Norbert, Açores

@nobbrt

Continental European, living continuously on the island of São Miguel, Açores since 2017. Musician and holiday apartment host. My pics are simply intended to document the beauty and diversity of my home island. No Chat.

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Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· 27d

Picture from my home. A cultural landscape shaped by volcanic activity in the north-west of São Miguel. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks down from above onto a typical plateau, characterised by lush green pastures, tufted grass and strips of woodland. In the foreground are the grassy hummocks of a raised bog landscape. On the right is a distinct volcanic cone, in whose crater a pond has formed, which in turn is surrounded by Japanese cedars. In the background are a few houses in a village, with the blue Atlantic Ocean beyond. A few low-hanging white cloud edges peek into the picture from above, whilst the sky itself remains hidden.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· 28d

Picture from my home. Despite the light rain, not much water – but still lovely: Salto da Inglesa. #WaterfallWednesday #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks up from below at a high, steep rock face, over which a thin, narrow stream of water cascades, breaking onto several rocky ledges. The top of the cliff edge is wooded, as are the steep slopes on either side of the stream. Only the vertical sections of the face reveal bare rock; the rest is covered in mosses, ferns and grasses. The name "Salto da Inglesa" translates "English woman's leap".

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· 29d

Picture from my home. Vista do Rei (King's View): A picture-postcard view of the twin lakes in the Sete Cidades volcanic crater (with hydrangeas in the foreground, of course!). Taken by me. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

Probably the best-known view of the Azores. The picture shows two large crater lakes connected by a narrow passage over which a bridge spans.
All around are the steep, densely vegetated walls of a volcanic crater. To the left of the lakes lie the white houses of the village of Sete Cidades. There are also pastures, woods and hills. In the foreground are the ever-present hydrangeas; here, there is even one of the rarer mountain hydrangeas. Above, a blue sky with a few white clouds.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 11

Picture from my home. A contemplative scene at Castelo Branco in the parish of Ponta Garça. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer stands at just under 700 metres above sea level and looks along the ridge of a grass-covered hill towards the south-east. On the ridge is a dirt track that ends at a very light-coloured, crenellated tower, which has a medieval appearance but is made of concrete blocks. One large and two smaller semi-circular openings, reinforced with iron grilles, are reminiscent of a face. Between the viewer and the tower (Castelo Branco – White Castle) stand a good 20 young Holstein-Friesian cows, some of them huddled close together.
To the left, a small coniferous forest (Japanese cedars) is visible, behind it the Furnas valley and, beyond that, the Povoação valley. To the right, there is also a small wood, fields and the Atlantic Ocean. There is also a cluster of flowering hydrangeas.
The sky is about 60 per cent overcast, with the clouds reflected in the water.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 10

Picture from my home. It's #ForestFriday. A vertical cut through the forest above Ribeira Chá. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows a steep, wooded hill, in the centre of which a vertical cut has been made. Presumably a former quarry. The colour of the rock ranges from light ochre to dark reddish-brown. In the centre there is a horizontal crack, which could possibly be a layer of ash left behind by a volcanic eruption.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 8

Picture from my home. The waterfall of Padrão das Alminhas in Achadinha. This landscape, which is almost alpine in character, is just 200 metres from the Atlantic coast. #WaterfallWednesday #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks out over a green valley, at the centre of which stands a waterfall cascading into a small pool. In front of it lies a green meadow dotted with a few boulders, the sort one would expect to find in South Tyrol. To the left is a rugged rock face over which a few trickles of water flow. To the right is a steep ‘alpine meadow’. In the background, the stream that feeds the waterfall disappears into the forest. In the foreground on the left, someone has grown taro, which grows almost anywhere it is too steep, too dark or too damp for other crops. In the foreground on the right is the ubiquitous giant reed.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 7

