The top of "the Rock" (25.05.2013)
Today I finally got my walk to the highest point of Corvo. It was literally breathtaking ;o)
The climb is quite exhausting and since I'm still struggeling with a cold we had to stop every 10 meters to calm my pulse.
It is a very steep walk without a track to walk on. Especially the part close to the ridge of the crater is really demanding.
It is packed with some kind of plant that looks like giant moss. It is filled with water and you sink into it like into deep snow.
The top of "the Rock"
When we finally reached the top the view was worth all the trouble and the funny plants served as amazingly soft benches.
Another beautiful day on "the Rock".
funny fluffy plant
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Today I finally got my walk to the highest point of Corvo. It was literally breathtaking ;o)
The climb is quite exhausting and since I'm still struggeling with a cold we had to stop every 10 meters to calm my pulse.
It is a very steep walk without a track to walk on. Especially the part close to the ridge of the crater is really demanding.
It is packed with some kind of plant that looks like giant moss. It is filled with water and you sink into it like into deep snow.
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| The top of "the Rock" |
When we finally reached the top the view was worth all the trouble and the funny plants served as amazingly soft benches.
Another beautiful day on "the Rock".
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| funny fluffy plant |
Summer around the corner (20.05.2013)
Finally, it's Bikini Time!!! We had a beautiful summerlike weekend. After a really nice beach BBQ on saturday we are spending another warm day sunbathing.In this picture the girls are not hiding from the sun... it is Monday and the plane landed coming in from the beach side... Lots of sand flying around but definitely another highlight of the day.
Finally, it's Bikini Time!!! We had a beautiful summerlike weekend. After a really nice beach BBQ on saturday we are spending another warm day sunbathing.In this picture the girls are not hiding from the sun... it is Monday and the plane landed coming in from the beach side... Lots of sand flying around but definitely another highlight of the day.
Festa do Espirito Santo (05.05.2013)
FESTIVALS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
On the archipelago of the Azores, the famous Festivities of the Holy Spirit take place from April to September and exhibit different characteristics from island to island and from village to village. Brought from mainland Portugal by the first colonists, the festivities of the Holy Spirit maintain their medieval origin as regards their popular features and the colour of the ceremonies. The invocation of the Holy Spirit during natural disasters that have tormented the archipelago and the fame of its miracles, the hard life and the isolation of the islands contributed to the worship taking root and lasting, while it disappeared on mainland Portugal.
The rituals have hardly been altered. An emperor is crowned in the parish church. With a sceptre and a silver plate as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, he presides over the festivities every Sunday during the seven weeks following Easter. On Whit Sunday, there is a great feast in the town. The centre of the ceremonies is a small chapel, or ‘empire’, used for the distribution of the soup of the Holy Spirit, with meat and vegetables. This is where the crown, the plate and the sceptre can be viewed on the altar.
The passing of time has given the festivities of the Holy Spirit individual characteristics on each island, although some common elements have remained like the coronation of the ‘emperor’, the viewing of his insignia - the crown and the sceptre - the procession of the ‘emperor’ and the ‘empress’ with their escort, the day of the feast when offerings of bread, meat and wine are distributed.
Festlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes auf den Azoren - Religiöse Hingabe mit mittelalterlichen Ursprüngen.
Auf dem Azorenarchipel finden an jedem Sonntag von April bis Juni die Festlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes statt. Von Insel zu Inseln und von Ortschaft zu Ortschaft besitzen sie die unterschiedlichsten Ausprägungen.
Von Kontinentalportugal kamen mit den ersten Siedlern auch die Feierlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes Noch heute bewahren Sie ihren volkstümlichen Charakter und in der Farbenpracht ihrer Zeremonien ihre mittelalterlichen Ursprünge.
Die Anrufung des Heiligen Geistes wenn Naturkatastrophen den Archipel heimsuchten und der Ruhm seiner Wunder, das harte Leben auf den Inseln und die Isolation bewirkten, dass der Kult während er in Kontinentalportugal unterging auf den Azoren tiefe Wurzeln schlug und fortbestand.
Die Rituale blieben praktisch unverändert. Ein Imperator wird in der Gemeindekirche gekrönt. Mit Zepter und Silberplatte steht er als Symbole des Heiligen Geistes den Feiern vor, die jeden Sonntag während der sieben Wochen nach Ostern abgehalten werden.
