrrhula murina) - only indigenous to São Miguel.

2. Pico Mountain, Pico Island - A hike up Pico Mountain, nearly a mile above the Atlantic Ocean, provides a great way to see the other islands that make up the Azores. Hikers will see craters and flower-covered slopes along their trek, which is strenuous, but not a technically difficult climb. Hikers must be accompanied by a registered mountain guide.

3. West Coast Walk, Flores Island - This 10-mile coastline hike can be done in one day for the super adventurous, or spread out over two days for the more leisurely trekker. Steep ascents and descents take you from cobbled paths to grass, to dirt pathways that cover the rolling coastline of Flores. A river crossing and boulder hopping make this hike an all-terrain adventure!

Take a bike tour through the islands
Whether you channel Lance Armstrong or just like to tool around on a beach cruiser, bicyclists of all kinds can find a route or a tour to suit their tastes. You can choose from backcountry roads, a mountain path or a seaside route… or all three in one trip! Mountain bikers might try some dirt back roads to get into hidden valleys, garden landscapes and tiny towns. A dirt road traces the rim of a caldeira to the “Vista do Rei” (King’s View), overlooking the blue and green crater lakes of Sete Cidades (Seven Cities).

Easy Rider Tours of Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers guided, week-long cycling and walking tours of São Miguel Island as a new and inventive way to experience the Azores. Tours offer cycling enthusiasts the chance to climb Pico de Vara, the highest point on the island at 3,640 feet. Other routes explore the rugged interior, passing through forests of Japanese cedars, big-leaf hydrangea and wild ginger. On the sunny slopes of the north coast, cyclists can tour Europe’s only tea plantation, dating from 1883.

Whale watching like Jacques Cousteau… only faster…MUCH faster!
The Azores were named one of the top 10 whale-watching sites in the world. But whale watching in the Azores doesn’t involve sitting on a dock with a pair of binoculars. Instead, you’ll hop aboard a small, semi-inflatable motorboat that will zip you through the seas in search of Willy and Moby. It's not for the faint of heart… there’s definitely a thrill to this chase! While an experienced guide pilots the boat on water, on-shore spotters, situated high up on the seaside cliffs, keep an eye out for whales while directing him on where to go. The good news is, sightings are almost guaranteed considering species in these waters include sperm whales, northern bottlenose, finned, humpback, pilot, Sowerby’s beaked whales and, occasionally, orcas. One of the best times to see any of them is in the spring, when they tend to congregate in the Azores.

Play tag with a bull
Bullfighting in Portugal is as dramatic as it is elegant. Considered more a festival of horsemanship than a sporting conquest, the bulls in these fights aren’t killed like they are elsewhere. Instead, the bullfighter, or cavaleiro, stays on his horse and targets the bull with a harmless dart. The rider encourages the bull to charge, the horse charges in return, and – yielding to the rider’s skill – the horse then veers at just the right moment for the rider to place his dart into the bull's back muscle.

While bullfights occur in the ring during equestrian festivals, there might also be some action out on the streets. On the island of Terceira, the locals engage in the odd sport of tethered bullfighting. While six or so men hold onto the bull with a long rope, the "bullfighter" taunts and teases the animal. The bull's horns are capped for this activity. This happen may times each weekend from April to November.

Prepare for Q school (or just enjoy 18 holes)
Amid all the other awe-inspiring activities the Azores offer, the islands are also home to three golf courses that draw players from around the world. Here, golfing is a year-round activity with mild temperatures and spectacular landscapes at all the courses. The ocean is always in view and, while strolling the greens, players experience the exotic and diverse range of flora and fauna for which the Azores are known. Plus, the courses are designed by some of the best golf course architects in the business.

One local favorite is found on the main island of São Miguel just outside the town of Furnas. Operated by AzoresGolf, this nine-hole course was built in 1939 and designed by architects MacKenzie Ross. Another nine holes were designed by the architects Cameron & Powell. The par 72 course takes advantage of the vistas at 1,700 feet above sea level and has the added attraction of the occasional cloud passing through – not over! – the fairways.

