In Love in Portuguese

I found this link interesting,

http://matadornetwork.com/nights/15-things-portuguese-love/

especially the word DESENRASCA=find a practical solution!!

My Mom has been teaching me this her whole life!!

Would you put Grosella Jam in a Tijolo or a Tigela?

Tijolo=Brick, like the pizza stone you would use for Bolo De Tijolo.

Tigela=Bowl, could be made of ANY material, glass, ceramic, porcelain, wood.

Mom: "I put the leftover cranberry sauce in the jam jar.  And I put the Grosella jam in the tigela."

Me: "Tigela?? A female tijolo??"

She thought that was funny.  You can speak a language for years and never hear the similarities in 2 words.  I love puns.  (There's a reason I'm bad at learning languages in school. I think I'd rather identify puns than conjugate verbs, but that's just me)

Grosellas are also known as Autumn Berries or Autumn Olives. VERY TART.  A single seed in the center, red berries with distinctive spots.  Also, the leaves are green on one side and silver on the other.  In Asia, they are revered for their health properties. In America, they are known to have 17 times the amount of lycopene as found in tomatoes, also found in prevention of breast, prostate & skin cancers.

We find them by the side of the road, growing on trees by the millions.  Easy to harvest and completely underappreciated.

http://www.autumnberryinspired.com/about-autumn-berry

http://www.autumnberryinspired.com/about-autumn-berry/health-benefits

Bermuda

There is an issue in Bermuda about the Portuguese population being invisible. 

Interesting to think of all the outposts of Portuguese. 

http://mobile.royalgazette.com/article/20151127/NEWS/151129719

Also, had a conversation about Columbus with a cousin. He was on his way back from his "Discovery of India/Indians" and people on the island (Santa Maria) thought he was a pirate. Which he was.

The difference between Portuguese & other explorers: Portuguese were not seeking to conquer new empires, they were just exploring. The slave trades & violence came later (Portuguese joined but were also the first to stop).

Columbus was on a mission from Isabella with greedy thoughts in his head. 

20 Phrases about being Obsessed with The Sea

This is a great list of expressions. Some of which I've heard credited to Ben Franklin (Fish & Guests sink after 3 days), maybe he got some European phrases from his trip to Paris?

http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/20-expressions-prove-portuguese-obsessed-sea/

Basic Info of the Azores (from Port-American Journal)

This paragraph is included at the end of every article mentioning the Azores in the P-A Journal.

The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.

The above was retrieved/quoted from a page which, in retrospect, is a little odd.  It describes a "promotion" happening during November and December.  It's a write up of a press release, not an "offer" to the general public.  Like "there is Portuguese stuff on sale in America", but no links, specifics or any other mention of how to take advantage of the offers, or to even recommend it. 

http://portuguese-american-journal.com/community-goodies-from-home-coming-to-a-supermarket-near-you-azores/?ref=newsletter

(NB I still hope to contribute to this paper someday, but I have yet to get a handle on how I could fit in??)

Are we different people in different languages?

Yes.  Yes we are.

This article says it very eloquently.

And in different languages.

http://lithub.com/are-we-different-people-in-different-languages/

Luanda

80 Great Azorean Expressions!!

If only I could understand them all!  (i.e. life's work)

Go here:
http://www.vortexmag.net/80-expressoes-que-so-um-acoriano-entende/

And start with:

Asno=Burro

 ;)

"Boa, Boa, Nao E Isto"

“Good, good.  It’s not this.”
(Healthy, healthy-not me at this moment)

My Mom is sniffling & coughing.  Not the dread & what you feel as sudden vulnerability that happens when you feel a cold coming on.  That was earlier in the week.  There was a day when she was in bed, I called, and she only wanted to go back to sleep.  But today, she was talking (and I kept holding my phone at arm’s length, whenever she’s hacking or blowing her nose).

She had just erased a bunch of pictures off her phone because she kept getting a message that there was no storage available. She has 40 pictures. Or had. She erased a bunch. Her phone is crazy and I am resentful of dealing with her Android (i.e. cheap) phone because it has so many crappy apps, and just when I think I've cleaned it up, there's more that appears. And somehow, it was making regular $1.99 purchases which she denies. I am suspicious of that phone (and annoyed that she doesn't know how to use it and refuses to learn. A little like some American/English things, a little like just being an older lady who doesn't want to deal with technology.