Am Pfingstsonntag gibt es dann in der Stadt ein großes Fest. Der Mittelpunkt der Zeremonie ist eine kleine Kapelle, das "Imperium", die benutzt wird für die Verteilung der Suppe des Heiligen Geistes, mit Fleisch und Gemüse. Dort werden die Krone, die Platte und das Zepter am Altar ausgestellt.
Im Lauf der Zeit erlangten die Feierlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes auf jeder Insel besondere Eigenheiten, obgleich ihnen nach wie vor verschiedene Elemente gemeinsam sind, wie etwa die Krönung des "Imperator", die Ausstellung seiner Insignien - Krone und Zepter - der Umzug von "Imperator" und der "Imperatorin", gemeinsam mit ihrem Gefolge sowie der Festtag, an dem die Geschenke an Brot, Fleisch und Wein verteilt werden.
FESTIVALS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
On the archipelago of the Azores, the famous Festivities of the Holy Spirit take place from April to September and exhibit different characteristics from island to island and from village to village. Brought from mainland Portugal by the first colonists, the festivities of the Holy Spirit maintain their medieval origin as regards their popular features and the colour of the ceremonies. The invocation of the Holy Spirit during natural disasters that have tormented the archipelago and the fame of its miracles, the hard life and the isolation of the islands contributed to the worship taking root and lasting, while it disappeared on mainland Portugal.
The rituals have hardly been altered. An emperor is crowned in the parish church. With a sceptre and a silver plate as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, he presides over the festivities every Sunday during the seven weeks following Easter. On Whit Sunday, there is a great feast in the town. The centre of the ceremonies is a small chapel, or ‘empire’, used for the distribution of the soup of the Holy Spirit, with meat and vegetables. This is where the crown, the plate and the sceptre can be viewed on the altar.
The passing of time has given the festivities of the Holy Spirit individual characteristics on each island, although some common elements have remained like the coronation of the ‘emperor’, the viewing of his insignia - the crown and the sceptre - the procession of the ‘emperor’ and the ‘empress’ with their escort, the day of the feast when offerings of bread, meat and wine are distributed.
The rituals have hardly been altered. An emperor is crowned in the parish church. With a sceptre and a silver plate as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, he presides over the festivities every Sunday during the seven weeks following Easter. On Whit Sunday, there is a great feast in the town. The centre of the ceremonies is a small chapel, or ‘empire’, used for the distribution of the soup of the Holy Spirit, with meat and vegetables. This is where the crown, the plate and the sceptre can be viewed on the altar.
The passing of time has given the festivities of the Holy Spirit individual characteristics on each island, although some common elements have remained like the coronation of the ‘emperor’, the viewing of his insignia - the crown and the sceptre - the procession of the ‘emperor’ and the ‘empress’ with their escort, the day of the feast when offerings of bread, meat and wine are distributed.
Festlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes auf den Azoren - Religiöse Hingabe mit mittelalterlichen Ursprüngen.
Auf dem Azorenarchipel finden an jedem Sonntag von April bis Juni die Festlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes statt. Von Insel zu Inseln und von Ortschaft zu Ortschaft besitzen sie die unterschiedlichsten Ausprägungen.
Von Kontinentalportugal kamen mit den ersten Siedlern auch die Feierlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes Noch heute bewahren Sie ihren volkstümlichen Charakter und in der Farbenpracht ihrer Zeremonien ihre mittelalterlichen Ursprünge.
Die Anrufung des Heiligen Geistes wenn Naturkatastrophen den Archipel heimsuchten und der Ruhm seiner Wunder, das harte Leben auf den Inseln und die Isolation bewirkten, dass der Kult während er in Kontinentalportugal unterging auf den Azoren tiefe Wurzeln schlug und fortbestand.
Die Rituale blieben praktisch unverändert. Ein Imperator wird in der Gemeindekirche gekrönt. Mit Zepter und Silberplatte steht er als Symbole des Heiligen Geistes den Feiern vor, die jeden Sonntag während der sieben Wochen nach Ostern abgehalten werden.
Am Pfingstsonntag gibt es dann in der Stadt ein großes Fest. Der Mittelpunkt der Zeremonie ist eine kleine Kapelle, das "Imperium", die benutzt wird für die Verteilung der Suppe des Heiligen Geistes, mit Fleisch und Gemüse. Dort werden die Krone, die Platte und das Zepter am Altar ausgestellt.