The newer Batalha course on São Miguel, also by Cameron & Powell, takes advantage of the island’s natural features. Guidebook writer David Sayers described as, “one the world’s most intimate and exquisitely beautiful courses, given its mountain setting with sheltering forests and numerous elegant tree ferns.” Though it operated as an eighteen-hole course for 10 years, another nine holes were added to the Batalha course a few years ago, bringing its total to 27. The first nine offer sweeping ocean panoramic views, while the remainder plays through exotic woodlands with volcanic mountain views. The Batalha course is just a few miles outside of the main city of Ponta Delgada.

What lives on land, in the air and under the sea?

One of the fascinating wonders of the Azores Islands comes in the form of the bio-diversity of its trees and plants, most of which were imported from around the world. Despite their proximity, each island has its own look, feel and climate. The fauna can vary dramatically from island to island.

For the most part, the Azores began as lava rock until the winds brought grasses and bits of organic debris. By the time humans arrived, plants and evergreen forests had sprouted throughout the islands. Wandering sailors then brought their own new plantings, such as the cryptomeria conifer (Japanese cedar) from Japan. Of the more than 800 species of plants now living on the islands, only 300 of them are native to the region. Cedar trees, heather, ling, mountain grapes, white wood, ginger, dogwood and the tamujo bush are a few of the local species, while the newcomers include the acacia tree, flowering hydrangea and azaleas, camellia, incense and other ornamental plants.

But the wildlife on the Azores is equally as stunning and impressive. Birds are abundant throughout the islands, with more than 150 species to add to one’s “life list.” Birders can listen for the night calls of the cagarro or watch for one of the 35 species which breed here, including seagulls, plovers, terns, chaffinches, sparrows, bullfinches, buzzards, goshawks and doves. And, for life list birder, there is better news yet, The native priolo, the hawk, blackbird, wood pigeon and red garajau are also common.

Even more impressive is the Azorean dedication to keeping the islands naturally pristine. In 1995, the European Union recognized the people of Portugal and the Azores Islands for their commitment to the environment, as evidenced in the numerous nature reserves and protected parks and forests. The National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations has named the Azores islands as the world’s second most appealing islands destination in it fourth annual Destination Scorecard survey. A panel of 522 experts aided by George Washington University reviewed conditions on 111 islands and archipelagos. The Azores were outscored only by Faroe islands, and received the title of “Authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain so."

The ties that bind the Azores to New England go back 300 years, when many English ships carrying what would become American colonists to the New World stopped in the Azores to rest and replenish supplies. Azoreans were among the first to fish the waters of North America. Many Portuguese historians believe that sailors from the Azores sighted North America years before Columbus.

Sailors stopped in the Azores for centuries to load up on oranges, which was the only way to ward off scurvy on board. Every major whaling expedition sailing from New England -- from ports such as Nantucket Island, New Bedford and Edgartown -- sailed to the Azores for supplies, dories and sailors before starting their voyage. In fact, it was New Englanders who taught the Azoreans the value of whaling. The Azoreans became so good at landing whales that American sea captains came to the Azores just to get crews. This built the foundation of a strong commercial bond between the sailing ships of New England and the Azores.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Azores became the main port of call for trans-Atlantic clippers, leading Boston merchants to feel at home in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel. An 18th century American consul, Thomas Hickling, built a fine mansion on that Ponta Delgada’s main avenue. Today it’s a hospitality school and hotel called Hotel São Pedro, offering fine food and lodging with a New England flair. Hickling’s original estate is in the resort town of Furnas, where he built a lush botanical garden using the heated waters of nearby geysers. The garden, adjacent to the art deco Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, is open to the public. In 1944, an American airbase was set up on Santa Maria and was later transferred to the NATO airbase at Lajes on Terceira.

