Ahoy, from the
Mediterranean Sea aboard the HAL cruise ship Veendam.
This has been an active week for guests as we
disembarked at the first port-of call, Ponta Delgada, The Azores.
Portugal's Azores Islands, positioned in the
mid-Atlantic, have an
interesting past, a present day financial struggle and an unknown
future as they vie for tourism.
With needs quite
different from mainland Portugal, they have their own
president. The imposing fortress that once stood guard against invasion
still stands. In the early 1800s groves of orange trees brought Azores
residents substantial wealth by providing Europe with the much-desired
citrus. However, before the century closed, a fungus ravaged and
destroyed the groves and the Azores lost the citrus competition to
Spain.
The Azores have never regained affluence. The
Atlantic continues to
fill their fishing nets, and the lava-based soil makes the farming of
sugar beets profitable. Small farms on rolling hills have their
perimeters marked by short walls of hand-stacked black volcanic rocks.
These farms supply the Azores with meat, dairy and vegetables. They
produce delicious cheeses and palatable wines but not for export. They
can be enjoyed at the small cafes. English is limited; however, you
would be surprised at how inventive you can become when language is a
communication block.
The Azores present a unique beauty that I
doubt can be seen elsewhere.
A combination of early imported flora now gives the island a graceful
appearance. Stately Asian cedar trees shoot toward the sky wrapped in a
light-colored bark and sprouting delicate frilly needle foliage.
Beneath these trees, ferns of many varieties mix with rhododendrons and
Malaysian ginger. Wild buttercup and blackberries grow from rocky
embankments. The Azores, once active volcanoes, have multiple
fresh-water lakes in the now dormant craters. A mild climate and ample
rain give the flora sustained growth year-round. Large hydrangea hedges
line most roadways, providing the summer season with a burst of color.
Although The Azores desire tourism, their
geographical position has
provided little enticement. Limited air flights are available only from
Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Does Azores have the potential to become a
new Bermuda? Time will tell. Surprisingly the cost of home ownership is
comparable to Michigan but lot sizes and amenities are well below our
standards. Average annual wages are approximately $21,000.
After departing Azores, the Veendamset course
for Spain.
Spain. Leaving the Atlantic Ocean, she
entered the Gibraltar Straits,
which is one of only two entrances to the Mediterranean Sea; the other
being the Suez Canal. A crowd gathered on the decks near midnight to
watch for the well lit, famed 'Rock of Gibraltar' and the twinkling
lights of the North African coast. They were not disappointed. The
Veendamis now traveling northeasterly through the Balearic Sea on a
course for Spain.
Alice Greene O'Neil, 62, continues to recover
from spinal-cord damage
that, for a time, left her paralyzed and with other disabilities. She
refuses to let it slow her down.
source:
thetimesherald.com -
originally published April 22, 2007 -
Photo:
gschwieters.de
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