AZORES  - DAY NINE - Pico to Faial

Blogs: Day 1 - Getting There | Day 2 - Central | Day 3 East | Day 4 West | Day 5 Last Day | Day 6 To Pico | Day 7 Madalena | Day 8 Pico Mountain | Day 9 Pico to Faial | Day 10 Pico East | Day 11 Pico North | Day 12 To São Miguel | Day 13 São Miguel North East | Day 14 São Miguel North West | Day 15 São Miguel Furnas | Day 16 São Miguel Pineapples | Day 17 São Miguel Baths | Day 18 São Miguel Filling the Gaps | Day 19 São Miguel ABF

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Today was time to visit Faial island, just a short 5.5 mile, 30 minute ferry ride from Pico. The ferry terminal was a 30 minute drive from our AirBnB.

Approaching the main city, Horta. Faial is a very small island, only 13 miles long and 8 miles wide, but it has a larger population than Pico at 15,000. We reserved a rental car, which at €60 for the day was 1/3 the price of booking a tour. Consider €1.00 is equal to US$1.10. And we could go where WE wanted to go and not stop for "free time, shopping". Ugh! Roads were in great condition. Horta has a more modern feel to it than the other islands with less of the traditional Azorean stone house architecture.

First stop was a lookout so we could look back and see Pico Mountain. Then a drive up the coast.

Next we went to a light house that was built in 1894. However its main claim to fame was in 1957 where it was the site of a huge volcanic eruption.

The volcano spewed out ash 4000 feet into the air for over a month. The quantity of falling ash was so much it formed and entire island 300 feet high in front of the light house. That's the island you see above.

Then off to the caldera. A caldera is a large cauldron-like hollow that forms shortly after the emptying of a magma chamber in a volcano eruption. This caldera is huge!  Nearly 4800ft in diameter and over 1300ft deep.

Note the mini caldera in the middle of the big caldera. The view point is accessed through a short tunnel.

There is NO WAY I would take this walking trail down to the bottom! I would consider the trail than runs all the way round for 5 miles, but I really don't like heights, so that's a big pass!

Next was a drive back down the mountain back into Horta.

Note the ex-volcano now covered in grass. Very pretty drive.

Next stop was at the main marina where there is street art everywhere! It is the largest maritime painting collection in the world. It is very superstitious - visiting crews whose ships come to Horta must leave a painting of their boat on the breakwater so that their ship will arrive safely at its next destination. Some who haven’t left a representation of their ship have suffered shipwrecks and other nautical disasters.

Then we drove up the hill on the far side of the city to get an overview in each direction.

Last drive back to the ferry terminal and it was time to return to Pico. This time we were on the larger car ferry.

And finally...

I know I have had a lot to say about no public restrooms in Terceira. Pico was a solid improvement with many public restrooms and NOT locked, WITH paper, soap and hand towels. Not so much for Faial, where I really needed to go at the Caldera and not a restroom within MILES.

I am not normally one to piss on another countries national monument, but REALLY you know how long a drive it is back to the city. I was, however, carefull not to pee on any place someone might walk! And there was no one else there at the time!

And FINALLY finally...