As the whaling industry declined following the introduction of crude oil in the 1870s, many Azoreans began to immigrate to New England. They brought their strong work ethic to the mills in southeastern New England and the fishing industries around New Bedford and Gloucester, Massachusetts. But they also made a significant cultural impact on New England. Popular summer feasts and festivals in Portuguese communities in New England all trace their roots to the traditional Holy Ghost festivals of the Azores.

Foods that are commonplace in New England kitchens are also uniquely Azorean – Portuguese sweet bread, Portuguese muffins, red pepper paste and linguiça sausage all hail from the islands. Even the way New Englanders often pronounce Portuguese foods – “churrice” for chouriço sausage – shows an Azorean influence. By 1998, immigration from the Azores to New England had ended, but today there are twice as many people of Azorean decent living outside of the Azores than on the islands or mainland Portugal.
Q: How afar away are the Azores, are there any good deals, how do you get there?

Traveling from Boston to Europe just got easier and more affordable with Azore Express/SATA’s newly announced fall and winter packages.

The Azores are the closest and one of the more affordable destinations in Europe, a short four hour flight from Boston’s Logan Airport. Azores Express/SATA hotel and air packages give travelers the opportunity to explore five different islands while staying at one of 24 hotels.

There are four hotels offered on the island of Terceira, two on the island of Faial, one on the island of Santa Maria, one on the island of Pico, and 16 on the island of Sao Miguel.

All packages depart from Boston and include roundtrip, non-stop air, six nights lodging and daily breakfast. Flights depart and return on Tuesday and Fridays and passengers can upgrade from coach to SATA Plus Business-Class for just a few hundred dollars each way. Kids under six stay free, and pay only a child’s airfare.

The Azores Express/SATA packages cost $709 to $1,429 per person, before tax and are available from Sept. 16, 2009 through June 15, 2010. Availability depends on your choice of hotel, the islands you wish to visit and travel dates. To book travel, call 800-762-9995 or visit www.sata.pt for more details.

Q:Are there any new hotels or new options available for people who want to explore the Azores?

Pico
The newest island added to the Azores Express/SATA packages is the island of Pico. Meaning "peak" in Portuguese, Pico is characterized by the steep volcanic mountain that often rises above the cloud cover. Visitors can climb to 7,700 foot summit, the highest point in Portugal, or stay closer to sea-level and enjoy Pico’s signature wine known for carrying just a hint of lava.

Along the southwestern coast, the verdant landscape is criss-crossed with two-foot walls that shield the vineyards from the elements. Visitors also enjoy strolling through the charming seaside towns that lie nestled between black rocks and the sea.

For those looking for a quaint stay on the island, chose the inn at Aldeia da Fonte. Built from basalt rock to look like a typical Pico village, the inn has five rustic buildings perched above the sea. It offers 32 charming rooms, each with restored antiques. The Aldeia da Fonte package also includes a seven-day car rental.

São Miguel
São Miguel, with its lakes, geysers, and seaside villages is the main island in the Azores and where all flights from Boston land in the fall, winter and spring. With easy access to the airport and major roads, Ponta Delgada is a great location from which to make day trips to the Sao Miguel's rugged coastline, venture to volcanic crater lakes on the island or visit the steaming thermal lakes in the island’s interior.

Visitors to Sao Miguel have their choice of three new hotels and two inns, including the stunningly modern Hotel Lince Azores and the historic downtown Hotel Camoes in Ponta Delgada. Also new is the seaside beach hotel Caloura Resort, the hillside Senhora da Rose Inn near Ponta Delgada and the quaint Quinta da Santana on the North Coast.

Terceira
Terceira’s lively and historic main city, Angra do Heroísmo, has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and has ample cultural offerings. Visitors will enjoy the historic and recently renovated Angra Garden Hotels, which is new to the Azores packages.

Other Islands
Two of the other islands offered include Faial, famed for its harbors that are often filled with yachts from around the world, and sunny Santa Maria, known for having some of the best beaches in the Azores.