The Azores — With So Many Places in the World…
You’re absolutely right.
Why would someone come all the way from the other side of the world to discover a few rocks in the middle of the Atlantic still baffles me. I’ve found myself all too many times at that boarding gate, observing.
Italian nationals. Indians. British. Pakistani. Germans. Americans. Canadians. People that had to stopover so many times to get to that boarding gate, that I can only start to imagine how long it’s been since they left home. Every time I spot any nationality other than Portuguese, I can’t help to wonder about their journey and what got their attention to begin with. Nine islands in the middle of the Atlantic. Was it that opening line alone enough?
With so many places in the world…
The Azores — A Break From the Real World
Then again, let’s look at the world today.
It’s 2020 and our issues, as a whole, have grown wider than we could possibly imagine in the last decade. If turning the Millennium seemed like an issue in itself those mere 20 years ago, now we seem to find ourselves in a rather deep hole.
It’s, therefore, no surprise that little paradises have grown in appeal. Places where nature is yet so unspoiled and remains as inviting as we’d find it hundreds or thousands of years ago. The Azores had their best year ever, in terms of visitors in 2019, but here we find ourselves, with an aircraft at third capacity if that much, heading to that same beautiful paradise with so many empty sits revealing the lost opportunity to discover something truly unique.
For those lucky few that can still connect the flying dots and head all the way to the islands, there shouldn’t be much else holding you back.
You’re required to have two tests performed — the first before your arrival or on arrival. A second test is performed on the 6th day. Up until this mid-November 2020 morning, tests were provided free of charge by the local government for anyone wanting to enter the archipelago, a measure that had limited yet positive impact on attracting some visitors and yet, containing the spread of infection.
You can easily access all the required information online, and ensure that the current state of affairs won’t stand in your way should you want to visit the Azores during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Azoreans Are Truly Unique
The inhabitants of the Azores are truly unique amongst the unique.
If decades ago, an Italian lady expressed she found Portuguese people to hold a certain serenity in their look and actions, unlike any other people she found in her many travels around the globe — the Azoreans may be amongst the best expression of that concept — and kind generalization.
To walk the little roads of Pico and discover its many wonders is also to invite the curious looks, as well as the occasional hello. Give anyone two minutes of your time and you may find yourself invited in for a meal, to go fishing, or to find that beer in front of you has been paid for.
Azoreans are by definition secluded. Yet, they are amongst the kindest, most honest people you’ll come across in life — so don’t be surprised if you end up listening to that voice that keeps telling you that this place would make a great home.
The Azores Islands — Each, a Different World
Each island offers a different perspective on life. Head to the small island of Corvo with a population just short of 500 inhabitants, and you’re stepping on the most western piece of land in Europe. Or, as some locals put it, the entry gate to Europe — I suppose it depends on where you’re coming from.
Visiting it is not only an opportunity to be amazed by its immense beauty, but also to get a taste of that lighthouse keeper atmosphere that romantically lives in almost all of us, but only these few brave people seemed so eager to embrace it as the essence of their own existence.
Head “next door” to the incredibly beautiful island of Flores and look back at Corvo to contemplate this same distance from “everything else”. It’s romantic, it’s beautiful and, at the very least, will be an opportunity to look back at yourself and the distances you’ve come along in your own life.
These two sister islands sit far in the Atlantic no matter where you’re looking at them from, and in the harshest of winters — and winters do get harsh — people here find themselves cut off from basic supplies for as long as storms and the rough Atlantic will have them for. Sometimes, for weeks.
Amongst “the triangle islands” — that’s the majestic island of Pico, the beautiful Faial and the charming São Jorge — you’ll find more than enough adventures waiting for a holiday that can be as extensive as you want it to be.
Climb the tall volcano and see the sunrise over the archipelago, discover the “Fajãs” of São Jorge, a place that invites to embrace adventure and trekking, or head to Faial to relax by one of its glorious and calm beaches just a short walk from the Horta city center.
If these islands seem small in any map, rest assured they offer enough variety to keep anyone busy for months. Those that are keen on walking amidst nature will find particular joy in discovering the many trekking paths that await.
It’s no surprise that so many foreign travelers — and continental Portugal visitors — have found the enchantments of these quiet islands almost too much to bear. Expats living in the Azores have been growing steadily over the years. A mix of untouched nature, serenity, local high-quality products, affordable housing, peace, and landscapes that are simply put, too beautiful to resist make it all a little… irresistible.
With further worlds to discover in the more developed São Miguel, you’ll still have Terceira, Graciosa, and Santa Maria on your chart.
This is probably the worst year to recommend anyone to consider packing a bag and head out into the middle of the Atlantic but yet, should you find the time and ability to do so, you’ll find a world that is yet in better shape than the rest.
The Azores and Covid-19
You’ll find that the tight measures against Covid in the Azores have been useful and the islands still maintain a sense of normality amongst its population for as long as people that arrive are willing to respect the challenges of insularity. If the correct measures are observed, you can still travel safely even in this troubled times.
To walk any street in any of the islands feels a little like the pandemic hasn’t stretched all that far. Measures are in place, such as the use of masks, the limit of people inside an establishment, but it’s also a fact that many of the islands have had very little to no cases for months in a row. Keeping it that way is the true challenge as we face the winter of 2020.
Even if this may not feel like the year to pack bags, it’s surely a year to discover treasures and to plan a holiday to come, considering staying over at incredible locations such as the incredible glamping experience in Faial Island, Azul Singular.
Azoreans are well-known for thriving in the face of adversity after centuries against loneliness beyond imagination, poverty, and the furious Atlantic Ocean. They have been able to reinvent themselves, protect and treasure the nature that surrounds them, abolish whale hunting, and become a true example of sustainability that would teach many great lessons to many civilized countries out there.
Spending as much time here as you can, will make an Azorean out of yourself. Don’t be surprised when heading back home a little more aware of the true treasure that is nature and how it can redefine our place in the world.
It’s surely one of those incredible places out there, with so many places in the world…
