Today was a moving morning as we got our bags ready for the airport to leave Terceira Island and fly to Pico Island. Arriving at Pico Island, we are greeted by the local guide, Susane, and find out that today, an overwhelming number of scouts on the island gather from all of the Azores that have taken the large local buses. We were informed that they acquired two mini-vans and managed with that. It wasn't long, and we were looking at chocolate drops of lava stones on the coastal waters of Cachorro. And walking around, we came to this stone resembling a dog's head. Closer inspection showed that the ear was broken off and had a repair done to it. We must keep the magic alive as we love our imagination always to be triggered. Susane had some maps of the Island and passed out what she had. The Azores are doing less printing and more online. Following a coastal highway, I noticed a lot of patterned lava rock fences that cut down on the wind and salt spray in the air, warming the air temperature. We next visited an old Whaling Factory in the village of Sao Roque that has been turned into a museum.
I had no idea how big a whale's jaw bone could be and their large teeth. The factory showed the equipment to do this process, which took a lot of equipment and people. It was now time for some lunch, and we went to a local one that was also winey, as well as a museum in Santo Antonio called Adega A Buraca. The meal was good, and the host, Christina, was excellent in storytelling the family business and sharing samples for those interested. We next moved on to another Whalers' Museum in Lajes do Pico, where our guides had the 20-minute video changed to English. After watching this film, you got the sense that this was the livelihood of the people of the Azores. There was also a good amount of artwork from different bone parts of the whale. With some free time, I walked the seashore and pondered on the people working and all the boats going to sea. The Pico Mountain showed some hope as it played peek-a-boo with the clouds trying to wrap its blanket around its crown as our bus drove us to Lagoa Do Capitao for a lake view and Pico in the backdrop. I was surprised by all the ducks following us and thought they must have received a handout before and of the cows that never go by the hydrangeas. Well, I proved that wrong as I got mine in the camera. Finding our way to (ma del ling da ) Madalenda, we checked into the Hotel Caravelas and, a short time later, went to dinner at Picoceano Restaurant, not far away.