Thunderstorms off Ponta Delgada
I am not sure whether it was the flashes of lightning, the thunder or all the chanting that actually woke me up. I sheltered on the balcony as the rain hammered down. It was only 6 am. I tried to look out in the dark where the storm was.
There were sheets of lightning aft of the ship and I stood and watched the whole sky light up. With the curtains open I watched the lightning and counted using the “one and two and three etc” that I’d been taught as a child. As the flashes continued my count was soon stopping at four. The storm was a lot closer and the thunder was definitely louder!
Much later I heard a shout from the cabin is below and I can now see Ponta Delgada ahead of Azura.
We still had rain and the hills behind the town were covered in cloud. After I took my iPhone off aeroplane mode I received messages including a welcome one from Vodafone. Slightly more worrying was the second message that told me I was no longer connected to Vodafone on land. I quickly said when I was back on Airplane Mode.
Into Ponta Delgada
I watched as we slowly entered Ponta Delgada’s harbour at around 8.35 am and started to dock next to the cruise terminal. Our breakfast was a noisy affair as for the first 10 minutes or so conversation was difficult because of the thrusters manoeuvring Azura alongside.
Back in our cabin I tried the phone again and hopefully all my messages and emails came via Vodafone from the land.
There was a pause in the rain as we left the ship and went out onto the quay by the cruise terminal. We walked along the promenade until we reached the square in front of the Saint Sebastian parish church. We walked past the cafés and then through the small pedestrian precinct until we turned left along Rua Machado Santos.
The rain came again and we dodged in and out of shops. The lack of gutters above us made walking along the pavement an extremely wet affair. We turned back and crossed the road. I was looking for the friendly bar that we had sat in earlier in the year. We came to the street art that we found before. Here it is.
More street art
Just as we reach the cross street the heavens opened again. We turned down the side street to head back towards the promenade. I stopped to grab these images painted on walls and doors.
Stopping for a drink
Once on the promenade we headed back towards the ship. The restaurants in front of the shopping mall were surprisingly empty and we went in. We sat at a table under their awning and watched the rain now falling again.
I ordered a 40cl Sagres beer. Later I went inside and pointed at the Portuguese custard tarts and ordered two. Our waiter told me several times how to pronounce their names in Portuguese but I’m afraid all to no avail.
Another couple from the ship came and sat at the table at the side of us and ordered beers. We chatted about cruises and what we had all been doing on the island, which was not much! The rain did stop as we talked but then started again. We had missed our opportunity to leave in the dry so we stayed for yet another beer.
Back to the ship
The cruise terminal was almost opposite the restaurant and we crossed over and went down the steps that lead to the string of bars alongside the shelter the harbour. A couple of brave souls were open water swimming bag was in forwards.
We joined the long queue passengers waiting to board the ship. It seemed that the port authorities had only one security station open.
Once on board we headed for the Glasshouse to have a late lunch. The menu had changed a lot since our last visit but Boom Boom Shiraz was still available.
I tried the surf and turf but Linda tried the mix of three different dishes called ‘Mini and mighty. My meal was excellent but the popcorn chicken was chicken wings meat without the bones but with the gristle. The wild smoked mushroom pate had one bread stick broken into three and the Beetroot crisps were limp. The trio of houmous had pitta chips that were so hard that breaking them would have required a hammer.
Reluctantly we complained. Our server refunded the cost of the trio after a short explanation of the issues.
Leaving Ponta Delgada
The sky was clearing as Azura pushed off from the cruise terminal.
Here are the views of the harbour and marina as we left.
After we passed the secure buildings (the prison?) …
… I caught sight of buildings with more street art – next time.
Black tie evening
This was another black tie evening and after getting changed we went up to the Planet Bar for pre-dinner drinks.
I had gravalax and Cobb salad for starters and then I had the Maryland chicken for my main. Desert was a delicious toffee sundae. Our servers had decided that we were not going to get our full complement on the table and we were now set just with four places.
After dinner we went to see the Headliners were perform ‘Electric Avenue’ in a full Playhouse Theatre.
The clocks changed overnight and we moved ever closer to Caribbean time.
From the Captain’s Log
Azura began her approach to Ponta Delgada at 04:35 as she entered the territorial waters of the Azores. The officers of the 4-8 watch commenced their pre-arrival checks at 05:45. These checks include testing the pitch of the vessel’s thrusters, doubling the vessel’s steering motors and contacting the pilot station to confirm the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA).
The vessel was also declared to be in Potentially Hazardous Conditions(PH), this is routine and involves the precautionary closing of the vessel’s watertight doors when close to land.
At 07:43 the Captain took the ‘Charge of the Ship’ and at 07:45 ‘Stand By Below’ (SBB) was rung for the engineers. This informs the engineers to have our engines ready for manoeuvring purposes.
By 08:00 Azura had all 6 thrusters online and hand steering was engaged with a quartermaster taking the helm. The pilot boarded from the port side at 08:08. The approach was conducted by the Captain with the advice of the pilot. Azura commenced a turn to the north east to clear the southern breakwater before moving astern to parallel the quay.
Weather forecasts had indicated the potential for gusts of wind up to 30 knots; Azura therefore had the assistance of two tug vessels which helped push Azura bodily into position on the quayside.
Our mooring arrangements included particularly well positioned breast lines to account for gusts pushing the vessel off the berth. The first line went ashore at 08:41 and by 09:10 the first disembarkation of guests had occurred.
All guests and crew were confirmed on board at 16:37 in preparation for our departure. The last line was cast off at 16:46 enabling the First Officer to thrust the ship bodily off the berth before putting on headway and taking Azura to sea.
Shortly after clearing the breakwater Azura was brought to a course of 237° to begin her Great Circle track to the Caribbean.
Weather: Variable, heavy rain showers punctuated by bright spells
Temperature: 18°C
Wind: North Easterly, Force 3