The highest of the crater lakes in Sao Miguel, this lake was formed only about 5000 years back when the top of the volcano cratered (you can clearly see the lip of the volcano in the background).

… keeping a watch of over the communication tower. This is at about 2000 feet above sea level on a mountain.

Arsenio, our bartender at the hotel had talked about the local ceramic stuff. Based on his information, this morning, we headed out to the town of Lagoa. Our trusted driver guide Henrique took us to the Ceramica Vieira. This establishment has been making ceramic pottery for nearly one hundred and sixty years. All throughout, it has been owned by the same family (Vieira is the name) – thru five generations.

In fact, you can see an elderly gentleman with his cane. He is the current owner. Also there were his two daughters who helped run the place.

One thing I did not realize is that typically blue color on ceramic pottery does not start as that color. It is somewhat pinkish – see the square tile at the end in the last picture. Apparently, after getting burnt in the fire kiln, it turns blue. All the clay comes from a different island – Santa Maria.

I got myself a small cup to drink aguardentes (aguardientes) – one more drink I had heard about but never tried before I met Arsenio.

… willingly taken, that is…

Came down from the top of the volcano rim to the village of Furnas. In the middle of the village, there is an area which is pock marked by caldeiras like this. There are either a lot of water vapor escaping from holes in the ground or water boiling at the surface from the heat of escaping water and gas from below.

That is when you realize that you are literally walking on top of a dormant volcano!!

… Literally if they stepped a couple of feet back, they would have been about a few thousand feet below….