Sunshine, rain and an earthquake in the Azores The weather wasn't very kind to us but we did get out walking on all the days.
Bruno our guide was very good. His knowledge of the islands was excellent and he made every effort to tailor the walks to the group. He also adapted the program when we were unable to visit Sao Jorge because of the earthquake.
Loved the botanical gardens and Lagoa do Fogo (although it was difficult to sit by the lake for very long because of the biting wind). I found the islands we visited very interesting.
I didn't go whale watching in Horta, instead went to the whaling museum (Porto Pim Whaling) and did the circular walk on the hill (Monte da Guia) behind it. Both were excellent alternatives.
The food was very good and the hotels and various restaurants. The accommodation in Ponta Delgada was very good and an excellent location.
Porto to Lisbon Atlantic Ride - MEO (Sep/17) This was my 7th cycling trip and biking was a great way to see this region of Portugal. The route is mostly flat with the occasional steep but short hill.. The views while cycling along the coast were beautiful. Our cycling group was a lot of fun and the pace was perfect such that we enjoyed a relaxing time at coffee stops (always near a beach) and got into the next town/city in time to explore a bit. The weather was perfect for cycling and we had no rain on the trip.
I enjoyed seeing all the cities on this tour from interacting with locals to eating their foods and drinking great wines. Beautiful Architecture, Paintings, learning about Portugal culture I hope to make it back to Porto and spend more time in this area.