Miradouro do Pico do
Marty and I enjoyed driving around Sao Miguel Island. Though it is a relatively small island, traveling from one end to the other brings constant change of scenery, lush green hills, dramatic coastlines, and something quite different.
The island itself was formed by volcanic activity, built up over time from eruptions beneath the ocean. In many places, that history feels distant, hidden in the greenery. But in the Fumas Valley, it becomes unmistakable. Here, the volcanic nature of the island is right in front of you, steam rising from the earth, bubbling pools scattered across the landscape, a quiet reminder that the island is still active below the surface
We made our way to the Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, a viewpoint that looks over the entire valley. From there the lake sits quietly below, surrounded by green hills, whole thin streams of steam rise in different places across the basin.

Standing there, looking across Furnas, it was easy to appreciate how much variety such a small island can hold. This beautiful valley tells the story of how this island was formed and how it continues to change.
Read More From Nancy
Sanctuary of Fátima
On our travels through Portugal, I wanted to visit the Shrine of Fátima. Having grown up Catholic, I couldn’t be this close and not make the journey to a place I had heard about since childhood. Fátima is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the world, with millions of people traveling here […]
Jardim Municipal da Povoacao Sao Miguel
In the center of Povoação on São Miguel, we came across this beautifully maintained municipal garden, filled with colorful flower beds, carefully clipped trees, benches, and the distinctive black-and-white Portuguese pavement beneath our feet. The garden has an interesting history of its own. It dates from the 1940s and was created as part of the […]
Belém Tower
While exploring Lisbon, we visited the Torre de Belém, standing along the Tagus River near the place from which many of Portugal’s great voyages of exploration began. Built between 1514 and 1519 during the reign of King Manuel I, the tower was originally part of Lisbon’s defensive system, positioned to help protect the entrance to […]