Friday - first port - Ponta Delgada, Azores

We arrived at our first port, Ponta Delgada, at about 7am on Friday. We had not arranged any shore excursions -- I had done a little research online and found that there was a pineapple plantation / gift shop with information about pineapples that appeared to be walking distance from the port (I had figured it at 2.1 miles, but it turned out that it wasn't that far based on where we were parked at port -- maybe more like a mile).

Views from the ship of Ponta Delgada...

... from the west...

... toward the center...

... center...

... toward the east.

Another cruise ship, the Carnival Pride, arrived a little after we did - they were backing into their port location.

Carl saw an airplane preparing to take off from the airport up on a hill above the city.

We had been given information about the time to return to ship -- I took a picture as we were leaving so I'd be sure to have the time available to confirm if needed later in the day.

Welcome to the Port of Azores

The arrow points to the window for our room (on deck 5, very close to midship).

Norwegian Gem from the port area

We were walking up a ramp to get to the city streets when we saw a couple walking down looking like they were heading back for a ship. "Have you already seen the city and are heading back already?" we asked. 

"No, we live here!" they responded! They were Carlos and Collette, and they live part of the year in Ponta Delgada (where Carlos was born) and part in Toronto (where they met and married -- Collette is Canadian). 

They had all sorts of ideas of places to go for us, and were giving us instructions and then said, "Why don't we just walk with you!"

They took us to the Town Gates -- these used to be right by the harbor, but they've been moved a block or so away -- and they took our picture there!

We mentioned that we were looking for a drug store for an oral pain gel -- they told us what kind of sign to look for (green cross for a pharmacy, blue cross for a store with non-prescription items too) - so were taking us along they beautiful streets to a store - Collette and I were looking for the gel when Carlos said, "I have some at our apartment and I don't need it anymore -- why don't I just get that for you?!?"

Building where Collette and Carlos live

A better picture of Collette and Carlos

We went to a coffee shop just across from their building and got coffee and pastries - delicious!

We bid our new friends goodbye and headed off to find the places they'd suggested we visit...

One of the suggestions was the daily farmers market -- it is currently being held in the basement of a car park so you had to know to look for it...

What an amazing variety of fruits and vegetables!

We kept working our way east -- note how narrow the streets and sidewalks are! We needed to be watchful when a car passed on the street that its mirrors did not hit us!

They had told us to watch for a street up the hill that was made of something like steps - and we found it... it was pretty steep, but the step-like (or continuous speed-bumps) made it easier to climb...

Looking back down Ladeira Da Mae De Deus - the tall blue smokestack is on the Gem in the harbor.

Mae de Deus Chappel

Carlos and Collette had told us that there were great views - and there were! Looking back toward the harbor...

Looking east...

Outward (south)...

A tall ship was coming into the harbor ... turns out it is a US Coast Guard ship, Eagle (https://uscga.edu/mission/eagle/about-eagle/).

Another view of buildings near the church.

We continued our walk, arriving at Plantacao de Ananas dos Acores (Azorean Pineapple Plantation)

Inside the plantation

Inside one of the greenhouses

Fruit...

... more fruit

Carl inside the greenhouse. We read that they whitewash the outer surface of the greenhouse so it doesn't get too hot inside.

A view of some of the greenhouses. I think all of the Azorean Pineapples are grown in greenhouses.

The plantation had a small cafe where they provided us with a taste of pineapple preserves and liqueur.

Cafe -- the preparation area was made from a shipping container.

Gift shop

Some beautiful flowers

Is that a pineapple? No... a very sweet kitty who seemed totally unperturbed by all the humans around!

After the pineapple plantation, we continued walking toward a park that Carlos and Collette had suggested...

Along the way, we saw Collegio Church...

... and took a selfie in front of it.

Next to it was a garden named for poet Antero Quental (Jardim Antero de Quental) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antero_de_Quental

We were heading toward another garden, Jardim Antonio Borges

What a beautiful spot! There were a couple of roosters there, crowing to welcome us!

All different kinds of trees and shrubs and growing things...

Carl said he was glad he didn't have to climb telephone poles made from this tree!

A Kapok tree

Views of some of the diversity of trees...

The island is volcanic in origin, and it appeared that there were lava tube remnants within the garden.

There was a HUGE ficus tree -- the red arrow points to Carl to give perspective...

... here is zoomed in on Carl at the base of the ficus tree with the roots as high as his legs!

Another view of the tree...

Information about the tree

Biological information about the tree

We eventually left the garden and started back toward the port, enjoying more of the city's streets and buildings...

Many have been so lovingly kept!

Along one of the streets in the shopping area.

A horse-drawn carriage available to be rented for a ride around the city.

Shopping district - wider sidewalks here!

We were nearing the city gate again, and a fellow-visitor took our picture in front of the main church, St Sebastian Parish Church.

A view of the Gem as we got back to the harbor

The Gem, the US Coast Guard Eagle, and the Carnival Pride.

US Coast Guard Eagle

The harbor pilot was on the ship as it was backed out, and then the pilot boat came up alongside and took him aboard.

And we were off!

A last view of Ponta Delgada

We've talked to a few other passengers about their days - many went on shore excursions that took them further away, up onto the volcanic mountains. We really enjoyed our day spent exploring the city - we'd definitely like to come back and explore more!