flores: the island of water
azores, portugal
azores, portugal
Published on Stade Magazine
After three flights (and hilariously managing to get lost in the tiniest of airports), I finally landed on the wet island of Flores, the westernmost point in Europe. Trying to shake off a lingering anxiety, which had been piling on with months of non-stop work, I stretched my legs while glancing at the grey cloak of rain-filled clouds hanging above. The Azores are known for their unpredictable weather and rewards those with patience. So while I was desperately in need of the warm sun, I made an effort not to worry. Fingers crossed.
After three flights (and hilariously managing to get lost in the tiniest of airports), I finally landed on the wet island of Flores, the westernmost point in Europe. Trying to shake off a lingering anxiety, which had been piling on with months of non-stop work, I stretched my legs while glancing at the grey cloak of rain-filled clouds hanging above. The Azores are known for their unpredictable weather and rewards those with patience. So while I was desperately in need of the warm sun, I made an effort not to worry. Fingers crossed.
With a satisfied grin one gets at the start of a new adventure, I took the keys of my small, unsuitable for anything-other-than-city-driving rental car and set off to discover the island. I don't often get excited. Yet as I drove up and down the hills, twisting and turning through the island's roads, the car's engine already struggling, the thrill of discovery took hold of me. It had been over a year since the pandemic first took us hostage in our own homes. And though my mind still kept drifting towards work, I was thankful to be out exploring the emerald green valleys and flower-covered peaks of this rugged land.
You might wonder why an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, isolated from most of the world until just over 50 years ago, would be my choice for a break. Especially after social isolation. It turns out that Flores would be a haven amid a chaotic, turbulent world, a place where the pandemic felt like a blurry, nightmarish fever dream.
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