Im Lauf der Zeit erlangten die Feierlichkeiten des Heiligen Geistes auf jeder Insel besondere Eigenheiten, obgleich ihnen nach wie vor verschiedene Elemente gemeinsam sind, wie etwa die Krönung des "Imperator", die Ausstellung seiner Insignien - Krone und Zepter - der Umzug von "Imperator" und der "Imperatorin", gemeinsam mit ihrem Gefolge sowie der Festtag, an dem die Geschenke an Brot, Fleisch und Wein verteilt werden.
Another rainy day! (25.04.2013)
The weather is not doing us any favors. The last two days have been very stormy and rainy again. A proof of that were the numerous adult Cagarros (Gelbschnabel-Sturmtaucher) we found last night. Those birds spend most of their life out in the open sea. They come back to their place of birth to mate and breed.
During the night their orientation relies on the stars. Due tue the strong winds and streetlights in the "city" some of the birds get lost in the streets.
This mostly happens to the young birds leaving their nests in September/October.
The SPEA Team then organizes rescue teams to collect up to 20/30 birds a night so theyy won't be harmed by preditors such as cats. They are put in boxes, checked for injuries, measured and "ringed".
About a month ago "the Cory's" returned to Corvo. They make the most funny and unique soundsand just belong to the sounds of the Island.
Today, during one of the storm breaks we released the three adult birds we found last night.
BUT one wonderful thing to learn on this island, and I am trying to value it, is that in most bad things, such as repeatedly bad weather you can find something beatuiful and nice. My beautiful and nice today was getting close to those birds. Moreover, Corvo has to offer some really amazing waterfalls and creeks that only come alive with heavy rain.
More Pictures of Cagarros by google.
Also see azoren-blog.de or wikipedia.com; wikipedia.de.
Lapas (12.2.2013)
Today I got to meet "Lapas" (Napfschnecken). It is a type of sea snail living on rocks in the ocean. Here it is considered a delicacy. I already tried them after they were boiled and part of a delicious soup.
But I just couldn't get myself to eat them alive... :-S
http://youtu.be/F3pXMMSwC6w
Because then they still move!!
First BBQ of the Year (10.2.2013)
Grilled fish. Today we had grilled fish. The fish had just been caught just a day before. The BBQs here are an amazing invention. So in case you might need a BBQ and don't have one... make yourself a Corvenian version. You just need your old washing machines intestants and, one or two small grids, an old paint can or anything else to raise the washing machine...
The fish tasted delicious.
Sometimes a man with gas and a flame thrower can come in handy :)
The fish tasted delicious.
Sometimes a man with gas and a flame thrower can come in handy :)
A Saturday in Flores (2.2.2013)
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| View back to Corvo |
Today we went on a spontaneous trip to the neighbouring Island. Susana had an appointment with the dentist and asked me to accompany her. So we got on the boat Saturday morning. We were lucky that the boat "Ariel" could travel. Lately many trips had been cancelled due to bad weather. However, the ride on the boat was very rocky. But I managed to keep my breakfast inside. We had a beautiful morning and the water was splashing over the sides of the boat. One more time I was amazed by the view on "the Rock" (Corvo). When the boat leaves the port of Corvo and you can see the Island to its full extent, the hight of the vulcano is very impressive.
We were not the only people travelling today. Most of them were also seeing the dentist ;o)
The first thing on Flores was to find some breakfast. We got lucky near the supermarket and had some coffee and sandwiches.
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| Lawn-mawers? We have goats! |
While I was waiting for Susana at the dentists I worked on my Portuguese by reading a few children's stories and taking a peak into the local newspaper. I was very surprised to find some pictures of our Corvenian christmas party in that paper. After that interesting visit to the dentist we spend our day walking the unknown streets of St. Cruz das Flores. We saw goats in front yards, different stores and people and took a look at the church in the city center.When we finally managed to find and decide on a restaurant for lunch, we enjoyed a delicious meal of fresh fish and vegetables with some salad. Oh sweet sweet life. We had salad. 
