My Diary

Links

Photos

Why do scientists call it research when they are looking for something new?

The trip from hell.
Firstly we were booked on Jetstar. The QANTAS club in Darwin only opens for QANTAS flights, so no relaxing before a long trip. Jetstar charged us for 2kg over weight and to have our luggage transfered to QANTAS in Singapore, $96. Next we discovered that you have to pay for everything on the flight, $15-$18 to have a meal, $10 for a screen to watch a movie, $5 for soft drinks, more for alcohol. By the time we got off the plane we had gone a long way to paying the difference in price from Jetstar to QANTAS.

Just as well we could use the QANTAS lounge in Singapore because we had to fix the first stuff-up, we not only were not sitting together on the next leg, but Mike was upstairs and I was downstairs. The staff in the lounge were very helpful and organized us to sit together for the long leg of our trip. We had a good meal a couple of drinks and slept most of the way, yea to QANTAS.

On arrival in Frankfurt we were told there was no booking for me, second stuff-up. After many phone calls and running around by the staff at Frankfurt they discovered that my booking had the wrong number. So we saw nothing of the airport and only just made the next flight.

Arrival at Porto, Portugal, third stuff-up. When we tried to check in they knew nothing about either one of us. So we shuffled ourselves and luggage to the SATA service desk. They couldn't find any trace of us on their system. We showed them the E-Tickets we were provided and were promptly told that they have no affiliation with other air lines and cant even look them up on their computer system. They found a booking for Mike from Ponta Delgada to Graciosa Island but nothing else including me. That didn't help us because we couldn't get from Porto to Ponta Delgada. After much discussion the SATA office manager said we would have to buy paper tickets to get to the next place. By this time we had spent more money than affordable. By the time this was all sorted out we were told to run to the check in and then run to the plane, hard to do with cases. We made it to the plane to be greeted with a lot of annoyed, waiting people.

It was dark when we arrived at Ponta Delgada so we didn't see much. We grabbed a taxi and headed to our hotel for a much needed rest, we were tired and angry at the personal cost of the trip thus far. We had a good nights sleep and woke hungry and very excited at our pending arrival on Graciosa Island. We ate like we hadn't had a feed in a week, feeling confident that our troubles were over we headed for reception to pay the bill and grab a taxi to the airport. No, that's not what happened, forth stuff-up, reception stuffed up our account and took 688 Euro instead of 6.88 Euro (VISA) for the incidentals. They refunded us the second withdrawal and told us this would take about a week for our bank in Australia to refund it to our bank account. We grabbed a cab and headed for the airport with paper tickets in hand.

The plane was a bit late which we found out was normal. 40 minutes from that Island to the next Island, wait 20 minutes in transit, then a 20 minute flight to the final Island, Graciosa.

Arrival on Graciosa Island
At last, our new home.
Takes a while to get your luggage as the new passengers are boarded before the luggage is but through. I didn't care, the nightmare was over.
On leaving the terminal we immediately felt comfortable. Over the last few months in Australia I had been emailing a wonderful lady here on the island, Diana. Mike had business with his contact so I went off with Diana and had a big catch-up talk and lots of kisses and hugs. Off we went driving on the wrong side of the road. Diana immediately took us on a little tour of the places we would need to go later. I had visions of a 12 kilometer long volcanic rock in the middle of the Atlantic. How wrong I was. The people are friendly and the island is beautiful.

Bed & Breakfast

Very quaint and quiet. Diana translated, booked us in and up the stairs we went. We tossed our bags in the corner and hit the bed. We discussed the expense and troubles we went through getting here and then slept for a few hours. We headed off to the the little cafe/bar that Diana had recommended at about 6pm for dinner, only to be told that the local people don't eat till late. So what does one do when waiting in a bar, we had a few drinks. At last 7pm, foods on, yea. Our first meal of real Portuguese food and it was delicious. Remembering that we are still in a bar we drank 3 bottle of Mateus Rose Well! First time in my life I rolled up a hill. We quietly went to our room and slept like babies till 8am. There is no hot food at the B & B but an ample variety of food to choose from. The Hosts were eager to help with anything we needed and the room was cleaned daily.
Alcohol is available in all supermarkets and cafes.

