Our Last Day on Terceira Island

We've had such a wonderful visit.  It's hard to believe this is our last day.  We decided to take it easy and just enjoy the beautiful day.  After relaxing we decided to head back over to Praia da Vitoria.  I had yelped "italian" food and found there was one Italian restaurant (Buzius) on the island.  I was craving pasta like you can't imagine.  Luckily, even if something is on the complete other side of the island it is only about 25-30 minutes away.  It was sooooo worth the drive.  

This is a typical appetizer - bread, olives and sausage (1.5 €)

Matt's lunch Spaghetti Carbonara (with bacon) - way more than he could eat. 

My favorite - Fettuccini Alfredo - with chicken.  I actually prefer it without
but this was the best fettuccini I've ever eaten.  Really!

Our check came in a shell.  Nice touch.

Throughout our stay one of our minor frustrations is that drinks, no matter what you order, are served with ice.  That's a European thing.  They just simply don't use ice the way Americans do.  We always add to order cold water with no gas.  This meant - hopefully a water bottle that had been in a fridge and did not have carbonation.  I tasted water with gas in Germany last summer.  Nasty!

Just outside the restaurant they had this great swimming area.  It was actually much nicer than the one on our side of the island. 

You can even go straight out into the ocean if you'd like.  No lava rocks.

Not a bad view anywhere on the island!

The Azores are known for their bull fighting and the running of the bulls.  Fortunately, we just barely missed these.  They end September 1st.  The people on the island are pretty proud of these traditions.  I personally think they are barbaric and should be done away with.  No area can be perfect though, right?

This GIANT statue is near the bull fighting arena.
(This is a large roundabout to give you some idea of the size of the statue.) 

Bull fighting arena

Our last stop was an old fortress.  We found when we went to visit it that it had been turned into an hotel.  Apparently, they don't mind having the public come in because we weren't the only ones checking it out. 

It was a sheer drop off to the lava rocks and waves below. 

Because you can't ever get too much of the ocean.

Great views from the fort walls.  I think I want to have some of these made into puzzles.

One of the lookout towers. 

We think this is where they kept prisoners.  Were not sure but it that's all
we could think of for the level of this collar. 

Another beautiful view

Spiral staircase with a port hole.  Interesting...

 For our last dinner on the island we went back to one of our favorite shops.  It's one about a mile away but I was glad we chose to drive.  We actually came just for the cheesecake but decided we should eat something healthy first.  We ordered 2 ham and cheese sandwiches.  These weren't fancy but you can't beat the price (1.3€).  I can't get over how inexpensive food is here given that we're in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean - hours and hours away from anywhere.  

Best cheesecake ever!

Looking down one of the main roads at night

It'll be sad to leave this beautiful place tomorrow.  It's been a wonderful visit.  I'm sad to see it end but excited to get home to see the kids. I look forward to coming back again.  Hopefully, it won't be too far in the future.