Aah, the island life, slow, relaxed and comfortable. That is, unless you have only a few hours at port on a cruise ship. At our Azores port of call, we opt for a bus tour to show us both ends of the Sao Miguel Island, with a few stops along the way. Before boarding our tour bus, Peter & I walk the artistically paved streets of San Juan, where our ship landed, and try to enjoy the relaxing vibes. Our cruise guide, a 30-year veteran in the industry, was funny, smart and also revered her homeland. Starting in San Juan she filled us in the background of the earliest Portuguese settlers (apparently there were no displaced natives to be displaced here) and the battles with Spanish and Vikings. They built fortresses and stunning structures meant to
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