Summer of 23 - Transatlantic Cruise - Day 7 - The Azores - Terra Nostra Gardens, Pico Do Ferro Viewpoint, Sulphur Springs

Sunday May 7th, 2023

We left Ribiera Grande and headed to Terra Nostra Garden.  The guide led us through the gardens, explaining different plants and areas to us as we went.  

Our group at the entrance

Waiting to go in

There is a hotel here and also a thermal pool that our guide told us people come to for its healing properties. You don't have to stay at the hotel to use the pool though.

We continued on our tour. 

Unfortunately we were quite a large group and we ended up being at the back and didn't keep up with him. I got quite concerned when they went out of sight ahead of us as the path divided into different routes and we had no idea which route they had taken.  We had no map and it was a large area. He had told us we could walk around on our own but I wasn't comfortable with getting lost.  

We quickened up and followed the main route.  Eventually I happened to look along one of the paths and saw what I thought was the group in the distance. We headed that way, which was off the main trail we had been on. Fortunately they stopped and were discussing that particular area and we managed to catch up with them. 

We managed to stay with them for the rest of the tour but it was not as enjoyable as we felt rushed. The gardens were lovely though.

Our next stop was the Pico Do Ferro Viewpoint. As we climbed the mountain to get here the clouds rolled in and visibility got bad.  The guide had warned us earlier in the day that we may not be able to see much, but he left it as the last stop at this part of the island in the hopes the fog would clear. 

We still walked up to the viewpoint in th hopes of seeing something.

This cat was lurking by the car park

Views from the top on a clearest day

These pictures were the best we got!!! You can also click on this link, Pico Do Ferro Viewpoint, to see what we would have seen on a clear day. It was disappointing but couldn't be helped.

Our view

Bryan still managed a smile.

Looking down at our coach

Our next stop was the Sulphur Springs at Caldeira das Furnas. I enjoyed this stop and seeing the sulphur springs. I believe these are similar to what is seen at Yellowstone National Park in the States but as we haven't been there yet I can't be sure.  I don't think the area in the States is as green as this though.

Fountain where you can drink the fresh spring waters

Looking at the village in the distance

This was our last stop of what had been an interesting day. Our guide kept us entertained on the way back and continued to tell us local information as we passed through different areas. Eventually we arrived back at the ship.

Driving through the port area.

Back at the ship we went to the buffet to get something to eat before returning to our cabin to get ready for sail away.

Bryan took pictures as we left the port.

We had an interesting day at our first port of call. Thankfully we didn't have to put our clocks forward today.