(I have 24.789 pictures and I'm still adding, I'd rather delete apps off my iPhone than sacrifice pics. And yes, I have them backed up. On the Cloud, on a thumbdrive, etc. I'm hoarding the ones on my phone because I want to go back to Praia Formosa or Sao Laurenco. Or that day when I first moved back to Manhattan and saw that oil slick that looks like a dog. But I digress)

She had lots of fun and beautiful pictures from our trip (And some accidental shots of an arm). We/She/I tried to record the clock tower of the chapel a block away from Luis' house, right at 12 noon. I had to drive up the hill because she refused to walk. She had tried to get the sound before, but had pointed the phone at the ground. (UGH).

I love the sound of high noon in Santa Maria. So peaceful. It's the same sound as 1965, when my Mom was young and happy there.

"Mom, next time, post your pictures to Facebook before you delete them! You didn't delete the clock video, did you?"

My mom coughs right into the phone as she answers.

"Did you see the picture I posted? Of my friend who is trying to find his sister. The family was in Lajes, Terceira-you know, the army base? She got adopted by someone from Canada when she was 6. He is trying so hard to find her!"

I saw that. I couldn't imagine the rest of the story. People were not so poor that they would just give away children because they couldn't be fed. Maybe if there was a "promise of a better life" thing, or an American couple who couldn't bear children. Or an aunt/uncle/cousin deal who could take the kid. But, no, kids were not just GIVEN to strangers.

The picture is a hand holding a faded photograph of a young girl. She could be anyone from the island. Dark eyebrows, dark eyes, bright smile. That is all he had of a sister.

A Portuguese Professor at UMass Dartmouth said that coming from the islands to America in the 1950's was like time traveling from the Middle Ages into the Space Age.

People could write, but seldom did. Everything existed within conversation. Names existed as acunhas/nicknames, not as formal legalities on a birth certificate. You were know by a birth defect, or a place you were from, or where your family had come from 2 generations ago. Or that you were the son of a guy who went crazy and rode roller skates on the tarmac while playing fiddle. He was generously called "Cuecas/Underwear", but I can't imagine him wearing anything other than the roller skates.

There is just a hand, holding a photo of a girl. That girl came to a land of the printed word, of documents and crowds. She left behind the islands, as if they were a dream. And maybe that is all they were to her during her life.

North America promised a better life, but what did she find?

Are you a Lubrega? Or a Califona?

The definition of lubrega is essentially a hick.  A country bumpkin, someone who is uninformed, uneducated and essentially, stupid. And even better, a Califona is someone from the islands who lives in America.  And comes back to the Azores, completely ignorant of what they actually are.  I'd like to imagine that these are the day-trippers, the ones who come for only a week and aren't still in touch with family. The ones who do only superficial tourism.  But I suspect that I will always be a Califona, no matter how long I spend there. Maybe that's my goal, to overcome this idea, at least for myself.

So, I'm fascinated by the fascination about the upcoming election.  The one that is STILL more than a year away.  I'm amazed that so much of the discussion from one party tries to simplify everything.  To appeal to people's lizard brain.  Don't let strangers steal my stuff.

Do Americans not realize how they are seen by the rest of the world? Do they not understand that EVERYONE was an immigrant at one point? The combover guy and the blond woman who are afraid of immigrants are a piece of performance art.  They realize they need to play on people's fears, the ugliest things possible. And worse, it influences and encourages hate.

Alberto Moreno posted this yesterday on Facebook.  It gets into the Mexican perspective and lots of other issues. IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ IT!! So I am sharing it here:

Potlandia

The Mexican me. The Mexican me hates your pot. Hates the smell of it as I am driving behind your recycled cooking oil powered hipster mobile. Here in Potlandia.

This Mexican who has never smoked it. Not ever. Not once. Just not part of our values. Yes, yes, I know, you carry a different narrative about Mexican us. But true. It is not.

I hate the smell of it spilling, spewing out. Your pot which smells like white privilege. The stink of it reminds me of our black and brown. Our black and brown boys who still rot in jail for delivering it, for delivering it to your protected suburbs. .

The smell of your pot reminds me of my white room mates at the University of Illinois who sold it with impunity while our young men of color were being arrested on city corners for the same offense. Persecuted while white America toked, toked up in your suburbs, behind lily white fences while our brown muled brothers payed for your embargoed sins.

