Angra do Heroisma

We enjoyed our stay in Terceira. Josie was able to catch up with her friend Shelly and we made new friends.  Angra do Heroisma is a historical town as it formed an important link in new discoveries and as an important stop on the trade routes historically.  There are many walks, small chapels and a large park as well as a a beach.  Enjoy the slideshow of some of the many beautiful sights.    Some of the photos were taken from a Sunday afternoon walk, including those of the fort.  You can see that parts of the old fort have been modernized and it is still in use today.

Steet bullfight

Michael and I walked to the grocery store one afternoon in Angra to find it closed and stalls set up in the parking lot and on the road.  Upon asking what was going on we searned that a bull fight was going to take place in the street in a couple of hours.  We decided to hang around.  These street bullfights are more like bull teasings than fights, although sometimes people do get hurt.  The bulls are not killed.

In addition to the stalls, there were also street vendors selling snacks and beverages.

















The blankets hanging from the windows are a carryover from the days when the girls would stand on balconies to watch the bull fights.  The blankets would be hung on the railings to keep the guys from being able to see up their skirts.  The guys would flirt with the girls and tease the bulls to show how macho they were.

We met a couple, Morris and Alda there with their granddaughter.  Alda is originally from Terciera and met Morris while he was stationed there.  They married and are currently living in Florida.  It was a pleasure meeting them and sitting on the wall with them.  They were able to explain to us a lot of what was going on.



The bull is kept on a rope kind of like a long leash.  About halfway down the line 4 rope handlers hold onto the line and again at the end of the line are four more.  It is the responsiblility of the rope handlers to keep the bull within the white lines that mark the ends of the street where the bull is allowed to go.  If you leave your car parked inside the white lines or you yourself are injured, you are responsible for all damages.  If the bull goes outside the white line, the farm is responsible for all damage.
 Sometimes when the bull gets teased and starts running back up the street the rope handlers at the center of the rope will drop the line and get out of the way and then grab the line again after the bull runs by.

Arrived in Portugal

I know it has been a while, but I have not had easy access to wifi since leaving the Azores.

We overnighted from Sao Jorge to Terciera where we spent a fer days before continuing our Atlantic crossing to Portugal. More on Terciera as I am able.

We were aiming for Lisbon and were trying to make as much north as possible to be prepared for the south current as we neared Portugal. The first day was beautiful sailing; close hauled with winds about 12 knots, we were able to make northeast. Over the next few days the wind gradually clocked around more and more east of north pushing us farther and farther south until we were more likely to make Africa than Portugal. We finally ended up motoring due north for about 7 hours while the wind was down. Then the wind came up strong gradually increasing to 25-30 and we were sailing with a rail in the water most of the time even with the mizzen put away and a double reef in the main. At least the wind was more north maybe even a little west of north and we were making a good course for Lisbon, sometimes maybe a little south of Lisbon, but still Portugal. The seas were big and we were constantly getting doused. the water also managed to find its way into the cabin in a few spots making for wet bedding.

Finally the winds and seas began to die down and we neared the coast. Unfortunately the wind died down to nothing and as we neared the coast we could not see it for the thick fog. Fortunately we have radar and were able to see on the radar screen the ships we could not see with our eyes. (Josie is blowing the fog horn in the picture)

By the time we entered the channel the fog was thin enough that we had about two miles visibility and improved as we continued to make our way to port. We stayed in Oeiras just outside Lisbon for the next few days. Unfortunately there was no free wifi there for me to update the blog. (It's not in our budget to pay the 20 euros per day that was charged there.

We left Oeiras on Wednesday, August 3 and anchored off Portimao yesterday. we will continue on today. I will update blaog when we are in an area where I am able to do so, but wanted to let everyone know we are safe and in Europe.