Food & Markets
Bringing in the daily catch
Witnessing thousands of fish being off-loaded, sorted, weighed and sent to auction is a window into another world.
Jim Dorsey
June 2, 2020
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Witnessing thousands of fish being off-loaded, sorted, weighed and sent to auction is a window into another world.
Peixaria Almeida fishmarket, on the north shore of the island, is a fish lover’s dream. Once we discovered it we became weekly regulars!
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 boutique hotel just outside Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel. Our stay on a pineapple plantation!
Now that we are free to roam we are spending more time outside exploring the island’s famous beaches and fish market.
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.
First stop was the overlook at Salto do Cavalo. The second-highest peak on the island.
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.
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.
Today brought sunshine after another night, and morning, of heavy rain with strong winds. Several trees are down and many of the meadows near the lake have turned into small lakes. The local ducks appear overjoyed with all their temporary aquatic options.
On a bright sunny afternoon, after five months of waiting, a new beginning was celebrated with the farm’s goat giving birth to two sweet kids, one male and one female.
Staying in a barn may not be everybody’s cup of tea. Even if it is in England.
However, staying in a renovated sheep barn that has been converted into a cozy studio with a large, comfortable bed, full kitchen, bathroom with a shower and tub might just change your mind.
Of the three remaining goats at the farm (two others went to ?market?) one of them is expecting within the next 2-3 weeks. We are keeping a daily vigil as she is getting quite big.
Between weeding the various beds and investigating what could be harvested for dinner that evening I came across several deep red chili peppers.
The surrounding hills and valleys are blooming with reckless abandon. Gorse is everywhere, with its brilliant yellow flowers as calla lilies flourish out of damp, grassy meadows.
This morning brought sunshine with the usual chorus of birds urging us to wake up and get outside. We were oh-so happy to comply…Help, Help is just the funny story of a normal day in the Azores.
Once again Mother nature is in a foul mood, introducing us to a new wave of viciousness as the rain is positively relentless Wind against trees in the Azores
It is widely recognized that the North Atlantic has some of the most feared and fearsome weather on the planet.
Victoria, an energetic, passionate woman nearing her 80?s runs a small market kiosk in Santiago de Compostela keeping an old world craft alive.
Spain’s Cies Islands are the Vigo estuary’s greatest treasure and an amazing national marine-terrestrial park. They are also one of the country’s most beautiful places for hiking, camping, sailing, diving, and swimming.
