We are here! Anchored in the Azores

June 21, 2008 Summer Solstice
We arrived in Flores - Lajes Harbor - at about 2:30 PM after motoring the last 30 miles. If we hadn't have motored, we wouldn't have gotten in until tomorrow. Flores was directly upwind in big sloppy seas. The winds kept shifting 20 degrees either side and varied in strength from 10 to 20k. That would mean that we would have to constantly change the amount of sail we had up and aggressively sail. A racing boat with full crew would have enjoyed the challenge, but us mere cruisers just saw that as a whole lot of work. The alternative was to just set a medium amount of sail and try to take the closest course to Flores. We tried that for a while and saw very little progress (contrary current to add to the fun). So, on with the motor (good excuse to make some water too). In short order we were here.
It is beyond belief. Totally magic. A little place that time seems to have passed over. Sure, there are some fisherman on the quay who drive down in their little euro cars and seem to enjoy driving back and forth. But on the hill above us, sheep are grazing amidst the terraced fields. The church is looking down on the harbor from the crest and the little village winds its way up the hill. Go to Google Earth (a free download from Google) - type in Flores, Azores and you will get the satellite view of us. Zoom in and you will see the village. There will be blue dots scattered around. Click on them and they show you a photo taken from that vantage point. Ah, now you see what I am talking about.
We've just been anchored here in the harbor - haven't bothered to go ashore yet, but that is coming soon. We had a good dinner and opened a special bottle of wine for the occasion. Then it was time for some serious sleep - level - Andi and I in the same bed at the same time!
You are reading this blog entry courtesy of the Sailmail station in Belgium, now our closest point of connection. I hear that the local library has free internet. If so, we'll post some photos. Hasta entonces...