Picture from my home. Basalt columns in the evening light. Ponta da Ajuda at low tide. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows, on the left, a rocky outcrop jutting out into the ocean, consisting of hexagonal basalt columns. Just above the water’s surface, the rock columns are brownish-red, followed by a yellowish layer and a white layer, with the characteristic basalt black above them. To the right are a few columns and a small islet, which protrude only just above the surface, revealing their algae-covered tops. The ocean is very calm and reflects the violet hues of the setting sun.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 4

Picture from my home. Boiling water inside the Caldeira Grande in Furnas. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The photograph shows a pool several metres in diameter situated above an opening in the rocky ground. On the upper right-hand side of the pool, the water is bubbling vigorously and emitting steam. The water has a faint turquoise tint. Some sulphur deposits can be seen. A paved path with steps runs around the pool. However, access is closed for safety reasons. Further in the background, partly obscured by the steam, are green bushes, grass and trees.
The steam smells slightly of sulphur and iron. Anyone who has ever been inside the production area of a steel-processing plant (machining workshops, drop forges, etc.) will be familiar with this smell.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 3

Picture from my home. It's #ForestFriday. Deep in the forest: Janela do Inferno ('Hell's Window'), which gave its name to one of the most visited hiking trails in the Azores. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer is looking at a rock face completely covered in trees (Pittosporum undulatum), ferns and mosses. All around is the highly invasive ginger lily, much of which is in bloom in the picture. There is a hole in the rock face from which a thin stream of water flows, forming a tiny pool on the ground. This is the 'Hell's Window', which gave the trail its name. Incidentally, the pool is home to a species of newt that (allegedly) can only be found there on São Miguel. At the bottom right, you can see part of the trail, which also serves as access to a drinking water pump house that is not visible in the picture.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 2

Picture from my home. The Ilhéu (islet) of Vila Franca do Campo - and the town itself. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows an almost circular, water-filled volcanic crater surrounded by rock faces in the ocean, less than 200 metres from the coast. The crater opens out towards the coast and is therefore dependent on the tides. At low tide, the water in the crater is so shallow that you can stand and watch the many fish that use the crater as a nursery. At high tide, it is ideal for snorkelling.
On the coast, you can see a small town with mostly white houses. Behind it lie green hills that rise steeply after a short distance.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jul 1

Picture from my home. Erica azorica (endemic tree heather) at the Miradouro da Tronqueira, the highest peak (Pico da Vara, 1103 m), clouds and some blue sky. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The photo shows green bushes of Erica azorica, the tree heath endemic to the Azores (and not the species that grows on Madeira). In the background are mountains covered in greenery, meeting gray clouds. The sky is almost completely overcast; only on the right—toward the ocean—can you see blue sky. It is typical for São Miguel and the Azores that the coastal areas are bathed in sunshine, while in the center of the island, in the mountains, it is overcast or even raining.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 30

Picture from my home. Sunset over the potato field behind our backyard. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows the sun setting over the ocean, still just above the horizon. The sky is coloured in shades ranging from yellow through orange and violet to blue. A cloud enhances the sky’s rich variety of colours. From the left, you can see a hill sloping down towards the right, so that it lies below the horizon there. A few trees and houses form a charming silhouette. In the foreground, one can vaguely make out a cultivated field. It is planted with potato plants.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 28

Picture from my home. #Stunday Stunning volcanic formations above the Lombadas valley. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows a funnel-shaped plateau crisscrossed by relatively uniform furrows that end at a cliff edge in a ravine. The eruption that created these formations cannot have occurred very long ago, as the rocks show relatively little weathering. The entire area is overgrown with shrubs and grasses. In the foreground are the treetops of a Japanese cedar forest.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 27

Picture from my home. The footpath down to Praia do Lombo Gordo ('Fat Loin Beach'), São Miguel’s only sandy beach on the east coast (to avoid any misunderstanding: there are more beaches on the north and south coast). #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks up into a narrow gorge; on the left-hand side, concrete steps lead upwards and a concrete footbridge spans the chasm. All the rocks are covered in bushes and small trees, with lichen growing on the steepest sections. The whole scene is somewhat reminiscent of landscapes in South-East Asia.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 26

Picture from my home. June in our garden: A tree fern unfurls its fronds. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The photograph shows the tip of a tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica). On the upper surface of a cylindrical stem covered in brown fibres, nine fronds are unfurling in the manner typical of ferns. The fronds are at various stages of unfolding. One can also see the remains of the petioles of the old, withered fronds that have been shed. On the left, out of focus, stands a laurel tree (Laurus nobilis); in the background, among other things, is an endemic tree heath (Erica azorica).