If injustice had a smell. This would be it.

Every time I am assaulted by it I am reminded that it is more important to white Potlandia to legalize your weed, than the tender flesh of our immigrant children, mothers or fathers. Reminds me that the brown of our skins, criminalized is acceptable to you. Is palatable to you. Your indifference condones it. The smell of your pot makes it clear that your apathy is conditional. That it is possible to vacate your hipster armchair ennui when it is self serving. The stink of your pot reminds me that you care. Just not about us.

I resent that our ancestral cornfields in Latin AMERICA have been turned into marijuana fields for you. To feed your insatiable habit. That your ‘innocent’ habit gave birth to and has funded the cartels’ violence against our brothers and sisters. Transformed our sacred maíz agronomy in service to the base profanity of your addictions.

So while our jails are filled to the brim with our young men, white Portlandia smokes up in the comfort of your gentrified homes. Potlandia saunters to the nearest pot dispensary without fear of persecution or prosecution. And now hoards of young hipsters are racing each other to become drug dealers to profit from the same activity that indentures still, our men and their fatherless families. The frayed fabric of our communities stretched beyond repair. For generations to come.

But soon Potlandia’s habit will be minting green millionaires who will again rewrite the narrative of displacement to describe themselves as healers and pioneers! And like Dawson Park on North Williams, our children will never get to benefit from the post displacement improvements and investments made upon spaces, which we have occupied for so long. And White Potlandia will once again reap the benefits of our communities suffering.

And while we can be grateful that no more of our young men shall be arbitrarily prosecuted and used as prison fodder to feed a for-profit prison industry; while we can only hope that this tide will turn, who will bring our young brown and black men back? Who will restore them to their daughters and sons. Their mothers and grandmothers?

Even now a kind of erasure is happening. You can see it across this city. Recently, as I drove by the Oregon Convention Center I was surprised to find that Anzen, a small Japanese grocery store and community resource, which had stood there for a generation, is gone. Replaced, by of all things, a pot dispensary. And Mr. Anzen, a survivor of the Internment Camps (another attempt at human erasure) and his life work are gone now. Erased by this new ‘industry.’

This may be what is now. But I for one, am not sure, it is the best of us. And it makes me think that the ultimate sin of privilege is to come to it without cost or consequence. And to be fully and thoroughly unaware of its exacting cost on the back of others.

The rank smell of pot then is the smell of privilege, unearned. The rotting smell of injustice. And it lingers still in the Potlandia air.

Today's pictures to work with

One tree on my cousin's land. He is digging behind the cliff on the right.

A view of the land his family used to own.

An imposing view of church

A statue in an altar.

Cactuses/cacti everywhere!  This one is called an "abobra".

Ying and yang cats!

I've been Painting

Sorry I've been so quiet. 

Here is some stuff I'm working from ( just from the past few days!!)

Beautiful views to Paint!!

Some ideas of the stuff I will be working on!

Sanctuary at Santa Barbara

On the road down from Pico Alto.  Skeletons of Chupa Chupa plants!!

Amora tree in back of Villa Anna.

Villa Anna in Sao Laurenco

The grand view from my fav spot in the world!!

Where bananas actually come from!!

Grapevines!!

Figs over Sao Laurenco!!

Mare De Agosto!!

The initial reason for my trip, or at least the excuse for it, was THIS festival. 

Craziness on Santa Maria, on the best beach in Portugal (and the world) crowned by 3 nights of music. 

There are festivals EVERY WEEKEND of the summer, on at least one of the islands. I'm trying to track them all down!

While I have wifi, let me share a photo or two. I might appear on TV, and can be found in the VIP area. ;)

NB: My mom had told me that the Sopas Festas were also on various islands, but sometimes I've found multiple ones on one island on the same day! (Multiple sopas are not recommended!)

Rough Seas and Abibliophobia

Rough crossing between Santa Maria & Sao Miguel (warning: don't drink milk or eat dairy products before getting on a boat)

I'm usually fine.

Riding today to Faial, a much longer trip, that will last about 13 hours. Traveling with my aunt, who tends to get seasick....

Was terrified of running out of reading material, as usual, and I still may try to find a bookstore & look for anything in English!!

(An aspiring novelist's best friend can be opportunity, or desperation. If I get my book into stores which normally have an English selection of 5 books, my chances are pretty good!)