Well fed we started our shopping tour in the supermarket. We got some nice fruit and vegetables that we just can't get over here most of the time, especially in winter. Moreover, groceries are less expensive here. To my big excitement I found some German products such as "Capri Sonne". They didn't even translate the products name. Since my grandmother always used to buy these for us, I couldn't resist getting some of those comforting goods. I also got some Nutella. What a success!!!
After that exciting experience we grabbed a coffee outside a nice café watching the the town and time go by.
Before getting back on the boat we got wild on the playground. And I was able to swing with a view on the ocean again.Back to Corvo!
Dia das Amiga(o)s (24.01.2013)
This Year I got to experience a really nice Portuguese or rather Azorean cultural event.
This month (just before carneval) there were two special days dedicated to friendship. Those days are called "Dia dos Amigos" (for boys) and "Dia das Amigas" (for girls).
The first ones who get to celebrate are the boys. It is an all boys night. The guys from Corvo met and had dinner together, playing guitar, singing and having fun.
One week later (both days are set on Thursdays - maybe to keep things from getting to wild ;o) us girls had a girls night out. I got to spend the evening with four very beautiful sweet and fun ladies, Susana, Ashley, Patricia and Joana. We started of with some homemade Sangria (best made by Joana) and fun games. Afterwards we had a nice dinner at Ocean's, our local bar. The dinner was special because we grilled our meat ourselves at the table. It was like having a raclette with only the top part. We weren't the only group enjoying ourselves at Ocean's... so the night became a real blast with lots of dancing and fun ;o)
Thanks for sharing that amazing evening with me!
This month (just before carneval) there were two special days dedicated to friendship. Those days are called "Dia dos Amigos" (for boys) and "Dia das Amigas" (for girls).
The first ones who get to celebrate are the boys. It is an all boys night. The guys from Corvo met and had dinner together, playing guitar, singing and having fun.
One week later (both days are set on Thursdays - maybe to keep things from getting to wild ;o) us girls had a girls night out. I got to spend the evening with four very beautiful sweet and fun ladies, Susana, Ashley, Patricia and Joana. We started of with some homemade Sangria (best made by Joana) and fun games. Afterwards we had a nice dinner at Ocean's, our local bar. The dinner was special because we grilled our meat ourselves at the table. It was like having a raclette with only the top part. We weren't the only group enjoying ourselves at Ocean's... so the night became a real blast with lots of dancing and fun ;o)
Thanks for sharing that amazing evening with me!
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| A wonderful tradition that we should absolutely adopt to our culture... |
Os três Reis (10.1.2013)
Wednesday the children from 1° (1st to 5th grade) went singing for the "three wise men" wishing everyone a happy 2013. We stopped at the bars Bombeiros and Traneira, the supermarket Cabral, the guest house Comodoro, the nursery home, the municipal building, the pharmacy and RIAC and finally we sang inside the school. The pupils were equipped with drums, bells, triangles and more very loud and fun instruments. We sang two songs ("Nos somos os três reis" e "Cantar os reis").
We weren't blessed with sunny weather but instead regarded with mountains of sweets, cake and delicious beverages.
Os três Reis
Nós somos os três reis Nós somos os três reis
Que vimos do Oriente Guiados por uma luz
Trazer as boas festas Adoramos o Deus Menino
Com paz p’ra toda a gente. Que se chama Jesus.
Nós somos os três reis Nós somos os três reis
Baltazar e Gaspar Guiados por uma luz
Também o Belchior E trouxemos três presentes
O veio adorar. P’ro Menino Jesus.
Back on Corvo (7.1.2013)
Flying home for Christmas (14.12.2012)
The first part of my time in Corvo is over. I have been here for three months now. Time passed by so quickly . I can't believe that there actually are parts of the island I haven't seen yet, there are many people I don't know and many portuguese words I can't pronounce, like "Matralhas" (the name of one of the bars) or "palinha" (meaning drinking straw, so I ended up drinking my coke always in a glass ;-).
The decision to extend my stay on the island was partially made on those facts. There are still many things to discover and learn about and from this unique place.
The weather wasn't particularly good in last week before my departure. Therefore, I wasn't sure whether my plane to Horta, Faial would be delayed. Fortunately, the manager of the azorean airline, SATA, stayed on the island this week. This meant that there was some effort made to make the flight and take him off the island since his original flight on wednesday couldn't be realised.
