After two days on Ilha do Flores, we catch a flight – late of course – to Ponta Delgada on the Island of Saõ Miguel. Travel around the Azores is usually in and out of Ponta Delgada because the islands are really too small to operate a big airport. During the past 10 days, I’ve had to catch nine flights to visit six islands, three to Ponta Delgada to reach the other islands.

This final flight to Ponta Delgada is to catch our morning flight to mainland Portugal to make our way to another island… Ireland.

We stay overnight at Ponta Delgada. I’ve booked us into a two-bedroom condo in the middle of town that has a washer and dryer combo… we all want to wash clothes. We get the first load in and then head out the door to do a little exploring and to find some food.

We walked around the town, went down by the water front, along their “Front Street,” and found some espresso. Ponta Delgada is beautiful and all of its streets are paved. I could see myself living there. I enjoyed the other islands, especially Graciosa and could live there for a few months out of the year, but it would feel small real quick. But not Ponta Delgada. It seems to have plenty of life without being too restrictive for being an island.

We had a nice dinner, gave some money to an old woman and got a hug out of it, and found gelato. It didn’t get dark until 10pm but we were too tired to stay out late. Went back to the room and threw in my laundry, took a really long and hot shower and wrote a story for this blog… and then passed out. Again. We also learn that my Great-Uncle Michael Panchaud, my grandfather’s youngest brother is dying and giving just a few weeks to live. We truly feel sad that we are so far away at the moment. Traveling is rough.

The next morning we’re at the airport catching a flight for Lisbon. I’m not even on the plane 30 minutes when I start having an asthma attack. Someone has strong perfume on and it’s wrecking havoc on my lungs. Thank goodness I had the foresight to bring a mask with me. I pull it out, and that and water help. I had to use it on the Lisbon to Ireland leg of the trip as well.

Next stop, the Land of Éire.