Velas, Sao Jorge.

I took advice from everyone! Had a fizzy Vitamin C drink for breakfast, Stugeron (25mg) and the wrist bands! The passage was calm and enjoyable no rolly wave motion and I felt fine throughout ! (note to remind myself to try the same again ) We both had lunch and dinner while en route and also a couple of hour kip. Yes we were rewarded with more dolpins and rather a sea full of Jelly fish. The wind died completely towards dawn and when we checked with the Marina ‘Jose’ told us that he was expecting 26 yachts from the Horta to Velas race later in the day. (Some hope with no wind I thought) anyway we anchored and unloaded ‘Cresendo’ so that we could get ashore. Needless to say the harbour was packed! After checking in with the police we has a look round and found various stages and booths set up ready for the weekends entertainment. Since they has changed the dates and not the publicity it was the end of the Fiesta. However, we had plenty to fill our first weekend.
We waited until eleven o’clock for the procession to begin and had a few beers…..

On Sunday it was sizzling so I had a day on washing the deck. Malcolm meanwhile went to see the “Tourada à Corda” the street bullfighting. This one was on the harbour wall with containers to provide safe viewing for the public. It also meant any easy exit to the sea if the bull got too close, except one bull fancied a swim and jumped in !
Meanwhile, the Marina which had emptied during the day had started to fill again.
On Monday I went to sign in for the week and so did many more arrivals! Amongst whom were another British boat “Freedom To…” It was great to exchange stories on deck in the heat of the evening.
Tuesday we took a taxi to Serra do Topo for the start of a 10km downhill hike. The top was covered with low cloud but we had soon walked down out if it - into a pleasantly cool day. The views of the valleys below from this height were amazing! We couldn’t see much of the island coastline though. Images are in Picasa as always and the flora are in the other folder. After this epic 4 hour hike we had a couple of cool beers while waiting for our taxi driver. The final 3km were along the coast at sea level. The only track into the very small village is only passable with a 4 wheel dune buggy. We were passed by some walkers with their guide as it started to rain and no sooner than I had thought how nice a ride would be an Islander stopped and offered us a lift.
Thursday we hired a car and had a trip to the Western end and then the Cheese Factory where we had a guided tour. Next the church at Santa Barbara and along to the Eastern end to a town called Topo.
Images are on Picasa.