Lighthouse

Today it is p-day. Since it is elder Bernardo’s last one he wanted to go to the northern most part of the island and see some of it. There were some lookout points

some points of interest and even some small beaches.

The one lookout was the site of some battle in the açores civil war. Lots of rugged cliffs and surf pounding on rocks far below. The beach we visited had a lot of sand but didn’t look too nice for swimming with all the rocks. The flowers were everywhere.

There are tables and benches everywhere many made from rough lava rock. Grandma got to sit looking off for her Prince Charming.

Then the lighthouse. This is on the list of things you must see in São Miguel. From above and behind it appears impressive.

But then we drove down. The information recommends parking and walking down the 25% grade. Good idea but we chose the other route. Once started there was no turning back, and no place flat enough to turn around the road was all poured concrete with the steeper currves banked like a bobsled track. The finish on the concrete was left rouigh to improve traction. As e got closer to the bottom it got even steeper. At one curve less steep we stopped thinking if all else failed we could turn around. Look at grandma if you don’t think it is steep.

We walked on down, and since there was a better place to turn around at the lighthouse elder Bernardo brought the car on down. There was a small waterfall.

Way down below on more steep road were some fishing boats 1 rather large to haul around these curves, 

Some small houses built into the mountain side it was amazing. The lighthouse as built over a hundred years ago and is the oldest one still in use on the island. Now for the ride up. It was a bit tense if we had stopped anywhere l doubt we could have started again. Each curve the tires would spin and you could smell the burning rubber. I thought on the way down that the black stripes were caused by cars sliding with the brakes on. The black stripes are from cars trying to get traction climbing up. I sure missed my jeep. But since I am writing this blog we made it. We stopped at a really nice garden spot with some more pictures of grandma and a famous picture of a steep grass covered almost cliff.

We visited the American family

as they live way up here on the north part of the island. They fed us a nice lunch and we visited a while then home.on the way we passed a tea plantation

. They cut the tea in maze appearing patterns. Neat looking. We stopped to stock up on groceries while we had a car. Busy fun p-day. Love you all. To Drew I was able to take the picture of the group using the 10 second time shot impressive if I say so myself.