Sao Miguel — unspoiled island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

                                                        

In 1984, my then husband and I were on a chartered flight to Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands off the coast of western Africa. 

Several passengers on board needed to disembark in Sao Miguel, one of the Azorean islands, so in the early morning hours we came in for a landing. I was fortunate to have a window seat, so I had an aerial view of the island. What I saw was so magnificent and gorgeous I vowed that one day I would return to explore Sao Miguel.

Over the years, I researched the Azores and found that the archipelago is comprised of nine volcanic islands, one of them Sao Miguel. More than one article stated that the Azores are the Hawaiian islands of the Atlantic and possibly the lost continent of Atlantis. Now that I've been there, I can unequivocally agree that they are a close cousin to Maui and Kauai.

The vegetation alone shouts "Hawaii!" There are palm trees everywhere, steep mountains, black sand beaches and tropical flowers like bird of paradise, hibiscus and camellia. We visited in the off season (March 2024) and had hoped that maybe the hydrangeas would blossom ahead of schedule. Alas, they did not. But in April, the roadways will be awash in their brilliant shades of pink and blue. These beautiful plants are everywhere and are beautiful when in bloom. 

Our plan was a Friday to Friday trip, which we booked through AARP-Expedia.com. This Web site has never failed us. Not even once. Our hotel—Azoris Royal Garden—was in a quiet location just outside of Ponte Delgada, capital city of the Azores. Some people have complained that the noise level from planes taking off and landing at the airport only five minutes away detracts from the overall experience, but we weren't bothered at all. This hotel is a large complex and has modern decor. Comfort was built in with various furniture groupings where guests can sit quietly and read, enjoy a cup of tea, solve crossword puzzles or have a catnap. The ground floor is set aside for check-in. An elevator across from the check-in desk will take you to the first floor where there's a bar outfitted with a beautiful baby grand piano. In addition to drinks, the bar offers a light menu with burgers topping the list. On the opposite side of the floor, there's a game room where guests can shoot pool or play cards or other games. Just beyond this area is a spa. We opted for his and her massages and were not disappointed.

The second and third floors are set aside for guest rooms. We enjoyed our basic room—two twin beds, a bathroom with tub/shower, bidet and sink. Just across from the bathroom, there are closets with ample space to store our clothing. Woolen blankets are available in case the air is chilly. The room also had a small balcony. We used this area to dry our hand laundry. 

Each night, we enjoyed dinner at Koi, the hotel's restaurant. Order off the menu or create your own meal from the offerings at the nightly buffet.

 

We purchased two worthwhile excursions through Azores Wonderful: A half day trip to

Sete Cidades (seven lakes) and a full day to Furnas and Nordeste. We loved the naturally heated water at the thermal pool at Furnas and beauty of the twin lakes separated only by a narrow causeway. The smaller lake is green; the larger, blue. Our tour guide, John, explained that the difference in color is rooted in the vegetation growing at the bottom of the green lake. The corresponding lake's blue color is caused by its depth. According to a legend, a shepherd boy who lived near the green lake was in love with a girl who lived near the blue lake. When her father denied her marriage to the shepherd boy, he cried tears that filled the smaller lake while the young lady's tears filled the blue lake.  

 

If you're looking for a quiet destination, one that's unspoiled and not overrun by hordes of tourists, Sao Miguel might be what you're looking for. Check it out.