Destination Feature: Azores Islands
Reflections - On Surprising Access
We just stepped off the plane from a week in the Azores Islands, the Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. Captivated and mesmerized we were, so much so that it felt apropos to dedicate this Travellers Club edition to sharing all the wonders that delighted our every sense. Our intent is to paint a picture of a few of the wonderful experiences offered there, and to compel you to see this magical landscape before it goes the way of all the other 'discovered,' and subsequently overtouristed places.
Admittedly, I have a thing for remoteness. And the exotic. The more unique or farfetched the destination, the more it intrigues me. The Azores (Açores in Portuguese) have long been on my bucket list. SATA, now rebranded as Azores Airlines, has had a direct flight from Boston since at least the 1990s, carrying the diaspora of Azorean Islanders who settled en-mass in Massachusetts and Rhode Island back to their homeland for annual visits. That flight put the possibility of the Azores on my radar. But somehow, I never went. It still felt a bit far. Yet, upon arriving on Terceira Island earlier this month, we were surprised at how many American and Canadian immigrants we encountered. Yes, the Lajes US Air Force base (and overlapping Terceira Airport) once held over 8,000 American troops, creating a very distinct North American community that influenced island culture. But, there are many others settling here too. To our surprise, the waiters serving us breakfast in the hotel were from Wisconsin and from Montreal. Remote?!, they scoffed?! Not in the least. It was the epitome of accessible escapes. They could be in Madrid partying in 3 hours, or back home in 4. Yes, the US is only a 4-hour flight away, and now that there are several flights from the Northeast and Canada to both Terceira and São Miguel Islands, North Americans are really liking the idea of the Azores.
It's been called the 'Hawaii of the Atlantic,' and for good reason. ... Continue Reading the Editor's Note
Stay: Torel Terra Brava
Our favorite Portuguese chain's newest property.
A boutique to be-still my heart!See: Whale & Dolphin Watching
Eat: Sintonia Experience
The Road Trip on Terceira: Mapped
Resources and Intel
Intel: Azores by Air - A Short Hop Away
'Mid-Atlantic means far from everywhere, and close to everywhere. Go now.
Musings
Listen & Watch: Branko's Açores Set
For Dreaming of: the perfect spot for a music video.
Taste from Afar: Açorean Pudim de Feijão
For Dreaming of: the smorgasbord of island cuisine.
Read: 'Island by Island Guide to the Azores'
For Dreaming of: Deciding which island to visit can be a challenge.
Watch: 'Rabo de Peixe'
For Dreaming of: A new series from Netflix, set in the islands.
Beauty: Império do Divino Espírito Santo do Porto Judeu
Impérios center each village on Terceira Island, a gathering place for community festivals, with bright, jewel box colors that might only otherwise have a home in a place like India.
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Syllogi Travellers Club Publications:
Edition One - Featuring Marseilles and Provence, Alaska, 1997 Egypt, José Right in Portugal, Japanese film
Destination Feature: Washington DC
Edition Two - Featuring the American South, Luxury Train Travel, and the culinary delights of Italy
Edition Three - Featuring Barcelona, Brazil, and a Highway 1 Roadtrip
Edition Four - Featuring the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mauritius, Shanghai in 2005, and a search for vanilla.
Edition Five - Featuring Paris, a weekend in Santa Fe, and La Paz, Bolivia.
Destination Feature: Portugal Beyond Lisbon
Edition Six - On Remoteness featuring Newfoundland, Ecuador, Cuba’s Viñales Valley, and Fiji.
Destination Feature: Cape Town, South Africa
Edition Seven - On Taste featuring Tasmania, Belgium, São Tomé, and more.
Edition Eight: On Cozy Traditions - Featuring the Italian Dolomites, Finland retreats, Switzerland, Montana, and the Ice Hotel.
Edition Nine: On Family Travel - Featuring all things kid-friendly, including our guide for first timers, Paris, plus hotels in Madrid, London, & Cartagena, a café in Amsterdam, and family traditions in Jamaica, 1998.
Destination Feature: National Parks of the American West
Edition Ten: On Luxury - Featuring plush hideaways in Sicily, the Seychelles, Indonesia, Zanzibar, and Venice, plus a Kenyan safari and an acclaimed resort in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Destination Feature: Sydney, Australia
Edition Eleven: On Travelling Badly - Sharing our worst tales: an accident in New Zealand, horrible stays in Brazil and Maine, a collection of bad reviews, tips on travelling better.
Destination Feature: Lisbon, Portugal
Edition Twelve: Escaping the Crowds - Alternatives to the crowded beaches of Europe. Sofia, Bulgaria, a capital of cool; the multiple delights of Slovenia; and quiet stays in Bordeaux, Greece, & Sweden.
Edition Thirteen: Romance - Honeymoon favorites, including over-water bungalows in the Maldives and French Polynesia, strolling among antiquities in Rome, and a floating palace in India worthy of 007.
Destination Feature: Buenos Aires
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