Trans-Atlantic Crossing

After part of a day back in SXM, which we spent swimming and shopping, we re-boarded the Wind Surf for the two-week crossing.  This time there were about 150 passengers, including some of the same people from the Caribbean Cruising.  Now we were not visiting ports, there was lots of time to relax; the pace slowed down considerably!

A few highlights included the deck barbecue; several cooking demos from the chef, as well as the captain and hotel manager, both of whom have cooking experience; "Sail Away" parties; meeting new people at dinner, and always, the food itself.

However, for those of you who can't imagine what there is to do on a two-week crossing, here are some activities available on a typical day:. Dynamic and static stretch, pathway to yoga, walk a mile, knot tying, guest lecturer John Clauson on his father's role in the Cold War, cooking demonstration, trivia, Italian wine tasting, WII games, seminar on back pain solutions, guest choir practice, bridge games, fellow guest lecturer (a child psychologist), afternoon tea, extreme abs, Happy Hour, live music by two groups, evening talk, future cruise presentation, special coffees bar, and more live music and dancing.  Just some of that and eating kept us busy, but we did spend many hours on deck with books, puzzles and newspapers.

Sailing away from SXM a second time

Deck BBQ under the sails

Jim couldn't get too much lobster!

The sailing was fairly smooth, and we were happy there was not a repeat of last year's storm when this ship was hit by several rogue waves which turned over a piano, tore shelves from walls, and sent some passengers across the room out of their beds!  Bravely, some have returned to cross again.

On Good Friday, we arrived at Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, in the Azores for the day.  We joined an excursion on the other side of the Island where we hiked two hours.  At first, fog and rain shuttered the view, but finally a curtain opened and we saw the gorgeous landscape.  This area has seven craters and a picturesque village both called Sete Cidades.  The dazzling blue alpine lakes revealed themselves like jewels set in a lush green setting.

Nicknamed "The Green Island", Sao Miguel's first settlement occurred in 1444 after Prince Henry the Navigator ordered cattle placed ashore.  The fertility of the land, and the island's geographic position as the crossroads of Europe, Africa and America, contributed to a rapidly-expanding economy.  Crops such as oranges (wiped out by disease), tea, tobacco, sugar beet, pineapple and lately, livestock and fishing, made for a prosperous economy.  Islanders who left went for a better life in other parts of Europe or America, which has numerous towns of with citizens of Portuguese descent.

                                   

                                  

Old house in Sete Cidades where water once went up to the second storey.

There was time after lunch to explore the old capital of Ponta Delgada ("sharp point of land") with its traditional 16th century buildings.

Igreja Matriz de Sao Sebastiao

  City Hall

Portas de Cidade, the city gates

Easter Sunday, April 21:  At sea.  We had some excitement on Easter Sunday when a guest had to be evacuated from the ship by military helicopter, a day and a half out of Lisbon.  He had suffered a broken vertebra in a fall earlier in the voyage and received treatment in Ponta Delgada, and was advised not to go back on the ship.  He was wearing a neck brace but wanted to carry on but his condition worsened.  It took hours for the helicopter to arrive, but the mission was successful, though we all had to stay off the decks.

We docked in Lisbon late Easter Monday, disembarking early the next morning.  More about our week in Lisbon and area next time.