May 5th, 2023 Day 122 of 128

Praia Di Vitoria, Terceira, Portugal

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone. Or we loving call it Cinco De Drinko. There is nothing planned on the ship in celebration of the day. Megan and I can’t wait to get home for some much missed traditional tacos. Today is our very last port of this trip. We toured all around the island of Terceira in very cool 4×4 Land Cruisers with just five of us and a tour guide in our vehicle. We got bumped and bounced around as we traversed through the hills, valleys and over cobblestone roads. It was so nice to be able to go at a nice clip as well as we have mostly been riding gin buses for the last four months. We had a great guide and we made several stops throughout the day. We had panoramic views from the mountain tops and had fabulous views of our ship. We saw the patchwork fields surrounded by rocks walls built by the early settlers here. The fields were cleared of the volcanic rock that laid here to prepare for planting and the rocks were used to build wall to divide the plots of land. There are walls all over the entire island. Now there are cows within the walls. Our guide said there are 60k people on the island and 1.5 cows for each inhabitant. The use the cows are mainly used for milk production, there are portable milking machines owned by each farmer that they take to the cows instead of bring the cows in from the pasture. The milk is either exported, used to make cheese and ice cream and to make powdered milk. We saw on old fort that was used when the Spanish were in control of the islands. There are several large guns here as well and they were never even used. We went to a cheese factory and got to sample four types of cheese they produce right there. We drove along the coast and visited the town of Biscoitos and the Ponta dos Biscoitos. There are swimming pools here all along the coastline where you can swim and there are steps and railing to take you into the pools that are filled naturally with the ocean water. In the summer time this area will be packed with locals and tourists every day. We saw the vineyards here where they grow a varietal grown only here called Verde Iho. The plants are surround by the basalt walls as well to protect them from the wind as well as to keep the heat from the sun close to the plants. Another unique production and an innovation way to accomplish the needs of the society.

So I’d be remiss not to talk about the obsession with bull runs here. From April till October every year, they have a running of a bull somewhere on the island EVERY SINGLE DAY. Sometimes in more than one location in a single day. The community pays to set up fencing, bring in food trucks and local vendors come and sell their goods throughout the evening from about 6pm till 8:00pm. At then end of the event a team comes through and cleans up all the wrappers, empty beer cans and by the next morning you can’t even tell the event took place. Every single night. We asked how largely these events are attended and if the locals grow bored or tired of them and he said no. He said every event is very largely attended by the locals of wherever the days run is taking place. It is crazy to think this event takes place daily, it gives a whole new meaning to what I have always believed the bull runs in Spain were all about.

When we got to the ship it was about noon so Megan and I hopped on the shuttle and went into town to look around. We walk through a few shops, walked down along the beach, stopped for drink (cause it’s cinco de mayo), went to a deli and had a snack and walked through a hand full of shops. The town was super cute and and very walkable. There were so many passengers and crew members walking around town. We definitely take over these little towns when we come into ports sometimes. After we got back to the ship we headed home and sent out the laundry. The captain made an announcement that we were 2,935 mile from Fort Lauderdale. Then we headed to the Lido deck for our last and final sail away party. The ship sponsored a cheese and wine event for the passengers. By the time that was over it was time to head to the main dining room for dinner. We weren’t very hungry and and had a couple of appetizers and salad. Then we headed home. I finished my final Project Linus blanket, because I have to turn it in tomorrow. And then we put on a movie to wrap up the end of our very last sea day. I have had to hold back tears a few times today. I am filled with emotions about the end of our fabulous trip. I will treasure every memory made, every opportunity I was blessed with and for how everyone came together back at home to allow me to come on this trip. It won’t be my last. Now we sail back to Fort Lauderdale and have six day at sea to look forward to. To pack, to rest, and say our “see you laters”. Looking forward to being home. Hugs!