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| Dinner at Peter's with Carlos |
I didn't leave the island alone. I was accompanied by a few familiar faces also leaving to spend a few days in Lisbon or one of the other islands. I was going to spend a night in Faial were I met a friend, Carlos Silva, for dinner in the famous bar Peter's. The bar is a known meeting place for sailors all over the world. The bars walls are covered in flags and drawings from crews who stopped here. Spiegel online wrote an article about this interesting place.
Before the dinner I took a walk through the "city". Since Lisbon I hadn't seen so many people and cars. I walked through the harbour and enjoyed the beautiful christmas decorations. There I also saw the posts in the harbour that are beeing painted by all the crews landing in Horta and I took a peak at my first real christmas tree of the year through a linving room window.
I spent the night in a rather simple hotel in the city. At the counter the receptionist asked me whether I wanted to see the room first, because it was very big. Thanking him I turned the offer down. I only needed a bed to sleep. When I entered the room I actually started laughing. Because the room really was big. It contained three beds and could accomodate a whole family. But who minds space. Unfortunately the bathroom light didn't work though...
The next morning Carlos picked me up because due to good luck we were on the same flight to Lisbon. And due to his rather bad condition we got first row seats with a lot of space for our legs. Unfortunately, the better seating didn't prevent us from sitting next to a lady who made very strange and almost disgusting noises.
I spend the day in Lisbon doing some christmas shopping and having dinner with a fellow English Comenius assistant who was also travelling home for christmas and, funny enough, her German friends. I just caught the last train back to the airport and spend the night there, sleeping on chairs. The next day my flight to Berlin left at seven and I arrived home at noon. :D Berlin, Helleluhja Berlin
The Arrival (13 - 14. September 2012)
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| Lisbon at night |
Today I landed on Corvo. What a journey! It started with leaving Berlin at a quite comfortable hour. The flight to Lisbon was short and I thought a lot about what was expecting me. Lisbon is a beautiful city. I got on the bus and the first thing I noticed was ... it is so warm here. To save space in my suitcase I wore my boots. So the first thing I did after dropping off my luggage at the youth hostel (proudly I can say I managed to ask for directions in Portuguese) was to buy FlipFlops... at H & M. Convieniently enough the shopping centre here is open until 11 o'clock pm. I had a liitle "Brotzeit" overlooking the Expo area of Lisbon.
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| Airport on Faial |
The next day I took my first flight to the Azores. A beautiful experience. I had a layover in Faial, Horta for several hours. The small airport had a very charming appeal.
It was very interesting to wait for a flight with so few people, knowing that you will probably see them several over and over again.
Then the small plane arrived... 37 people can be seated inside. I was very surprised, that when I entered the plane many people were already sitting inside. How I learned during the following weeks our airbus really is a bus stopping on four Islands (São Miguel - Faial - Corvo - Flores and back). I got lucky and was able to see the amazing coastlines of several Islands.
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| My New Home |
Landing ob Corvo was spectacular. The small Island appeared in my window and we flew around to approach the landing strip from a south-west direction which ment flying over the beach and cliffs of the Corvo shore. Looking down into the water I was stunned by the blue and turquise water that is sio clear that it allows you to look as deep as 7meters into the sea.
Climbing out of the aircraft I took my first look onto the village of "Vila do Corvo" the sun was shining and I was very curious, excited and tired.
There were many many people on the airport and I didn't really know who to look for. I was beeing welcomed by my headmistress and my landlord who gave me a ride through town ;o) and took me to my new home which I am enjoying a lot. During the weeks to come I should be finding out how many people saw me on the aiport that day that I only met days later. Interesting feeling.
There were many many people on the airport and I didn't really know who to look for. I was beeing welcomed by my headmistress and my landlord who gave me a ride through town ;o) and took me to my new home which I am enjoying a lot. During the weeks to come I should be finding out how many people saw me on the aiport that day that I only met days later. Interesting feeling.
Many of the teachers teaching at the school this year arrived with me on the same plane. So I first saw everyone on a welcome meeting in school later that very day. Afterwards, one of my new collegues showed me around the island in her smart ;o) I was very surprised to see so many cars on the island, let alone a smart. I saw the vilage, the port and beaches, we even went up to Caldeirao which, unfortunately, was hidden in clouds. So I saved something to discover for later ...
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