This should outweigh the overwhelming feeling of free books available on the internet. I loaded up this morning, just in case...

I'm now heading to parts unknown, unknown about the internet, that is.

Will get back to the real world when I can!

--

PS Is there anything more lovely than a bright hotel morning with a giant pot of coffee & OJ before you explore a city?

Ah, caffeine!!

Anjos, in the Sunlight

Tonight, I'll be leaving for Sao Miguel, on my way to Faial.

I'll be back in Santa Maria before Mare de Agosto, but I'll miss every moment.

After going to a festa last night, in Santa Barbara, and then sopas in Mae de Deus today, we went for cafe in Anjos.

The sun reflecting off the ocean.

It was/is perfect.

Sopas in Mae de Deus

It is on the edge of Vila Do Porto, a darling little spot on the edge of the valley.

And today, there was no line in the heat!!

I went with my cousin & friend. And of course, immediately met people from Cambridge, right next to where I grew up. Also people from Hudson, the natural gathering spot of Azoreans in the area.

There was chanting throughout, and they killed 9 cows for the occasion!!

All in all, it was short & sweet. Probably the quickest, and most authentic I've been to. At least in the past few weeks! ;)

Top 5 Beaches on Santa Maria: Full List

So, to recap, or just in case you couldn't be bothered to look at each individually! ;)

#6: Prainha-hard to get to
#5: Vila do Porto-small, a bit of a walk, close to town
#4: Maia-far by car, just a pool
#3: Anjos-a pool, but a cool cafe
#2: Praia Formosa-beautiful beautiful beautiful.  If you like the open ocean.
#1: Sao Laurenco-The only way to improve upon perfection. Cafe, pool and BEST scenery.

All of the above are well worth checking out, see the individual posts about each.  I will add more as I find them.

Top 5 Beaches on Santa Maria: #1 Sao Laurenco!

#1.  Sao Laurenco.

This is improving on perfection.  Everything that I said about Praia Formosa applies here, but the quality of everything is better.

There is a pool, for the kids or grownups.  Depends on the state of the tide.

There are rocks on one side of the beach, but they are climb-able in low tide and easy to navigate & identify in high tide.  And they make the beach look more beautiful.

The water is clear & delicious and you have the BEST view of the hills covered in grapevines.  Seriously, it is like swimming in an amphitheater-and you and the ocean are the stage!

The sun sets over the hill by 6 or 7, it is the first beach on the island to lose the light, so be warned to start your day of swimming early.  There is a cafe/bar/restaurant steps from the beach and another one just at the road.  There is another restaurant at the other end of the road, if you drive/walk to the furthest point.  That is where I had my birthday lunch, with an amazing view. And I had a dip off of the pier, straight off barnacled steps into deep water.

If you are lucky enough to stay the night, listen for the cagarros, the famous birds of the island. They are like seagulls, bbut only fly & sing at night.  They sound like they are laughing.  If you go for a walk, you might not believe it, because the birds are hard to see, you can even believe that it is the very stars that are laughing.

Top 5 Beaches in Santa Maria: #2 Praia Formosa

Okay, this beach is really just perfect.

(And yet, it is still #2)

About 15 minutes from the main town, it has gorgeous views on the approach (but most of the beaches here do).  There is an incredible cafe & restaurant steps from the beach, called O Paquote.  And if you really wanna stay away from the beach, there is another great restaurant option 2 blocks away.

The water is gorgeous.

It is clear.  The waves can vary from 10 footers that help you to fly-and only crash on the shore. Or giant surfer waves, which are also fun and slightly dangerous. I remember getting quite beaten up on this beach as a kid, but always going back for more.  But a few days ago, the water was calm enough for me and a friend (always bring a friend!) to swim out to the buoys!! VERY far & I got a little bit of a jellyfish sting on my arm & back, but I don't blame the beach for that.

Look for the lifeguards & the color of the flag.  I've been going for at least a month and the first time there was a strong riptide. There are some rocks, clearly marked, to avoid.  I've seen a few people with floatation devices, like tubes, and I've seen them float out a bit too far, but the lifeguards went after them to make sure they were okay.  Don't press your luck.

2 sets of showers, the best & the one with the lockable doors is right by the restaurant, just off the beach.  It CLOSES at 7pm, still in the midst of great sunlight.  The other set is further down, by the car ramp and is VERY open. i.e. No doors.

