December 3rd, Ponta Delgada

We pulled into port promptly at 7:30 in anticipation of all ashore at 8.

We both spent time walking around the promenade deck as we cruised into the port.

We each grabbed something quick for breakfast though neither turned out to be as quick as we wanted. Janice went to the NY Deli and gave up. I went to Club Orange wanting to make an breakfast sandwich. I made a sandwich but it took 35 minutes to get what I ordered and there was clearly a language gap. I ordered: 1 egg fried hard, 2 slices of bacon, 1 piece of sliced cheese, and one toasted bagel. I received 2 fried eggs, 2 slices of cheese, a toasted bagel, 3 slices of bacon, hashbrowns and a tomato. I only ate what I wanted and ordered.

After breakfast we got organized and checked in for our Taste of the Azores tour. I was again a tour through the ship which we tend to avoid. It was using credit we had for excursions and it was popular. There were 300 people filling 6 buses.

The tour took us out of the city and up to Sete Cidades. It is volcanic crater than now holds a huge lake and village. On the ride up we saw all of the small dairy farms that dot the landscape. Agriculture and heavily filled with dairy and beef make up 54% of the GDP.

One interesting note is that the cows are really spread out and the milking operation comes to them in the different fields rather than the cows coming to a milk house. As best we could tell, they have plenty to graze on so they don’t eat much hay or grains.

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We stopped at the village at the bridge down below before heading back to Ponta Delgada. Within blocks of the ship we went to hotel where we experienced the taste with local cheese, bread and wines. All were quite good and of course our tour guide attributed it to the quality of the milk for the cheese and the volcanic soil for the grapes. After we walked around the local stores before returning to the ship. Wanting to balance the cheese and wine we each had a salad before relaxing the in the afternoon.

The sea view pool bar has perfected a margarita that isn’t too sweet and is delicious.

Dinner was at 6 in the Tammarind with a special menu. Rijsttafel. It was a traditional Indonesian meal of small portions so you could taste a lot. About half the crew are Indonesian and the staff wore traditional dress.

Appetizer – Urap – Indonesian mixed vegetables.

Soup: Soto Ayam Madura

Entrees
Nasi Goreng (fried rice)

Pork Sate

Sambal Gorend Udang (shrimp)

Ayam goren Derundeng Jawa (chicken)

Pepes Ikan (steamed fish)

Beef Sumatra

Sambal Goreng kentang (potato)

Sambal Goreng Buncis (green beans)

Dessert was Mango sorbet and honey tuile

After dinner we retired to watch some football and call it a day.