26.05.2024

It's Sunday again and today the sun is really shining. We drove to the other end of the island in the little blue car. Our circuit started there, in Manhenha, a small sleepy fishing village. The tour is called "Ponta da llha", after the easternmost tip of the island of the same name. First we walked comfortably on lava gravel paths past houses, many of which are abandoned or empty as they are only holiday homes. Small vineyards surrounded by lava walls are omnipresent, but potatoes, corn and cabbage are also grown. Then we went along the coast over lava fields, sometimes broken, with cracks or loose rock. We had the right shoes and we don't get dizzy! That was a real challenge! Lichen and moss keep growing out of the cracks in the lava rock. It's also an El Dorado for lizards. After about 5 hours and 12 km we were back. Just before our car, the village bar was actually open, with a large selection of hard liquor, but cold drinks, ice cream and Mars were enough for us. We thought of the advertising slogan and mobility worked, and not just for our car! Back through the middle of the island, past fenced-in and free-roaming cattle. Finally, we caught the few cloud-free minutes to get the full size of the Pico on the picture.

The last picture is our evening view of the island of Faial from which we came by ferry.