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 25

Picture from my home. The ruin of the Moinho do Felix watermill, which gave its name to my "home hiking trail". #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

Picture from my home.
Rocks, lichens, mosses, heather, grasses and ‘chicken herb’ (Tradescantia fluminensis) on the Lomba d’El Rei hiking trail in Achadinha.
#Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 24

Picture from my home. Probably the most photographed waterfall in the Azores, in the Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park, Achada. #WaterfallWednesday #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks out over a relatively wide waterfall emerging from a small copse. It plunges into a pool bordered by a dam, over which another cascade flows before the water disappears into a narrow stream bed. To the right, below the waterfall, is a small, park-like meadow through which a path runs, featuring a few steps and dotted with a larger number of hydrangea bushes.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 22

Picture from my home. Rocks, lichens, mosses, heather, grasses and ‘chicken herb’ (Tradescantia fluminensis) on the Lomba d’El Rei hiking trail in Achadinha. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows two irregularly shaped, slightly weathered rocks of dark igneous rock, unevenly covered with white lichens, mosses, grasses and heather. Around the rocks, alongside grass, reeds and tree heath, one can also spot Tradescantia fluminensis, which the locals call ‘Erva-das-galinhas’ (chicken herb). Perhaps because it grows so quickly that not even chickens can eat it fast enough(?)

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 21

Picture from my home. Late afternoon mood on the south coast near the Mare Nostrum picnic area (Água d'Alto). Someone named that spot "volcanic mystery shore, water fusion spot" on OogleMaps. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows a small sandy beach from which bizarrely shaped volcanic rocks protrude. A small stream also flows into the sea there. The ocean is very calm. The horizon is clearly visible and forms a distinct line that does not run exactly horizontally in the picture, as this would go against my aesthetic sensibilities (anyone can draw a straight line!). The sky is largely clear, with fleecy clouds forming on the right. The sun is already quite low in the sky and is illuminating the scene from the right.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 20

Picture from my home. The islet of Vila Franca do Campo at low tide, as seen from the promenade. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

You are looking at a small, almost circular volcanic islet, covered in greenery and featuring a crater in the centre that is also roughly circular and filled with seawater. In the foreground is a section of the coastline at Vila Franca do Campo, consisting of rocks and scree which, due to the low tide, is visibly covered in seaweed. A man wearing a white cap and rubber boots is clambering around amongst the rocks. He may be gathering lapas (limpets), a local and relatively expensive speciality.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 19

Picture from my home. A rare sight: around 60 km of São Miguel (almost) cloudless. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer is standing on Pico das Éguas (823 m) in the west of the island, looking eastwards across the whole of São Miguel towards Pico da Vara (1103 m). The view of the island is unobstructed by any clouds. The small towns of Rabo de Peixe and Ribeira Grande are clearly visible, as is Pico Barrosa (949 m), which lies roughly in the centre of the island. In the foreground is a three-sided wooden railing, the purpose of which is not entirely clear to me, especially as wood will not last long in the climatic conditions of this location.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 18

Picture from my home. The unnamed stream that had just passed the Salto do Rosal waterfall. South of Lake Furnas. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows a narrow, shallow stream in a gravelly, loamy bed, winding its way through a jungle-like forest. On the left, you can see several tree ferns, undergrowth, smaller ferns and Japanese cedars. On the right are ginger lilies and – amongst other things – sweet pittosporum trees. Bear in mind that the Azores are located in Europe.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 17