Our New Home
I was so excited, the day had arrived, we had our own place. Privacy, our own type of food, English TV, our new adventure had begun.
I have posted a few snaps of the house on the photo page.
$AU1.00 = 50cEU

Alcohol	CHEAPER than Australia
Cigarettes	CHEAPER than Australia
Bakery	SAME as Australia
Vegetables	SAME as Australia
Rent	SAME as Australia
Restaurant meals	SAME as Australia
Petrol	DOUBLE the cost than Australia
Meat	DOUBLE the cost than Australia
Chemist	DEARER than Australia
Mobile phone calls	3 times DEARER than Australia
Supermarket	3 times DEARER than Australia

Day out and about
Today is a day Mike wont forget in a hurry. We decided to go to the other side of the island to have a look around. We were driving along happily, OH! look at that and WOW isn't that beautiful.

Mike decided to go up on the cliffs to take a pic, put the lens cover on the car and drove off. Then we went up to the wind turbines to check out the Amateur radio repeater and nearly got blown off the mountain. Read on it gets better, Mike and I decided to drive into the volcano crater. When we arrived there I couldn't go any further down inside the volcano because I was wearing open shoes, camera in hand Mike heads down the path. I was asleep in the car when Mike arrived back. Gasping for air and legs shaking. ha ha ha I didn't go. He said it was the steepest thing he had ever navigated, it even included a spiral staircase somewhere deep down there. His legs and rib cage were still aching when he went to bed.

Night out with the crew
I can only speak for myself, but I had a great time. Exceptionally good food and far to much to drink. Peter, one of the staff is fresh back from a long stay in the States speaks very good English, he did a good job looking after us all. Then when the meal was finished and the table cleared Peter entertained us with music and song. Good night all round. Special Occassions photos.

One of the Instillation crew fell ill and was flown to another Island, so I went along as a point of contact. The whole incident was a big reminder of why I am not in the public hospital system. One good thing I got to fly over the islands (twice) and had a full day shopping and eating. Clif was OK and we flew back to Graciosa the following day.

Easter was interesting on an all Catholic island. Everyone eating plenty of fish, church bells ringing, deserted streets, all the shops closed, the whole island totally devoted to the meaning of the holiday. The whole crew including myself were invited to a traditional Easter Festival Meal at the home of the people running the B&B. We all wandered into the dinning room about the same time and nothing but chatter could be heard. It was a great feeling being in a room full of people speaking English. The cameras came out and were placed on a table so I could get some group shots before the instillation crew started leaving in the next few days. I took one pic and the host grabbed the next camera and suggested I get in the photos. Great, I didn't have any pics of me with the gang. The photos of the Easter Dinner. Special Occassions photos.

The airport Met man, Antonio, is on holiday at the moment and a lovely lady named Cathy took his place for the first ten days. Cathy works on another island doing the same job as Tony.
Mike and I invited Cathy and Dick (ARM data man) home for dinner. I cooked a New Zealand leg of lamb, some baked veggies etc etc, the normal Sunday dinner in Australia. Everyone ate to much and drank to much, I guess you could say it was a successful dinner party. Special Occassions photos.

ARM very generously allowed me to do the observers training with the local people. I have observed many people doing the balloon launches over the last 5 years, but now I am fully trained. There are pics available and they will be posted on the photo page soon. Grasioca Site photos.

Mike and I are off to Spain tomorrow to finalize out residential Visas. We will be back on Graciosa with some new stories next Sunday.
The two things I am hoping to buy while I'm away are embroidery hoops and a cotton dress. All the dresses here are made of nylon blends....yuk!

We were met at the airport by Jeanette from the American Embassy, she delivered us to our accommodation and invited us out for dinner. Mike and I went for a walk because we didn't see much of Ponta Delgada when we passed through on our way to Graciosa.
Jeanette and John were great dinner partners. Photos. And their choice of restaurant was perfect, Italian, by the sea, English menu and great company.

Well we're in Spain after an uneventful trip. Planes were on time, car was waiting at the airport and the road trip from Portugal to Spain was a dream. We may have to mortgage the house to pay for the toll fees, but the trip was great. Vigo is a big city with lots off one-way streets, but after the third or fourth trip around the city we found the "Hotel America". The hotel owns 3 spaces in an underground car park around the corner and we were lucky enough to get the last one. That sounds great when you say it fast but the are no elevators or stairs in the car park so we had to drag our bags up three levels. The lights are sensor lights so if we stopped moving all the lights went out and all we knew was we were somewhere under the city, in the dark waiting for a car to come racing around the corner. So I kept dancing around keeping the lights on while Mike dragged our bags (cases) up the three car ramps. When we finally got to to street level we couldn't get out. After a short period of jumping up and down we found the emergency exit button. Freedom, sunlight & fresh air. Upon checking with reception we were informed that we did exactly what we were suppose to, go figure. We then went for a walk to find the Portuguese Consulate. Spain - Photos

We just arrived back at our room after spending the morning at the consulate. YES!!! they have received and are processing our application for a Visto de Residencia (Residence Visa $AU160.00 each). Our friend Jeanette from the American Consulate in Ponta Delgada, Azores is to ring the Portuguese Consulate in Spain in 10 days and then we hope it is final.
On our walk yesterday we found an Australian bar. We're going back later to take some pics.
I took the pics but can't upload them till I get back home to Graciosa. We've been told that our visas are approved.

