Portugal - wine regions and the Azores
We embarked on a wine and culinary tour of Portugal and relished our three weeks in this beautiful country.
The wines and port from the Douro Valley were the best of Portugal, and the stunning views made the experience otherworldly beautiful.
The wineries we visited were selected by Wine Tourism in Portugal and showcased the finest wines and ports in Portugal. Cartuxa winery in Evora was our first stop. We were so entranced by the views that it was hard to proceed with tastings.
Our private cruise through the Douro River Valley was stunningly beautiful.
While shopping in the local towns we took this picture of four asses.
Sao Miguel island one of 9 in the Azores, and is home to Sete Cidades a stunningly beautiful national park. The twin lakes of Sete Cidades, Lagoa Azul (Blue Lake) and Lagoa Verde (Green Lake), are located within a volcanic crater.
In this beautiful place, we celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary and reflected on our amazing life together and abundant blessings.
Throughout Portugal you will find azulejo tiles. Many still exist within buildings dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries.
The Azores was majestically beautiful and Stacy was transfixed by the natural beauty of this island.
The Azores is a place for whale and dolphin watching and during our cruise we saw two large pods of bottlenose and common dolphins and 3 sperm whales.
Terry and I picked and then arranged wild flowers under the direction of an instructor. You can tell which arrangement Terry felt deserved first place. We will let you decide for yourself.
Miradouro de Santa Iria on the North Coast of Sau Miguel was awe inspiring.
The Azores islands can be shrouded in fog and heavy clouds at any time of the year. Our day began a bit rainy and foggy but then became sunny and breathtaking as the day progressed.
We were reminded of the importance of savoring life and drinking in the world around us at Esporao winery in Alentejo.
After a hard day of wine tasting, Stacy was happy to enjoy Portugese steak. She got to select this unique knife from one of 5 that were offered. Terry decided it was time to behave.
We learned so much about wine in Portugal. This is an example of a well-balanced red wine in the Douro Valley.
