Category: History
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Angra do Heroísmo
Terceira, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) Angra do Heroísmo (map) has been important to Portuguese history since the 16th Century. Traditionally it provided a convenient central landing point in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Here, mariners could rest, resupply and shelter their ships as they plied the trade routes between Europe, Africa and…
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Praia da Vitória
Terceira, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) The town of Praia da Vitória (“Victory Beach”) formed around a natural harbor on Terceira’s eastern coastline (map). It was named in tribute to a victory over Spanish forces that took place in 1581 when the Portuguese thwarted an invasion by releasing cattle onto a nearby beach. This…
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Furnas Scenery
São Miguel, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) Furnas is a Portuguese word that is similar to its English cognate “Furnace.” In this case it applies to a town and a region in a broad interior valley on the eastern side of São Miguel. Furnas rests in a caldera basin surrounded by mountains on all…
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Ponta Delgada Scenes
São Miguel, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) Ponta Delgada is the capital of the Azores and its most populous city. It hugs São Miguel’s southwestern coast (map). These old “City Gates” or Portas da Cidade probably personifies Ponta Delgada more than any other image. They dated back to the 18th Century. Back then the…
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Whaling Industry Museum
Pico, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) The last whaling factory in the Azores operated at São Roque do Pico, from the cais (dock) along the waterfront. Whalers killed and harvested their prey in local waters. Then they delivered carcasses to the dock, where workers extracted oil and processed flesh and teeth. During its heyday,…
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Horta Street Scenes
Faial, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) Faial played an important historical role as a stopping point between Europe and the New World. Whaling ships paused for resupply and took men along with them when they departed, building immigrant communities in North America. Steamships rested here to take on new supplies and provide a respite…
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Horta Waterfront
Faial, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) Wealthy transatlantic yachters adopted Horta as a convenient stopping point between Europe and North America in recent decades (map). Their graceful sailboats line the town’s marina. While there, their crews also leave colorful graffiti on the harbor barriers to commemorate their oceanic voyages. The mosaic of color on…
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Vianden Castle
Luxembourg (August 1999) A twisted route led through hills and valleys in northern Luxembourg, the last Grand Duchy. We drove through Clervaux and Vianden, and thick stands of forest. It was a fun drive with plenty of scenery. We shared the road with mobs of motorcyclists and bicyclists that were also out to enjoy the…
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Crossing Rhineland-Palatinate
Germany (August 1999) Many years ago we got an opportunity to drive from Belgium to Luxembourg to Germany. The Germany portion cut through the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, from the Luxembourg border to the Rhine River. The Marktplatz at Bernkastel-Kues We drove up from Trier along the spectacular Moselweinstraße (Mosel River wine road). The route crossed…
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Belgian Brewery Coasters and Glasses
Anyone who appreciates good beer understands Belgium’s reputation for excellent brewing. As well, anyone who know me likely realizes my feelings towards the brewing arts. The ability to sample a large contingent of Belgian beers conveniently and inexpensively was definitely a bonus to our several visits. Each beer has its own distinctive glass and anyone…