Terceira: A Jewel in the Mid- Atlantic
Since Diya started to study and later work in the lovely island of Faial in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, we have visited the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, on several occasions. Comprising small volcanic islands, the Azores are nine tiny specs of green in the vast blue expanse of the Atlantic, midway between Europe and North America. This time Diya planned a small holiday for us in Terceira, or literally the ‘third’, but in fact the second largest among the nine islands. At 8 am sharp the Atlanticoline ferry left the Horta terminal, with holiday makers as well as locals. Horta and Terceira are part of a cluster of five islands that also include Pico, Sao George and Graciosa and our ferry stopped at Pico and Sao George before terminating at Pria de Vitoria in Terceira. The six and half hour journey was leisurely but spectacular with the 2300-metre-tall Pico forming a backdrop for most of the way, and small boats and birds keeping us company from time to time. The f...