Susan, Yes, just missed each other. We left Oakland at the end of June and returned about July 14th.
You are correct on the bull fights; they were all over. A taxi driver provided a paper schedule. We saw another in Sao Bento, but enjoyed the country setting much more. It was my kids first time out of the country and they had a great time! Regards, Bill > On Apr 26, 2015, at 12:22 PM, 'Susan Murphy' via Azores Genealogy > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hello Bill, > I remember that I wrote to you last year before you went with some advice for > taking young people to the Azores....I see now that we must have just missed > you as we were on the flight that left one day early OUT of Oakland to > Terceira (July 20) and were on the Atlas Air plane. We got a call mid-week > that our plane would not be leaving on the Monday but on Sunday....which took > a little shuffling. We did end up enjoying the extra time on Terceira but on > the way back home, our plane started to have mechanical problems when we were > way out on the ocean....I have never been so scared! We had to turn back and > then circle for quite awhile to burn off fuel. Sata put us up in a great > place Quinta do Martelo, so there was a silver lining, but not sure if I am > over the scare yet! Some of us fell asleep after the plane took off and woke > up to the realization that there was something very wrong. Our little ten > year old grandson smiled and said "Oh yeah, we are going back!!".....the > bliss of youth! I hear that there are other airlines going in there now > which I think will be a good thing! > > Good tips on the SIM card, I have never figured that one out. It would have > been nice to have a phone sometimes. We just accessed our email and the web > when we were in the hotels or anyplace free wifi. We had the same > experience with American Express....almost no one took it. Our Visa was > usually good except sometimes my husband was convinced that it was not that > it did not work, but that they really wanted cash instead:) > > I think the bulls on a rope pretty much run all summer, not just in > Altares....you just have to find out what town will be having the > festivities. We have always managed to see one on the several trips that we > have made. Finding a safe place to view this can be tricky....we have had > help from both taxi drivers and twice from a wonderful guide that we hired, > Mario Rego, on Terceira. > > As you say Bill.....you just have to hang loose and be flexible....it all > works out in the end:) > > Susan Vargas Murphy > >> On Apr 26, 2015, at 11:32 AM, 'Bill Boyd' via Azores Genealogy >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Thanks Joao! Hope all is well. To add to your comments.... >> >> The Portuguese side of the ATMs may not charge, but I did get charged on >> withdrawals from non-credit union banks (Banco Espírito Santo is my >> example). As to the extra functionality, you are correct, I was unable to >> charge my phone at the ATM and needed to go to a store. Which is a good >> point concerning the phones. If you do get a Portuguese SIM, it can be >> charged at the original store or you can go to many stores advertising the >> service. You will want to keep your packaging with the SIM number on it for >> easy reference when charging. >> >> Concerning the planes, my basic message is to take the delays with patience. >> We flew in and out of Terceira and had delays both ways. Many of the >> seasoned travelers simply accepted the delay as a part of flying with SATA. >> The delay on departure from the Azores was due to mechanical difficulties >> with the plane and they had to contract for another plane from Atlas Air. >> It was a much larger plane and made the trip from Terceira to Oakland >> without the Toronto fueling stop. We enjoyed the flight much more and got >> to spend almost two more days on Terceira. Oh, we were able to see the bull >> fight in Altares with the extra time. One of the unplanned highlights of >> our trip was working with the taxi driver to figure out where the event was >> (way out in the country) and then enjoying all of the people in the >> mountains with a view of Graciosa in the background. So, things can work >> out even with the delays. Just set expectations appropriately. Here is a >> description of Altares if you happen to be there during their bull fight: >> Altares - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Altares - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia >> Altares is a civil parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on the >> Portuguese island of Terceira in the archipelago of the Azores. The >> population in 2011 was... >> View on en.wikipedia.org >> Preview by Yahoo >> >> >> Best Regards, >> >> Bill >> >> From: João Ventura <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> Cc: [email protected]; [email protected] >> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 12:25 AM >> Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Trip >> >> Just to complement on what Bill said. >> >> In Portugal, because all the banks were Government owned in the 1980s when >> ATMs started to show up, they decided to create a separate company to run >> the ATM network. As a result, all the ATM machines in Portugal belong to >> this network, so the concept of "charging for widthdrawals" is simply alien >> to the Portuguese. There's no such thing, period. As a side-effect, these >> machines are also the best ATMs I've ever found in the world (yes, the >> average ATM in the deep Azores will probably be a lot better than the one >> from your US bank