Pico, Island of Whales, Wine and Dramatic Ocean Scenery

We’ve been on Pico Island for four days now and have been completely captivated.  There is nothing to do here, and everything at the same time.  If you are ‘into’ nature, enjoy short hikes and mingling with local folk in tiny village cafes, you would adore Pico.  Let me set the scene.

Pico Island is famous for the pods of whales that visit just off shore most of the year, hand made lace, locally produced wine, divine Pico cheese and beef so tender you can cut it with a fork.  We start every meal saying we won’t eat all of the cheese plate brought to the table, but you guessed it, we always gobble up every crumb.  The cheese is light yellow, spreadable, with a mild slightly nutty flavor.  Each of the Azores Islands make their own cheese which differ slightly from each other.  There are contented cattle roaming on all the hillsides, munching away on vivid green grasses.  Here in the Azores it stays warm all year, so there are no barns for the cattle, they roam free all year.  On Pico the pastures and vineyards are divided by miles and miles of neatly stacked black volcanic rock walls.