Queimadas

Monday morning, the summits are clear and inviting for a trek; despite a slow descent from the bed. The eggs benedict delay us a bit further, so that we loose the will to climb (our muscles are still tired from yesteday’s hike). Eventually, we agree on a plan of attack for the day amd head out around noon. After a sinuous road, we reach the Queimadas ground. Ironically, the Parque das Queimadas, which hosts a caminho para todos, is the first one so far with a paying parking. There is a small coffee shop, but no one to sell us one, so we head for the PR Joel uncaffeinated. Very nice walk in the moist forest with a large and flat but muddy path along a running levada.

Missing bread for our sandwiches, we look for a restaurant for lunch and stop at the Restaurant Galé in Faial. We both take the fish of the day, that we can choose from: red snapper (S), seabass (M) and a third one. Very tasty, good place for fresh fish, bolo de caco and poncha. With the belly filled, we go on the hunt for a bakery to get bread for tomorrow’s sandwiches. On the way, following an incorrect Google Maps point, we end up in a dead end where we greet a curious pig. Unfortunately the bakery ran out of pastel de nata, so lemon cake it is.