19.05.2024

Whitsun Sunday, today a little different. For breakfast we go to the base facility 2.5 km away with beautiful old houses. A great selection awaits us, be it fruit or a creamy yoghurt. The farm garden is already blooming luxuriantly here. On the island, the hydrangeas are just starting to bloom. The weather does not stick to our plan, the first hike is slowed down by fog and rain at the starting point. At around 3.30 p.m. the sun came out again. The hiking gear is ready and we drive to Lajes das Floras in the south of the island, also a little

populated village. From there a little-used hiking trail leads to Faja de Lopo Vaz. We climb 300 meters in altitude, and on the way we receive a blessing from several statues of the Virgin Mary. The weather holds!! After about 2.5 hours we are back, not wet from the rain, but sweaty. Dark clouds are already gathering at the last crater lakes. You can tell from the traffic that it is Sunday, even though it is still off-season here. As a reward, the little bar around the corner from us is serving Whitsun beer and chicken skewers with the obligatory chips, again in brilliant sunshine! Hard earned!! The landlord is busy today, as it is also a meeting place for many locals. Many a farmer comes quickly in rubber boots, drinks his beer and gets back in the pickup to drive to the animals, as they don't know Sunday!