June 6, 2016 - Tanya's in the Azores and More - Day 18 - São Miguel, Portugal

Elisa's Daily Scoop
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2016 FIA European Rally Championship

HOWDY!!
Monday again - believe it or not, I really LOVE Mondays. Call me crazy, but I love the beginning of a new week.

After the weekend and running around with the kids, I'm ready for them to get back to school and get caught up on errands, meal planning and ongoing organizing of this big, old house.

Today, I've got dinner all ready to go - chicken fajitas for the kids, leftover veggie soup for me and a cucumber salad.  I really like knowing what I'm making for dinner in advance - makes things easier for the whole week.

Anyway, tomorrow, I'll be chaperoning Kelsey's 4th Grade on their field trip.  More on that Wednesday.  It's been a while since I went on one of her class's field trips.  I chaperoned Gianna's to the Walt Whitman Birthplace back in November (2015). 

Should be a fun day!!

So, Tanya's trip to The Azores and More is quickly coming to its end, but not before she has another few days of fun and adventure!

This past weekend she got caught up in the FIA European Rally Championship!  Here's a bit about this event...

AZORES AIRLINES RALLYE...
This past weekend, the island of São Miguel hosted one of the most spectacular events in international motorsports -  round four of the 2016 FIA European Rally Championship hosted by the Azores Airlines Rallye. 

Having taken place from 2-4 June, the rally possesses a rich history and an exciting future.

The event included 16 timed tests criss-crossing the breath-taking scenery and lush countryside, covering a competitive distance of 215.53 kilometres.

(credit: Rallystart.eu)

According to the official website, Rallystart.eu,
"Characterised by their sandy surface and narrow and undulating nature, the stages are often no wider than the width of a car, meaning there is simply no margin for error, particularly on the sensational Sete Cidades stage in the northwest of the island, which includes a charge along the rim of a volcanic crater lake.

Changeable weather is also a factor due to the ocean climate with conditions switching from sunshine to showers and fog thrown in for good measure. While the event is ranked as a gravel contest, 11 per cent of the competitive route uses asphalt roads."

This event began in 1965 and it wasn't until 1992, that it was included as part of the ERC schedule.

2016 marks the 51st and included approximately "27 top-of-the-range R5 cars, plus a strong contingent from the FIA ERC Junior Championship, of which the Azores Airlines Rallye counts as the second event of the season."

Tanya was front and center for this event, which she detailed in yesterday's Scoop!

I have to share with you - I've got a few new destinations in my sights for the future...Georgia (the country, not the US State) and Croatia!!

My excitement was so great, I couldn't contain it and I was texting Tanya yesterday; sending her links and telling her that we must get something on the calendar for either 2017 or 2018.

Patience is not a virtue I was born with, nor have I mastered it through my life, so I'm waiting with baited breath to chat with Tanya when she returns home from this trip!!

I'll be talking more about these very cool places tomorrow for Travelin' Tuesday!

Well, that's all she wrote for today.

Don't forget to read all about Tanya's excursion yesterday in Furnas!!--->>>-->>>

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: 
São Miguel, Portugal

A Day in Furnas

Good Day everyone! 
We're are still thoroughly enjoying ourselves here in  the Azores. São Miguel to be exact!

I actually had to be reminded by reading Elisa's side that today is Monday. Because when you are on holiday - everyday is a holiday!!

So Happy Monday to you!!

Now let's talk about Sunday - yesterday...
We spent the entire day in Furnas (where we also happen to be staying).

Furnas is located in the easternmost of three active trachytic volcanoes on the island of São Miguel, in the historically active Volcanic Complex of Furnas.

We started by going to see the Lake and the Calderias.
It was a beautiful day and the colors just popped against the gorgeous blue sky.

If you've ever been to any Calderas then you know that they smell pretty bad of sulfur - and while I get all gaggy, I was taking it quite well.
​However meanwhile Cosette was not too happy with the stink whatsoever!

We toured the boardwalks and then waited for the restaurants to come and retrive their pots out of the holes in the earth where the traditional meal of Cozido has been cooking underground with natural volcanic heat for 7 hours.

We had placed an advance request for a vegan Cozido from Restaurante Tony's, and enjoyed the traditional/ceremonial festivities of watching all the action.

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Overlooking Furnas (c)travelincousins.com

Cool Roots (c)travelincousins.com

Lagoa das Furnas (c)travelincousins.com

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Local goods (c)travelincousins.com

Local Kitty (c)travelincousins.com

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Boardwalk at the Calderias (c)travelincousins.com

Walking through the smoke (c)travelincousins.com

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Watching the ceremony (c)travelincousins.com

Cooking in the ground (c)travelincousins.com

Carrying the pots of Cozido (c)travelincousins.com

Next up was going to meet our food at the restaurant and let me tell you just how excited we were!!! We really were!

But then not too go into too much detail - my request was was lost in translation and they cooked our veggie (although I requested Vegan) Cozido with the traditional meat Cozido.
We were very disappointed to say the least.

But the day must go on.

So Dave ordered some fries and Cosette got some Olives - I was over it and didn't want anything - neither did Dominic. 

Restaurante Tony's (c)travelincousins.com

Still excited and about to be disappointed. (c)travelincousins.com

Then all became better when I went across the street and found a lovely fruit market!

We continued to wander through the center of town and then decided that we really just wanted to explore the amazing property that we rented...

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The fun the nest above a pond at our little Eden (c)travelincousins.com

Great Day! (c)travelincousins.com

Love this place! (c)travelincousins.com

Cosette's favorite! (c)travelincousins.com

Ok, it was my turn! (c)travelincousins.com

And that was how we spent our Sunday in Furnas! Loving' every minute of it!!!

I hope that you enjoyed your Sunday too!

Catch ya back here tomorrow and I'll fill ya in on all the fun we have today mountain biking in Sete Cidades.
-T

(c)travelincousins.com