The Azores

The Azores truly took us somewhere over the rainbow… us 13 incredible women and our dream-team-trio from Mallorca.

This island, Sao Miguel, off the coast of Portugal is the largest (300 square miles) of the 9 islands and is often referred to as the “Hawaii of Europe” for a reason. It’s got everything from untamed topography, prehistoric lushness, volcanic crater lakes, rain forests, fumaroles, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and azure waves in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that define the breathtaking landscape. It seriously gave me the impression we’ve stepped into a time and place untouched by humans. Imagine that! (The secret is out – the tourists are coming.)

We hit the island running, but not too fast. Thankfully, before Sao Miguel, we pregamed in Ponta Delgada for a couple days to collect ourselves, celebrate life and birthdays, and get ready for the days ahead – adventure, severe weather, and some unforgettable experiences.

At Furnas Lake Living, we entered the world of luxury – rustic modern Japanese-style villas surrounded by gardens, forests, and mountains. The nature here is spectacular.

Raingear was our best friend because as you know… there’s no such thing as bad weather when you’re prepared. Thankfully, we always had a good Plan B – and we needed it!

Each day we experienced both steady rains and bright sunshine, which brought back a memory from Scotland when my caddie said to me “as a matter of fact, it’s common to experience all four seasons in one day!” We did just that with a smile.

No matter what the weather was doing, we felt like we were in a living theater of the four elements — earth, water, fire and air–that made this adventure unlike any other.

The elements kept us very busy – and we answered the call by raising the vibration with a lot of rain dancing, yoga, massage, and ceremony.

Our meals were amazing thanks to Chef Jeff’s creative cuisine, especially that meal without utensils and the famous Cozido das furnas stew cooked for 7 hours in geothermal soil!

From hiking in lush Grena Park and sampling its picturesque waterfalls and wooded trails, to Lagoa do Fogo from the other side (plan B), to biking through charming Azorean villages with age-old cobblestone streets lined with hydrangeas and sweeping vistas of the volcanic shoreline, and sapphire ocean seen from the Sete Cidades peaceful crater lake, this trip was a tough-girl challenge that everyone passed!

Whale watching was a bust but certainly worth the excitement of getting wet and wild on the boat, holding on for dear life and catching only a quick glimpse of baby beluga’s tail.

Everyone not only brought their A game to the Azores, but managed to stay and relish in every moment while manifesting intentions together by illuminating the group dynamic. For me, it’s the ultimate validation on a STAT trip is to witness the love, friendships and memories that are created and nurtured here in just one short week. I’m grateful for all the meaningful conversations and the 30 years of laughter that feeds my soul after every journey.

As Tina Turner would say, This was simply the best. Cheers!