in the midst of SIlicon Valley). However, you'll probably >> not notice it, as all the advanced features require a Portuguese bank card. >> Foreign cards will probaly allow you to widthraw money and maybe charge your >> phones (and also maybe to buy train tickets - I highly doubt it will allow >> you to buy concert tickets). I highly advise against AMEX. Don't bother >> bringing one if you're coming to Europe. Make sure your card is Visa or >> Mastercard and you should be OK with our ATMs and in-store payment terminals. >> >> As to SATA, the delays are really not their fault. Those are islands in the >> middle of the North Atlantic, if the winds go above a certain level, for >> your safety and theirs, they will simply not take off. Have some flexibility >> in your plans, and make sure that you make it to the island of your US >> return flight a few days in advance. Flying to and from Terceira is easier >> as the runway there is one of the largest in the Azores (it was designated >> as a Space Shuttle abort landing site), but do account for possible delays >> in your São Jorge / Pico connections. >> >> João Ventura >> >> >> >> On Wednesday, 22 April 2015 06:03:37 UTC+2, want2beunique wrote: >> Lisa, >> >> I took my first trip to the Azores last year in July. We went to Graciosa >> (home island) and Terceira. Here are some of my tips: >> >> Finances: >> Get a credit card that does not charge foreign exchange fees. One that has >> a chip is also advisable. I got the Chase Saphire VISA and have been happy >> with it ever since. We did not use travelers checks and I would not >> recommend them. Also, do not buy "Euro" loaded VISA cards (pre-paid VISA). >> I researched them and found them very poorly reviewed (unable to be used and >> drained of funds). Be sure to talk to your bank. Ask them if your ATM card >> can be used in Portugal. Give them your travel dates to ensure you have no >> problems when traveling. Also do the same for your credit card. I found >> agriculture credit unions on Terceira and Graciosa which did not charge for >> withdrawals. Your bank or credit union may be able to help with ATMs which >> you could utilize without charge. >> >> Phone: >> We got our iPhones unlocked by Verizon. With them being unlocked and >> enrolled for global usage, we could use them in the Azores. This would, >> however, be expensive. We ensured data was turned off (cellular data off). >> Upon arriving, we went to a Vodafone store in Angra. We were able to buy a >> pre-paid SIM card and put it into one of our iPhones. This gave us a phone >> in the Azores with a local number from which we could call a taxi (we had >> our favorite drivers) and relatives. In many cases, you can call someone >> and hang up after one ring and they will call you back. This worked very >> well in Terceira. >> >> Accommodations: >> We used Home Away to book a great house on Terceira. It was only 70 euros a >> night. Here is a link to the house ( http://www.homeaway.com/ >> vacation-rental/p1309665? flspusage=fl ). It was a great location out in >> the "country" in Porto Martin. Not the center of activity, but we liked the >> quiet and access to the water. >> >> Sata: >> Schedules are simply concepts of when a plane might arrive or depart. Be >> flexible and be sure to contact Sata directly checking for delays. The web >> site and phone can give quite different results. We were delayed on arrival >> and missed a connecting flight. We were then delayed by more than a day on >> departure. It all worked out, but staying flexible is key. >> >> Hope this helps! >> >> Bill in Northern California >> >> From: lisahbskt via Azores Genealogy <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 8:39 PM >> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Azores Trip >> >> Hello, >> >> I am planning my first trip to the Azores in mid to late August for about >> 8-10 days. I am planning to go to Terceira for research and to visit the >> ancestral homelands on Sao Jorge (Calheta and Topo areas) and Pico (Lajes do >> Pico areas). >> >> I'd love to hear any suggestions on places to stay, places to eat, drivers >> to hire, renting a scooter, not to be missed sights or events, research >> tips, using the archives, wifi connection, cell phone tips, use of travelers >> cheques vs credit cards, gifts to take with me and recommended items to >> bring back etc. >> >> Also, if anyone else on the list is planning a trip around that time, it >> would be fun to meet up. >> >> Please feel free to post to the list or email me privately. >> >> Lisa Caetano Harley >> Southern CA >> LisaHBskt at aol dot com >> -- >> For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail >> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/ group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right >> that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Azores Genealogy" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to azores+un...@ googlegroups.com. >> >> >> >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/ group/azores. >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail >> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right >> that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Azores Genealogy" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores. > > -- > For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail > (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right > that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Azores Genealogy" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores. -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores.
