You know where you are, but you could just as well have landed on Iceland, Shetland or Jersey. It is a very green and life full landscape. On these islands there live 240 000 people, 130 000 on the largest island São Miguel and 60 000 on Terceira, the rest is spread among the seven other islands.

Terceira – a travel in time

Terceira is an agreeable island where you can find some of the most authentic way of life in all of Europe. No more than 1500 people live in the city. “Praca Velha” is the natural centre of the city where people get together for a chat, relaxes on the benches or get a beer or a coffee at one of the small cafés. With its unique history and background as a navigation city and as a stop for the trading ships, Angra do Heroismo has deserved its place at USESCO’s list of preservation worthy places in the world. A lot of the history can be experienced by visiting Quinta do Martelo, which is a national history museum. This could be worth a visit and a dinner, which is the local tasteful casserole Alacatra.

São Miguel – a lot to offer

The neighbour island São Miguel is the largest in the archipelago with its 130 000 people. Its 81km long and 15, 5 wide, it is just as green as Terceiro, but maybe a thought more developed and commercial. This island focuses on tourism and they have a lot to offer. Beautiful nature with forests, cliffs, volcanoes, warm springs and activities like bicycling, windsurfing, scuba diving and tracking. The island even has two very good 18hole golf courses and you can go on a whale safari.

Ponta Delgado – old and modern

Ponta Delgado is an agreeable small “big city” close to the nature with the best shopping of the islands and also the best night life. Here you can get most needs covered.

But prepare for rain, and put an extra sweater in the suitcase. The Azores is far south for Norway, but you may have more than one season in the same day, the weather changes fast.

Useful information

Great chose to fly with the Portuguese airline TAP to Lisbon via Copenhagen. Daily departures at 1630. Further to the Azores that lies a couple of hours flight west. Total price approximately 3.950Nok. Tickets can be booked from TAP on telephone: 23 01 02 90. The travel agent Solia offers weekly direct flights from Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger. More information at www.solia.no or telephone: 840 67 700. Price for one week at a four star hotel and flight is from 4.770Nok per person in a double room.