Picture from my home. Sunset at the Farolim (beacon) das Fenais da Ajuda, about 2 km from our house, as the buzzard flies (no crows here). #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks out towards the Atlantic, towards the setting sun, which is now just above the horizon and has taken on a deep orange hue. It is visible in a narrow strip of clear sky. Above this lies a thin layer of cloud, illuminated from below and appearing violet in colour. The sun’s photons are reflected off the water’s surface in a long, orange strip that converges towards the viewer. In the foreground, on the left, one can see a red-and-white-striped metal pillar, which is additionally secured to a concrete base with wire ropes. Surrounding this object, which is a flashing light for maritime navigation, is a wooden deck, which in turn is enclosed by a railing.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 16

Picture from my home. In June, São Miguel is packed with agapanthus lilies. These ones are in bloom in Remédios, Bretanha (the north-western part of the island). #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

In the foreground, you can see the striking violet-blue, spherical flowers of the agapanthus. In the background, out of focus, is the church in the village of Remédios, Bretanha (there is a second Remédios on São Miguel, near Lagoa), built in the style typical of almost all the island’s churches: black volcanic rock and white walls. A rectangular tower without a separate roof.
You can also see a few houses, as well as the blue ocean stretching to the horizon.
The north-western region of the island is called Bretanha because settlers from Brittany originally settled there.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 15

Picture from my home. A glimpse of the Gorreana Tea Plantation, about 8 km from our house. The only commercial tea plantation in Europe. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks up at a hill, the top of which is wooded. Across the slope stand narrow hedges, each about waist-high, in a row. The gaps between them are so narrow that a person can still walk through.
These are tea plants, from which the freshly regrown tips are harvested. Here, this is done using a kind of homemade lawnmower, held by four people. On the right, you can see a large, unpruned tea tree.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 12

Picture from my home. View looking down towards Caloura. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The viewer looks down from a height of around 120 metres onto the bay of Caloura, which is said to be the warmest village on São Miguel. Alongside a few houses and gardens, one can see a rocky bay that is somewhat reminiscent of the Croatian coast, if one disregards the colour of the rocks. A small seawater pool and a harbour basin are also visible. In the foreground are the inevitable giant reeds, as well as agapanthus lilies and common lantana. The ocean is unusually calm; it is currently low tide.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 11

Picture from my home. In the forest. Tree ferns between conifers (Japanese cedars). #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The photograph shows a section of a forest consisting mainly of Cryptomeria japonica trees. In a gap between the conifers, four tree ferns can be seen growing close together. The photograph was taken on the ‘Rotas da Água – Janela do Inferno’ hiking trail (presumably São Miguel’s most popular).

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 10

Picture from my home. View along the cliffs from the Miradouro de Pesqueiro in the parish of Santana in the month of June (it's Agapanthus time). #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The camera looks eastwards along the northern cliffs of the island of São Miguel. The cliffs here are around 200 metres high and covered with grasses, mosses, ferns and small shrubs. Further ahead lies a freshly mown meadow surrounded by giant reed, which is planted here to provide protection against wind and erosion. In the foreground are several flowering plants typical of the season: agapanthus, Canna indica and a dog rose.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 9

Picture from my home. Sittin' on a higher ground and watching the tide roll in... Estuary of Ribeira da Salga, which is the stream that supplies our drinking water. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography

The picture shows the relatively narrow, rocky mouth of a small stream flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The steep slopes to the left and right form a V-shaped valley and are covered with grass and reeds. In the foreground, to the left, is an eagle fern withered by the sun, wind and sea spray. The small, stony delta is littered with driftwood carried by the stream and washed back by the sea. In the centre, the blue-green Atlantic Ocean is visible. A wave about 3–4 metres high is just beginning to break against the wind. It is high tide. The sky is covered with thin clouds.

Norbert, Açores@nobbrt· Jun 8

Picture from my home. On the shores of Lagoa do Fogo. #Açores #Azores #Azoren #SãoMiguel #photography #landscape #landscapephotography