All in all, the best sunsets, the widest vista, the WHITE sand (on a semi-volcanic island, WHAAAT?)  It's the best "everyday" beach to visit.  Plus, it has a hotel and a campsite. If you want to spend some money to stay anywhere other than Vila do Porto, STAY on this beach!!!

But the beach is big enough to hold plenty of crowds, and this is the beach for Mare De Agosto, in late August which DOES hold lots of crowds.  Don't plan to come then unless you are ready for the fun, the crowds and the music!!

Breaking News: Portuguese Physicist to Head US Dept of Energy

The link from the Portuguese American is here:

http://portuguese-american-journal.com/appointed-physicist-ernest-moniz-to-head-us-department-of-energy-washington-dc/

(I'd add more, but I'm probably on the beach right now!)

Top 5 Beaches on Santa Maria: #3 Anjos (and Rescuing Dolphins)

On Monday, there were 3 dolphins that got trapped around/in the pool at Anjos.  After a few successful (and unsuccessful) attempts, one was released back into the sea.  The other two died.

Below is the full text printed on Facebook, plus the automatic translation.  Follow the link for some incredible pictures by Foto Pepe. I think "infurtiferas" means "beached", and I can vouch for the fact that the "so-called pool" is indeed, more than a rumor.

Numa ação de extrema delicadeza e muito cuidado, o Parque de Ilha de Santa Maria em conjunto com algumas empresas marítimo turísticas, depois de diversas tentativas infurtiferas de fazer levar um Golfinho de regresso ao Mar, tendo o mesmo de forma sucessiva, dado á costa, junto á piscina Natural dos Anjos em Vila do Porto. Foi o animal, deixado repousar na dita piscina e posteriormente levado para algumas milhas fora da costa Norte da ilha de Santa Maria, a bordo de uma embarcação. Fotos ( Foto Pepe)

http://santamariaazores.net/…/golfinho-devolv…/notas-soltas/

In an action of extreme sensitivity and very careful, the park of island of Santa Maria together with some companies tourist maritime, after several attempts to take a dolphin infurtiferas to return to the sea, having the same way, because of successive will coast, Will natural pool with the angels in village of the port. It was the animal, left to rest in the so-called pool and then taken to a few miles outside of the north coast of the island of Santa Maria, the board of a boat. Photos (Photo Pepe)

Top 5 Beaches in Santa Maria: #4 Maia

Firstly, Maia is on the far side of the island.  Not exactly literally, but DO know that because of the roads it requires, the journey is long (and beautiful).

The beach itself is within a bay, much like Praia Formosa and Sao Laurenco.  The view is incredibly picture worthy upon approach.  Also remember that this was the location of the Maia Folk Festival in mid-July.  There are not 1 but 2 cafe/restaurant/bars within a few steps of the water!

Most of the coast here is made up of natural rocks (dangerous for swimming), but a lovely waterfall can be seen at the far end of the town. You could visit just for that!

Bad news: the only swimmable water is really a sea-filled pool which has a kid size version (up to 3 feet) and an adult version (up to 6 feet in depth). When there are more than 20 people, it begins to feel very crowded. And I'm not sure the pool drains completely (the walls are kinda slimy).

But it is well worth a visit, the pool & cafe are very decent and fun. And provide a nice change from the rest of the swimming experiences out on the open ocean.  My favorite is to see & feel the waves crashing against the protected sea wall of the pool.  Stand by the railing and feel the waves; nothing better than to feel like a part of nature!

Top 5 Beaches on Santa Maria: #5 Vila Do Porto

#5 Vila Do Porto

Not the Port itself.

Go to Fort St. Bras.  Look to the left, look down.  Can you see it?

Start on the hike.  When you see a road that goes downhill, backtracking to the sea, follow it.  There you will find a tiny beach with very large rocks. Not the best, but close to the biggest city.  Perfect for a quick dip, if you dare to brave the large rocks on the beach!

Note: No cafe.  It's too small.  But still within walking distance of the port & those cafes.

Pictures to come.

Top 5 Beaches on Santa Maria: #6 Prainha

Okay, so I only know about 6 of them, so this list is slightly overhyped.

But on we go, starting with the Bonus Beach or the Mystery Beach, depending on your tolerance level.

#6: Prainha: This aptly-named "little beach" can only be reached via a LONG (3hr) hiking trail or by boat. Near Praia Formosa, but inaccessible from that beach-even during low tide.

