Azores, 4th

by Sayers, David

• ISBN13: 9781841623283
• ISBN10: 1841623288
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-19
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Summary

Illustrated with gorgeous colour photographs and delicate line drawings by Czech artist Hedvika Fraser, this fourth edition of Bradt'sAzorestempts travellers across the Atlantic Ocean to these remote islands. Glittering blue coastlines and spectacular volcanic landscapes characterise the nine islands that erupted from beneath the ocean up to five million years ago. Botanical horticulturalist David Sayers leads visitors through elegant old towns and lush forests. Packed with fully revised and updated practical information, this guidebook features in-depth coverage of culture, history and festivals, and new advice on whale-watching. It takes visitors on a magical tour along Europe's westernmost coast of Flores, visiting Europe's only tea plantations and exploring the hot springs and gurgling mud pools of Furnas. For sheer escapism and a warm welcome, the Azores are hard to beat. 'The Bradt Travel Guide will tell you everything you need to know about each of the nine islands.'Portugal Magazine 'As a first time visitor to the Azores, Brian found the Bradt Travel Guide to the islands a great companion, whether exploring Sao Miguel's coastline, volcanic interior or elegant old towns by car or on foot. Illuminating text and excellent town and walks maps. Author David Sayers, a botanical horticulturalist, has produced an informative, practical and user-friendly volume.'EDP Saturday Magazine

Author Biography

David Sayers is a botanical horticulturalist and travel writer, qualifying from Kew’s Royal Botanical Garden. He arranges custom-made holidays to his favourite destination.

Table of Contents

General Information

Background information

Practical information

The Guide

Sao Miguel

Santa Maria

Terceira

Graciosa

Sao Jorge

Faial

Pico

Flores

Corvo

Language

Flora

Fish on the Menu

Further Reading

Index

Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

SCRIMSHAW

Scrimshaw is an art born of boredom and loneliness on the whaling ships of the 19th century and links the Azores to many countries. Ships’ crews would while away their time engraving on whales’ teeth, and then rubbing lamp black into the lines to bring up the design. In the Azores this tradition continued, using the teeth taken from whales killed off the islands and brought ashore for processing. It has all but disappeared because time passes and also the supply of teeth is diminishing. Ten years ago divers could still find them on the seabed near old whaling stations on Pico and on Madeira but now such finds are rare.

Modern artists sand down the tooth ridges, then use car polish to coat the tooth. A layer of Indian ink is applied to blacken the surface to be engraved. Machine-powered needles are used to engrave through the ink, the polish, and into the tooth. The engraved lines appear white and Indian ink is then applied a second time and this time it enters the unwaxed lines that form the design. The first coat of black is then removed. Prices vary of modern pieces in traditional style from 50 to 1,250 euros.