Today I added a vintage Azores travel journal to the portfolio section. During 1992 and 1993 we twice visited 7 of the 9 beautiful Azores islands on extended backpacking trips including a sail-back from Horta Faial to Gibraltar as hitch hikers. This was a most fascinating trip to remote places of intense calm and beauty meeting friendly people. The photos first take you to the main island of Sao Miguel, showing how locals cook a special stew in the hot earth around Furnas, also a religious celebration in Povoacao is captured.

The trip then went to Flores to the beautiful Faja Grande and a boat trip with the Familia Augusta to the small island of Corvo. There is a small village on this island which back then was still home to about 200 people. Some people say this truly is were Europe ends and it definitely felt pretty lonely and remote out there. I remember a couple which camped for a few days in the caldeira saying that the surreal silence and spectacular stary nights almost drove them nuts. Back on Flores on one day one could spot the Vera Cruz replica of the 15th century Portuguese ships that sailed the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.

The next leg brought us to Faial with the famous marina in Horta which hosts the transatlantic sailors on their way from the Americas to Europe. During August, there is a special festival and the marina is nicely decorated. The most famous pub amongst sailors is Peter Cafe Sport serving (back then and hopefully still) the worlds best gin & tonic. It is also in this pub, that some sailors put little notes above the bar if they had a space to offer on their sailboats during their next leg to Europe in exchange for a contribution such as split expenses. When we came back in 1993, this is exactly what we did, looking for a sailboat on which we could hitchhike, and then spending about 10 days together with Pierre on his Ile Flottante on the way to Gibraltar. It was in this year that we also saw the majestic Vera Cruz again, this time berthed in the marina during festival week.

The trip in 92 went on to Pico which boasts a majestic volcano named Mount Pico. The mountain rises 2351 meters directly from the sea and it is still a dream to get back there one day to watch the sun rise on its top. We met a portuguese couple on Faial and spent the days on Pico together. They subsequently became friends for life. It is there that Miguel, looking around with a Sagres in his hand, said this unforgettable quote which is so true for these islands: "these islands are like a washing machine for the soul". Today they are running a charming bed & breakfast in Serpa of the Alentejo.

Our trip continued to Sao Jorge where the famous cheese is made and finally to Terceira.

The shots were taken on Fuji slide film with a Leica R4. I digitized them a few years ago with a 60 mm Nikkor micro lens and a D300. All of them needed major adjustments in Lightroom to get rid of dust and for color adjustments.