The Azores are in the middle of nowhere, a thousand miles west of, and part of, Portugal. São Miguel is the largest island in the volcanic archipelago, about 90 miles from end to end. This is not a Club Med vacation; it’s a great mix of spectacular mountains and coastline, beautiful black sand beaches, unspoiled villages and even a nice city or two. We loved every minute of it.

We knew we weren’t in Boston anymore because:

1. - No parking meters
   

2. - No front yards
   

3. - Teeny, tiny cars
   

4. - Tree trunks painted white
   

5. - Rocks too close to the road painted white (instead of removed)
   

6. - Narrow, narrow roads
   

7. - Atlantic was WARM
   

8. - Scenic picnic spots everywhere
   

9. - Horses carrying milk, people, and garbage
   

10. - No child labor laws. Ten year olds deliver bread, milk etc.
    

11. - Many, many cows.
    

12. - Still more cows.
    

13. - It didn’t get dark till around 10PM.
    

14. - “Man culture:” men milling about at ALL hours of the day, bars for men only, men playing dominos in the town square, menus given only to Layr, waiters only speaking to Layr.
    

15. -By contrast women sweep their stoops a lot, scrub the outsides of their houses and wear good clothes to church
    

16. - Dogs! chasing cars, dragging long chains that were in the ground earlier, sleeping in streets, herding cows, barking all night long, and strays all over.
    

17. - The weather was the same every day - 75F by day, 65F by night. Comfy.
    

18. - Free beaches and pools
    

19. - Leisurely meals!
    

20. - Dangerous things are allowed
    

21. - Hydrangeas lining most roads
    

22. - Cheap, despite the exchange rate.