Make hay while the sun shines

Playground Earth | Hay There | Hay Harvest

The ritual of harvesting hay is carried out each spring on the islands of the Azores. Witnessing it firsthand was a fascinating experience.

Herdade do Ananas Stay

Playground Earth | Herdade do Anan?s Hotel

Herdade do Ananas boutique hotel just outside Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel. Our stay on a pineapple plantation!

Surfing on Sao Miguel island

Playground Earth | Azores | Santa Barbara Beach

Now that we are free to roam we are spending more time outside exploring the island’s famous beaches and fish market.

The Romeiros of Sao Miguel

Playground Earth | Azores | The Romeiros of Sao Miguel

Here on the island of Sao Miguel, 900 miles off the coast of Portugal, the pilgrims are known as Romeiros and their centuries-old legacy is rooted in an all-consuming faith.

Serendipi-Tea

Playground Earth | Sao Miguel | Tea Fields

First stop was the overlook at Salto do Cavalo. The second-highest peak on the island.

Japanese Cedar Stripping

Playground Earth | Azores | Japanese Cedar Bark

Thirty feet and a thousand pounds of pencil straight Japanese cedar recently came crashing down in the woods near our cabin. It sounded like thunder but there was no storm.

The king of tuna

Playground Earth | Good News From | Catching the Blues

Fish lovers around the world know all too well that bluefin tuna is the king of tuna. Prized for its rich taste and buttery texture, bluefin has no rivals.