The trip back to Portugal and our overnight stay is a story in it self.

I don't know why but we were booked into a hotel over the river and 27km by road from the airport. We have seen parts of Portugal that the Portuguese have never seen. Up and down one-way streets (both ways), detours around road-works, stuck on motor-ways that you can't get off till the next exit. We put ourselves through this for about 3 hours and half a tank of fuel then headed back to the airport. Mike went back to the AVIS rent a car place and asked them where we could find a motel close to the airport. I bet the young man that sent us to the "Habana Motel" is still smirking.

The Habana Motel is just up the road from the airport and easy to get to. The first clue was when they asked Mike if he wanted the room for

4hrs, 12hr or 24hrs, next the private underground parking with private stairwell to our room, next clue was the surround mirrors and the two person shower & adjustable shower head, not forgetting the two in-house XXXX rated TV channels.
The motel had it's own sex shop and 24hr bar service. Our room also had a DVD player and frosted windows. So being the adventurous couple we are, we ordered two pizzas, two cokes and watch some TV.
Well! the trip is over and we're back home again.

There are 250 visiting school kids on the island at the moment. They're having a ball (great time) Go-Kart-Races, the bars are full (only have to be 16 to smoke & drink), indoor scoccer, all of which I have joined in....lol. Mike took some pics from our front yard. Photos

Mike and thought we would have a look at what happens after dark, which here is 10pm. First we had a meal at Apolo and then headed to one of the two night spots we know about.

Official Opening of the ARM site

The ceremony was timed so that the President and his entourage of about 8 minders arrived a few minutes prior to the scheduled balloon launch at 11.30am local time. He did a very quick private tour of the site with Mike. Mike suggested he might like to sign the balloon with a marker pen and he and the media grabbed the opportunity. That was featured on the local TV media. After the launch he proceeded to the official area where only two speeches were delivered. One from Jeanette Rebert (acting Consul General) and one from the President (I am sorry I don't know his name). Jeanette's focused very much on the US Government's role thru ARM and the President was apparently very complementary towards all of us and our efforts. About 8 minutes worth from Jeanette and 5 mins from the President. Jeanette first, President second. Everyone mingled afterward (about 40 officially invited guests including, Navy military, Church official & Senior police). The President was very impressed with the setup as he spoke in English to Mike as toured. He was also amazed at the the way the site is so self sufficient with our own workshop and facilities, etc. Mike did the tour and Eduardo tagged along doing translations for those who could not speak English. Media were one television (RTP Azores), 3 radio stations and a couple of print media.It was short and sharp, very positive and the president kept refering to his "friend Mike" in his speech....LOL. Photo's

While we where there a Portuguese Military plane arrived to pick up a young woman having her first baby (20 minute flight to nearest maternity hospital).

Visa Issues

My new keyboard arrived this morning, so I'm back again. I had a sip of coffee and it went down the wrong way, so I coughed it up all over my keyboard and lost the letters M H K and N. This could only happen to me.
A lot has happened since my last entry. Car Rally - Village Festivals - Santa Cruz Feast and Festival - Bull Fights - Bull runs - Trip to England.
Car Rally - Mike and I didn't have to go far to watch the rally, our street was near the start up point. Mike took some pics as they passed the house.
Village Festivals - Every village/town on the island has it's own special 4 day weekend. This goes on all summer, the island has doubled in population at weekends. Each festival brings over different entertainment, mostly bands from the mainland. The only things that stays open all day everyday are the mini-supermarkets and the cafes. Summer is a bad time to do business on the island.
Santa Cruz Feast and Festival - 5 days of partying, a great time was had by all. There were boat races, entertainment, food stalls, jewelery stalls, everything you would expect at a festival. The processions were very religious events. I'm not a catholic, thus I have no real understanding of the processions all I know is they had something to do with the saints. Mike took some pics.

SmileyCentral.com