Light, water and wind are, in the islands of Açores, spectacular. Way different from the mainland. As the Portuguese islands are right in the middle of the ocean, there’s more rough force, more contrast, and more intensity.
The West Coast – Mosteiros
The west side of the island goes pretty abrupt into the water.
On another island I stayed, a while ago – in Corsica, I have a friend that has been living there for about 20 years and she is always saying that ‘living on an island implies a lot of work with yourself, with your true, deep, self’. And I guess that’s the big lesson of the islands. Of any island. But especially of the Azores, as they are (and feel) so, so, so far away. I still adapt to the daily view of the (pretty weird) black sanded beaches (like São Roque and Populo, on the south coast, or those of Ribeira Grande, on the north coast). To lots and lots and lots of rain – as here it rains at least every two days. But if I come at ease with the things not feeling, looking and sounding like the exotic island I had in mind, I find a nice rhythm, and it’s nice to taste a local fish (bocanegra or albacore) or seafood (lapas), the cheese is delicious (you can try almost all the local specialties at Rei dos quiejos near Ponta Delgada market). For fresh cheese on bread, there’s also a special local spicy mix or pepper (pimiento do queijo). The local beer is called Especial and the local fruit that grow right on the island – pineapples, bananas and avocado – are very juicy.
“My top 6 exercises: 1. jumping to conclusions 2. flying off the handle 3. carrying things to far 4. dodging responsibilities 5. pushing my luck 6. running late.” @marcuscederberg
This is the moodboard of a project in progress, for textile design. All photos were taken a year ago, in São Miguel, and each has a story, that you can read on the blog. This moodboard is turning into a graphic pattern to be printed for the next collection of Away to Mars.
Travel in Patterns 