Day 16: Santa Barbara Beach

July 20, 2020

Today is our last day on Sao Miguel, so we decide to spend the day relaxing at the Santa Barbara Eco Beach Resort.

In addition to packing our suitcases, we want to do some bodyboarding and swimming at the beach.

Unfortunately, the beach is experiencing the highest tide.

The waves are huge and there are only 2 lifeguards on the beach besides us.

Oh no - there is no way I'm going into the water here!

My husband bravely ventures into the waves, but ends up being more under the water than above it and eventually gives up.

We sit on the beach for a while and then decide to change and walk to the Tuka Tula Bar.

Before we go to the bar, we try to find out where we can store our 4 bodyboards. Although we can transport them for free on the plane, we no longer need the boards on Pico and if we don't get a huge combi as a rental car, they simply won't fit in the car anymore.

Originally, I booked a small, cheap hotel for our last night on Sao Miguel since we will only be staying there overnight before our flight home.

Shortly before departure, we found out that our booking was forwarded to another hotel, as the originally booked hotel apparently will not open due to Covid-19.

So, an upgrade to the 4**** Hotel Marina Atlantico - works for me! *grins*

Since the airport charges almost €5 per piece of luggage per day (for 4 boards for 4 days that would be €80, which is more than the boards cost), we inquire at the hotel if we can leave the boards there until we come back to Sao Miguel.

The lady on the phone is very nice and assures us that this is of course free of charge. Great! That's what I call service!

When we return to the beach, the red flag is flying.

Yes, it's wise. The surf is really rough!

We walk along the beach to the Tuka Tula Bar and admire the tidal pools created by the sea here.

The waves didn't actually come up that high during the time we were at the beach.

On the beach in front of the bar, there is strangely still no red flag, so a few undecided vacationers are standing in front of the high waves.

But no one dares to swim here.

Since the weather is so beautiful and we'd rather watch the waves, we sit down on some chairs in front of the bar and look out at the surf.

I have a latte macchiato as we notice a huge wave splashing up right in front of us, over the wooden walkway that makes it easier to walk in the sand, and shortly after that a huge piece of sand plateau is swept away. The sand just breaks off and reveals many black stones.

It must have turned the Praia do Lombo Gordo beach into a rocky beach!

Incredible! Compared to last week, there must be at least 10 meters of beach missing here!

Comparison today:

Comparison last week:

Hopefully the sea has left some sand behind, otherwise the beach will be quite narrow in that area.

After we return to the resort, we drive to Marion and Dieter's Quinta Velha again to say goodbye and also to meet my internet acquaintance and their family, who coincidentally are now staying at Quinta Velha.

The evening is incredibly fun. We sit together with Marion and Dieter and the other family until 11 pm and have a great time.

It's really sad that we're not staying on Sao Miguel for longer.

Back at the resort, we quickly pack the rest into our suitcases. Our flight is tomorrow at 8 am.

That means we have to wake up at 5:30 am, finish packing, pick up our breakfast (we get breakfast to go) and then go to the Hotel Marina Atlantico to drop off our 4 bodyboards and a suitcase of dirty laundry.

Ok, sounds like a plan.

The early bird catches the worm.....

Good night Sao Miguel!