Ok so you might call me an adventurous person… but despite the privilege and joy of travelling to different places (and consequently used to a fair amount of hold baggage not coming through or not even making it to the plane or even planes being cancelled or changed and being put up somewhere) when it comes down to it I am very much a hobbit… and often take persuasion to leave my cosy hobbit hole and venture into the unknown. Nevertheless I have and continue to venture out; and my adventures continue on the eve of my departure from Faial to get to Graciosa when I got several texts from the airplane company suspiciously saying ‘your departure time has been rescheduled’…

No matter how much you plan, things always change (this probably already is some sort of PhD/ research/ life strap line) and this is certainly true of my final flights to Graciosa (Faial – Terceira, Terceira – Graciosa). After waiting to check in hold luggage until the flights had been confirmed, I then, somewhat hopefully, headed to the cafe to while away time doing work. What should have been 2 hours turned into 4 hours later and many, many announcements of ‘we still do not know if the plane will arrive, please bear with us and we will announce more information in 40 minutes…’ eventually I heard my name being called over the speakers – it was like being called out for something at school, you feel guilty even if you didn’t do anything!

I was very impressed with the efficiency and friendliness of the staff as they sorted my flights out – I was to take the first flight, overnight in Terceria (hotel, taxi and some dinner costs covered) and then fly over to Graciosa the following day. So much new, so much change, but a lovely couple who were also going back to Graciosa took me under their wing and I was soon making the most of the hotel’s free wifi (it’s the little things you know) and headed out for a lovely dinner (if a bit weird having dinner by oneself).

What should have been a few hours (and under 1 hour in the air) turned into almost two days travel… but I made it to Graciosa and was welcomed by hot, sunny and blue sky weather! I was also met by the lovely couple from whom I am renting a house. Briefly popped into the Natural Park office to catch up with friends there and pick up my boxes (and solar panels – huge thanks to @GB-Sol) and soon tucking into an amazing, home grown, veg filled lunch :).

And so to the last few days… very much missing the spring weather, smells, flowers and song of the UK (let alone family and friends), especially in the run up to Easter. But I am slowly transitioning into life here. The full moon rise was stunning a few nights ago and great to see some stars out too and to start hearing the night calls of cagarro (Cory’s shearwater – another species of seabird). I have hired a car (woohoo!!) and am very much enjoying bumbling along, admiring the fields volcanic rock walls, the sea mist rolling in and the epic views from Graciosa’s volcano (caldeira) – which reaches a delightful 402m high and is the highest point on Graciosa.

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So I have just over a week here on the mainland of Graciosa before (hopefully) heading to Praia Islet! Aiming for a mix of chill time and a final sorting of kit before the final, final move. Looking forward to the visits of many different people of the coming months 😀 and to keeping you updated as and when…

Until next time! Greetings from the middle of the Atlantic!

Feliz Páscoa! (Happy Easter!)

Hannah 🙂

P.s. bird list update:

1. Buzzards (Azorean subspecies – buteo buteo rothschildi) 
2. House sparrows
3. Eurasian blackbirds
4. Eurasian blackcaps
5. Atlantic canary
6. Yellow-legged gull
7. Common tern
8. Rudy turnstone (some sort of plover)
9. European robin
10. Rock pigeon
11. Common wood-pigeon
12. Cory’s shearwater (heard)
13. European starling
14. European goldfinch
15. Common chaffinch (they’re backs are a lot darker than the UK)
16. Azores grey wagtail (subspecies: Motacilla cinerea patriciae)