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PONTA DELGADA, AZORES, PORTUGAL

 Day 28 found us in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. Photos from the pool deck.

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Lunch of salad, soup and noodles, with a gin & tonic and beer.
Went to the pool deck for a walk, and saw the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos.
Dinner in the Garden Cafe buffet with glasses of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Karaoke in The Cavern Club.
Midnight snack in the Atrium.
Walked  a good 4410 steps today.
Ponta Delgada, on the island of Sǎo Miguel Island, is the capital of Azores in Portugal.
  • First populated in 1444.
  • There are around 68,000 people now living on this island.
  • Ponta Delgada became a city in 1546 after the 1522 earthquake, which devastated the island.
  • The Cult of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles is the largest and oldest religious event in Portugal.
The Azores is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal, along with Madeira.
  • There are nine volcanic islands about 870 miles west of Lisbon.
  • Possibly discovered in 1427 by Gonçalo Velho.
  • In 1583, Philip II of Spain, as King of Portugal, sent a fleet to clear Azores of pirates and other adventurers.
  • Spain owned Azores until 1640, when Portugal resumed control.
  • Became a key outpost in World War II for British and American forces to protect convoys and attack German U-boats.
  • In 1944 and later, a joint U.S/Portugal air base was developed in the island of Terceira, remaining active today.  Lajes Field is today used for refueling American cargo planes.
  • The population of the Azores was 249,135 in 1864.  The population today is 236,413.

I've been to Portugal on several occasions, mostly because:

  • The Lisbon Expo '98 was supposed to have an ocean theme.  I participated in the early planning and tried to get Portugal and Japan to tow Aquapolis to Lisbon.  You can read the full details here.  We failed, and the fair was desultory.

Portugal:

  • First known human settlement dating back to 5500 BC.
  • Was founded in 1143, with its current borders established in 1297.
  • Had the supreme seafaring technology for the Age of Discovery, and established the first global maritime empire, spanning five continents.
    • In 1498 Vasco da Gama became the first European to reach India by sea.
    • In 1500, Gaspar Corete-Real reached what is now Canada.
    • That same year, Pedro Alvares Cabral claimed Brazil for Portugal.
    • Between 1519 and 1522, Ferdinand Magellan's crew first circumnavigated the globe.
    • The Treaty of Zaragoza, signed in 1529, divided the Pacific Ocean between Spain and Portugal.
    • Discovered Australia in 1521.
  • Reached it economic and political height in the the late 16th century.  300 million people around the world speak Portuguese.
  • The 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy and established democracy, with on and off authoritarian regimes.
  • Declined because of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, Napoleonic wars and independence of Brazil in 1822.
  • Is the oldest nation state in Europe and among the oldest in the world,
  • The Carnation Revolution in 1974 restored democracy.
    • Why carnation?  No shots were fired and a restauant worker offered carnations to soldiers a the end of the dictatorship.
    • A military coup that overthrew the authoritarian government.
  • Has a single chamber Parliament.
  • Founding member of NATO.
  • 26.5 million visitors in 2023.  In 2017, named Best European Country by USA Today.
  • In 2008, renewable energy resources produced 43% of the nation's electricity.  Back then, Portugal had the largest solar farm in the world.  It will have the largest in all of Europe next year when a solar photovoltaic park at 1200 MW will open next year.
  • Capital Lisbon has the largest population at 567,131.
  • Very low fertility level since the 1980's, with a 1.36 children born / woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1, and on pr with Japan and South Korea.  The current population of 10.6 million is expected to drop to 7.7 million by 2080.
  • 84% White, with 10% resident foreigners.
  • 80% Roman Catholics.
  • Literacy rate of 99.8%.
  • College is free, and 48% of citizens attended, compared to 50% in the U.S. and 35% OECD.
  • Nearly 22% of citizens are over 65, 4th in the world.
  • Most known food item is bacalhau, dry cod.
    • The story of the Portuguese cod fishermen, who beginning in the 1500s began their long journey to to catch cod off Canada and Greenland is epic,  They were superseded by other countries until 1934 when Portuguese dictator Antonio de Salazar brought it back by sending their fishermen back to those cold areas.
    • By any standard, fishing is the most dangerous profession, killing more than 100,000 fishermen ANNUALLY, many going for cod.  Why so high?  Much is illegal and there is no accountability.
  • Any wine called Port needs to be from Portugal.
  • Soccer great Christiano Ronaldo is from Portugal
  • Hawaii has a long tradition of early Portuguese setters, and the ukulele is derived from their instruments.
  • Today headed by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has been in power now for eight years.  New Prime Minister Luis Montenegro attained his office this year.

Happy Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day.  November 11 is a federal holiday in the U.S.  Major hostilities ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, ending World War I. Memorial Day in May honors those who died in service to the country.  Veterans Day commemorates those who served.

We will be at sea for two days, with a next stop on Wednesday in La Coruna, Spain.

Tropical Storm 27 formed today east of the Philippines, but will soon strengthen into a Category 3 and head for the northern Philippines, then Taiwan.

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