One of the BEST places to look for fossils (as is the entire hike) and many geological studies have been made of the immediate area.  The hike that leaves from Fort St. Bras has a few stops to investigate the fossils embedded in the stone & Prainha is the last best vantage point on the hike.  (Beware of the steep hike back UP the mountain!)

That's all I know because I haven't been. Yet.

Almagreira Fest!!

Just as I thought Santa Maria was quieting down (until Mare de Agosto, anyway), I saw the lights in Almagreira!  The church was outlined in a red color, for the freguesia of Almagreira, which is known for the red outlines of houses. (Explained in a future post)

Friday & Saturday had the whole island coming out to celebrate. I had a lovely dinner of Albacore (note the ongoing discussion of whether it is "Tuna" or not).

The dinner itself was served in what in New York City, we would call a "pop-up" restaurant. Here, it is a bunch of picnic tables inside a food tent. I was surprised to find out that it wasn't sponsored or run by an established restaurant, because everything was delicious!

There were displays of typical folkloric dances, which involved young people in various traditional costumes. I even spotted someone wearing a capote! (Not in this picture, alas!)

There was even a dance around a Maypole!! (Aka Portuguese Pole Dancing)

On Saturday, they also were "playing with the Bulls", which I didn't stay very long to watch.  They put a rope on the Bulls and let them loose among men crazy enough to run in the field with them. I feel bad for the poor creatures. The people, I mean,

Parabens a Voces!!

Today is my birthday!

I celebrated last night at Cafe Mascote. A candle and a bunch of people singing to me in the center of Santa Maria!

Doesn't get any better!!

For the cartoon version of the song,

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wr-G33KsE_M?feature=player_detailpage

Clube Asas Do Atlantico

This is the all purpose fun house for everyone. It's a radio station, bar/cafe, playroom with ping pong & pool tables.

And, of course, a mini library.

2 walls full of books!! But they are all (or mostly, 98%) in Portuguese.

But I did find these treasures:

And

Which had legends and sketches.

Even the front door was a tribute to the symbol of wings.

A fun place to hang out; and a special note, my Mom was a DJ there in the 1960's!! I'm sure she has more stories to share!

SATA Flight Insurance Questions

I'm traveling & I have questions about what *exactly* insurance would buy me. Note that an Insurance page does not become an option until you have selected the payment option & there is no FAQ available for it.

Also note that if you are looking for Sao Miguel or Faial, you MUST search for "Ponta Delgada" or "Horta" respectively. Cities, not islands.  A complication for the innocent traveler.

The closest thing is their "Changes and Refunds" page, which does not indicate the time limit, just that you can't change or get a refund online.  I just spent 10 minutes on hold trying to call someone. And this was after visiting the office in Santa Maria and seeing a line of 5 people for 1 service agent. 

The nature of my question:
I am attempting to arrive at Sao Miguel on a boat at 6:30am.  I would like to then board a plane at 8:55am to Funchal, Madeira.

IF everything goes according to schedule, I know I can easily be at the airport 2 hours ahead of departure time.

IF things screw up, and I am too late for the plane, I have NO IDEA what will happen. Right now, I have an opportunity to buy a ticket for the 8:55am or for one that leaves the NEXT DAY.  The one the next day costs 30 Euros more and I will have to sleep in a hotel, which will also cost me from 50 to 100 Euros.

If I take my chances and buy the one for 8:55am, can I buy insurance to take the next plane?

If I play it safe and buy the one for the next day, can I still go to the office & try to get on the earlier flight if I make it on time? (I've done this in the US)

If I use Paypal, does it mean that I have some kind of insurance on my ticket? "allows the buyer to be reimbursed in case the item purchased online doesn't arrive" (does that EVEN apply here?).  See note below about how wonderful it is to use Paypal, but it offers nothing in the way of actually answering my question.

Paypal

PayPal is a global payments platform which is becoming increasingly popular due to the security, convenience and quickness it allows making and receiving payments online. To start using PayPal you only need to have an email address.
Now you can conveniently and securely pay for your online purchases from your computer, smartphone or tablet.
This payment system is totally free. You can simply create a PayPal account associated with a credit card and introduce the e-mail address with the corresponding password on each payment.
With PayPal your security is not neglected. Now you won’t have to expose your credit cards and bank account information whenever you purchase online. Your information is carefully stored in PayPal's database.
Another strong point is its buyer protection program that allows the buyer to be reimbursed in case the item purchased online doesn’t arrive.
Many reasons to use PayPal as a payment method for your online bookings.

