Green Wine

Northern Portugal and the Azores produce a special type of wine called “Green Wine”. Green wine varies in age, and alcohol content, but it tastes amazing! I am not a wine person (I personally prefer Scotch myself) so I don’t feel confident in giving a thorough wine evaluation.

When you think of wine country, you think of dry climates with lots of sun and warmth. The Azores are perpetually rainy and oscillate between cold and cool. In general, it is much too cold, wet, and windy for wine grapes to grow! The locals have found a way.

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The grape vines live in a shallow hole in a pile of black volcanic rocks surrounded by low walls. The dark stones heat up with the sun and keep the plant warm through the winter nights. The stones also help drain water away, keeping the plants dry, and the walls keep the plants protected from the powerful winds that rage through the land.

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The vines do not grow up, but instead sprawl on the rocks to keep them low on the ground.

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Welcome to an Azorean vinard! Low rocks, and ocean views!

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The vineyard is small, and only produces about 750 bottles per year. The bottles are only sold at a few local restaurants and I must say the wind is delicious!

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Next time you think of “wine country’ and picture Napa, just remember that it could also look like this!

Boat Living

Pirates Life = Boat Life

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When you tell someone you live on a boat, they always think you have a parrot on your shoulder and look like a pirate! Funny part is, I have a pet parrot that does live on my shoulder (but I have had her for 6 years before I moved aboard). Still have all my limbs and I don’t pillage with a sword ;)

It’s funny how people instantly assume this is what you must look like if you choose to live aboard. In reality, liveaboards are normal people who simply discovered how great it is to live on a boat instead of a house!

Solar Panel Upgrade

Our old stern panels were a whopping 50W each. One of them died and we decided that instead of replacing, we should upgrade to 150W each!

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Going up in size three fold has its challenges. The panels are much larger but the strength of the panel isn’t. I needed to reinforce the panel with a wooden X and supply support struts to both sides of the panel.

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Wind isn’t as big of a concern to the panels, but water sure is. High winds will present a lot of force on the panels, but a wave will impart many times that amount of energy and with no yielding. The plan is to avoid sailing in heavy weather and plan our ocean crossings for times when the winds (and seas) are not extreme. In heavy weather, the panels can be secured down to prevent damage to the boat, but the plan is to avoid those situations all together.

São Miguel: Fantasy-Reality

Sao Miguel is the most famous island in the Azores. It is the one with the mall, the movie theater, and all the vistas that appear when you Google “Azores”.

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Driving around the island is very difficult! Not because of the road conditions, but because every time you round a bend in the road, your partner will exclaim how you much stop the car to get a picture of the lookout.

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Each mundane road that loops and twists through the mountains will expose you to amazing views that the locals take for granted.

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The island was evidently created by a series of volcanic eruptions and the craters that were once filled with fire are now filled with cool fresh water. These lakes litter the islands surface and create a fantasy land appearance that is easily accessed via a series of hikes.

While our favorite island in the Azores is certainly Terceira, Sao Miguel is certainly an island that should be visited! The views here are amazing, but to get a good feel for the kindness of the people of the Azores, it is best to visit the other islands.

Cozinhar Portuguesa

We have finished the major refit work on the boat, it is time to “treat yo self” with a delicious meal at a fancy restaurant.

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We ordered Fillet and they let us come back into the kitchen to watch as our delicious meat was placed into the wood fired oven.

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It sat over hot embers for a short time (we like our steaks “injured” instead of cooked).

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The wood fire gave the food (and the whole room) a delicious odors. I wonder if the chef selects the type of wood used based on the flavor profile they are seeking?

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Portuguese food loves garlic, and every piece of meat needs an egg! The amazing thing is the each order of fillet came with three steaks, each cooked to perfection.

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The prices in the Azores greatly reduced when compared to Europe and the United States. This meal was at a fancy restaurant (Roberto’s Taberna), yet the entire meal was only € 17.50 per person and the bottle of wine we had was $17. All in all, the meal was amazing and the prices were very reasonable for what you are getting. If you ever find yourself in Terceira, make reservations for Roberto’s Taberna in Angra do Heroismo. You have to call and put your order in the day before so they can have your food ready, and it will be delicious!