Ilha do Pico

Boa tarde!

I warmly greet you from the middle of the Atlantic ocean.

Being surrounded by the vast open ocean is a truly unique feeling and brings about a lot of stories. I hardly know where to start. What’s more, I realise I find it tough to condense what I see, smell, hear, feel into words while all my senses, my soul, and my body still are in explorer’s mode and soaking up all these new and breathtaking impressions.

Having said that I also want to share some of the abundance I am very grateful to witness right now.

So let’s start the journey of this jewel called Pico, the second largest island of the Azores, with a little walk around Madalena. Pico’s capital.

Churches come in a characteristic design and you can always see them from afar. The following is Santa Maria Madalena. Montanha do Pico in the background, however, (the highest peak of Portugal and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and one of the highest volcanoes in Europe at 2351 m a. s.) likes to dress a jumpsuit most of the time.

Houses here are so picturesque and well-tended. They are built with volcanic rocks and as such probably stand forever. When you add some white colour – which you see regularly – you have what we started to call zebra houses. The house in the top middle by the way is not occupied anymore. Flowers and plants slowly take it over.

Almost wherever you go, you are given some life advice for free and find secluded and spectacular places to enjoy yourself.

Pico is very famous for its sperm whale population and I found a stunning mural that honours these giants of the sea.

Madalena makes you stop for several murals, some are related to life here and others are probably just for fun and to show the artists‘ skills.

Living on Pico looks like living a calm and peaceful life on a green jewel in the big blue. Never have I seen more beautiful nuances of blue. Looking into, over and at the open ocean every day for several hours is a precious thing to do. I enjoy it as long as I can…