RIAC & AtlanticoLine Boat Planning Annoyances

I LOVE boats.  My great-grandfather was a whaler (or so I'm told).  I am planning to travel to Madeira, and would prefer to travel by boat.  Apparently, you have to go from Lisbon and it is VERY expensive. Even if I can't do that, I'd still like to visit Faial by boat, where my Mom & her family grew up.  I visit AtlanticoLine, the only boat option.

There is a special offer. The Blue Sea Pass, 3 islands Roundtrip for just 108 Euros.

"GREAT!" I think to myself, I'm going to spend time on the water & understand what it is like to approach the islands like the ancient sailors did.

I'll go from Santa Maria (where I am now) to Sao Miguel (it's a different boat) to Faial.  And when I come back, I'll stop at Sao Miguel (to take the plane to Madeira, the only direct option) and come back to Santa Maria.

Frankly, I've done the boat trip before, even done a cruise of the islands, booked a room onboard & everything.  I am already aware that the boat doesn't travel everyday & that there are stops that last for hours on some islands.  It is not the easiest means of travel or the most flexible.  I am aware that one leg of the journey will be 13 hours. And coming back will be 23 hours. (LONG stops included)

(You are welcome to stop reading here.  The rest of this post is a detailed rant about just how difficult it was to buy the ticket.  I LOVE the islands, why doesn't the RIAC/Atlantico Line Office want to take my money??)

Apparently, the online system makes it too difficult to purchase this package.  I can purchase ONLY a round trip deal for 2 different dates.  If you are visiting 3 islands, does it not make sense to also include a way to indicate the arrival/departure dates for the 3rd island where you WANT to stay?

The online system also returns results in a confusing order. I ask for August 10th and get results listed as
14-8
10-8
12-8

Why would the date I request be the first result anyway?  Wouldn't I rather travel later? (the website seems to think so)

So I went to the RIAC office itself.  And just spent an HOUR trying to figure out how to buy a ticket for what I actually want. The Very Patient Woman behind the counter put my entire schedule into the system.

My proposed travel itinerary for 3 islands:

Santa Maria>Sao Miguel>Faial>Sao Miguel>Santa Maria

The Very Patient Woman helped me to figure out THEIR required itinerary for me to pay 108 Euros for the "3 Island Special":

Santa Maria>Terceira>Faial>Sao Miguel>Santa Maria

How many islands do you see above? 4, count 'em, FOUR!!!!

The annoying part, it is EXACTLY THE SAME BOAT trip. The schedule includes a stop in Terceira for 12 hours. 2pm until 2am, no matter where you want to go, you have to get off & spend money in Terceira.

Unfortunately, even with this modified version, the computer system didn't allow the purchase.  The "Purchase" button that SHE was seeing was grayed out.  She called twice & seemed embarrassed, but asked that we come back tomorrow, while she tried to "massage the system" (it sounds better in Portuguese).

At the end of the hour-long visit, I still didn't have my tickets.  I was also annoyed that the AC didn't work.  Frankly, I was frustrated enough NOT to visit any other islands. Or if I did, it would be by airplane.

==

Afternoon Update: Price on SATA:146 Euros, Sao Miguel to Faial, with a stop in Terceira!

2nd Day Update: They called, told me (in English) that everything had been figured out and I could go back to purchase the tickets. We spent another hour in the office, looking at a grayed out button.

3rd Day Update: They called me again, at 11:45, when they close for lunch at 12.  I returned later that day. I gave up fighting. I paid my money.  I got my ticket. I went to the beach.

I plan to write a letter & call to complain.  After my trip is over.  I don't want anything else to go wrong!!

Main Street of Vila do Porto

Just some random pictures.

From Avenida de Santa Maria.

Cobblestone streets with images of ships inlaid on the sidewalks.

Modern structures across the street from quaint/deserted houses. 

Old trees and former town fountains line the main road. Across from this is a church.

Okay, but not the church above. This red church is at the high point of the street.  My family had a house at this end of the street, when they had arrived from Faial, sometime after the volcano in 1958.

Above is the main government offices on the oldest square. Against the sunset, nothing is better. (Other than a festa!)