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            TERCEIRA

Terceira was the third island discovered by the Portuguese: hence its 
name, which means "The Third". Lush, green, peaceful, and colorful, it has 
over 250 square miles of land surface. From almost anywhere on the island 
you can see the omnipresent ocean. There is much to see on this island, 
from magnificent parks to volcanic ocean pools and from towns dating back 
more than 500 years to beautiful beaches. 

Its chief city, Angra do Heróismo, has a population of 30,000 and is 
graced by beautiful homes hundreds of years old, great churches, castles, 
and coastal forts. Surrounded by mountains and covered with subtropical 
vegetation of all kinds, the city offers many hours of interesting 
experiences. Angra contains the major cultural, educational, and commer-
cial institutions on the island and is center for entertainment and 
sports. A first-class, 18-hole golf course is 15 minutes drive away. Scuba 
diving, hunting, fishing, boating, camping, and hiking make the island a 
vacation wonderland. There are two castles worth visiting: São João 
Baptista and São Sebastião. 

One of the island's better hotels is located in Angra, as is its most 
beautiful municipal park. 

Once you have arrived at Lajes and settled down, its a good idea to take a 
drive about Terceira. Be sure to visit the beautiful towns of Biscoitos, 
Quatro Ribeiras, Altares, Terra Chã, Angra, Alguave, and Doze Ribeiras. If 
you like wine, stop at the Wine Museum in Biscoitos for verdelho--its 
great! The park of Serreta is surely one of the most beautiful you will 
ever visit. Located on the extreme western side of Terceira, its a great 
place to go hiking or picnicking or just to gaze at the ocean through a 
tropical rain forest. 

The island is famous for its food, especially a beef stew made in a wine 
sauce called alcatra a moda da Terceira. Also worth trying are its fish 
stews, acordas, and lobster salads. A special dessert called papos de anjo 
is a must. 


                               THE ISLANDS 

The Azores are located in the mid-Atlantic some 2,300 miles east of New 
York and 900 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal. consisting of nine islands, 
they are, in fact, the tops of a series of volcanoes. Fertile, and lush 
green throughout the year, the islands were discovered and populated by 
the Portuguese in the mid-15th century. When first discovered, the only 
signs of life on the islands were sea birds and the land hawks (os acores) 
for which the archipelago was named. The islands are the oldest Portuguese 
possessions of what was once one of the largest colonial empires in 
European history. This empire included millions of square miles and hun-
dreds of thousands of subject peoples. It stretched around the world form 
Africa, Indonesia, and India to Labrador and Brazil and was ruled by one 
of the smallest and most underpopulated nations of Europe. Even today, 
Portuguese cultural traditions continue as the core element of many of 
these diverse areas, especially of the Azores. 

The people who settled in the islands came from the agricultural sections 
of Portugal--the northern area (Minho) and the extreme south and south-
western sections (Alentejo and Algarve). The new settlers were farmers 
from the day they arrived. Their chief interest was agriculture. To this 
day, the Azoreans are an agricultural society supplying Portugal's needs, 

as well as its own. Each year, the Azores ship thousands of tons of dairy 
products, beef, wheat, and corn to Portugal in exchange for the industrial 
output of Portuguese industry. Besides agriculture, the Azoreans have also 
developed extensive fishing fleets which search the North Atlantic for its 
undersea wealth. Each year much of this fleet leaves the islands in search 
of the codfish along the shores of Labrador and Greenland. As with its 
agricultural output, much of this ocean wealth goes to Portuguese markets. 


                               THE CLIMATE 

The climate of the islands is temperate, protected from extremes of heat 
and cold by the Gulf Stream. Summers are generally pleasant, with sunny 
days, cool evenings, and occasional rainy periods. The warm period extends 
from April through October, when temperatures range from 55 to 75 degrees. 
Winter on the islands can be unpleasant, with high winds, heavy rains, and 
overcast skies. From November to March, gale-force winds lash the islands 
for days on end, interrupting interisland sea traffic. Winter temperatures 
remain relatively mild (45-70 degrees), but the ever-present combination 
of extremely high humidity and constant wind makes the climate seem colder 
than it actually is. 

Warm clothes such as sweaters and raincoats are essential in this ocean 
climate. Contrary to popular belief, the Azores are not a group to 
tropical islands. 


                               BACKGROUNDS 

The Azores were discovered in the mid-15th century by Portuguese explorers 
sent out by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal to explore the then 
unknown seas of the North Atlantic. Sometime between 1427 and 1432, 
Goncalvo Velho Cabral landed at the Azores and claimed them for Portugal. 
Settlement of the islands began after 1450, when Portuguese were 
encouraged to move to the islands and establish agricultural communities. 
Because of their location, the Azores soon became a center for further 
exploration of the North Atlantic, with Portuguese searching the shores of 
what are now Labrador, Greenland, and New England. Columbus used the 
islands as a stopping-off point to replenish food and water supplies on 
his voyages to Pizarro and Hernan Cortes. British, French, Dutch, and 
Swedish explorers also joined the visiting fleets at Azorean ports in the 
16th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the whaling industry based 
much of its operations at Azorean ports and the first American sailors 
joined the fishing fleets of Europe in searching out the whale. 

During this period, many Azoreans joined the crews of American ships and 
later emigrated to the coastal ports of New England to establish Azorean 
communities. many Azoreans traveled to the Pacific on whalers and 
established large communities in Hawaii and California. 

During World War I, the Azores served the British as a base of operations 
in the undersea war against the German U-boat threat. The Azores again 
grew in strategic value to Britain in world War II, when Germany attempted 
to dominate North Atlantic shipping routes with its submarine fleet. The 
United States established its bases in the Azores in 1943, when the Azores 
served both cargo and combat aircraft being ferried to North Africa and 
Europe. By 1945, major airfields were established at Santa Maria and 
Terceira Islands. After the war, the Azores served the new trans-Atlantic 

commercial airlines of America, Portugal, Britain, and France as an essen-
tial stopover. Lajes Field is now the center of military aviation in the 
Azores and commercial traffic. 


                               THE ECONOMY 

Wherever you may go on the islands of the Azorean archipelago, you see the 
small farm communities and villages upon which the Azorean economy is 
based. Agriculture is not only a significant portion of the occupations of 
most Azoreans--it is a total way of life. Almost all population centers 
are really nothing more than expanded public agriculture markets. Until 
very recently, the only occupation of the son of a farmer was farming. 

In the Azores, if you were not a farmer you would probably be a fisherman. 
Large fleets were located at Sao Miguel and Terceira. These fleets, 
largely unmechanized, fished the major North Atlantic fishing grounds in 
competition with the more advanced fishing fleets of America, Japan, 
Canada, Norway, Russia, Germany, France, and England. The Azoreans are 
still facing increasingly difficult times as major North Atlantic fishing 
grounds are slowly being exhausted by these much larger, mechanized 
fleets. The primary food staple of most Azoreans and Portuguese is the 
codfish, which is rapidly disappearing. 

Agricultural productions also limited. Farms tend to be very small. When a 
father dies, he passes his farm on to his sons, who then divide the land 
and, in turn, will pass the remaining land on to their sons. After 
centuries, most plots of land cannot be efficiently farmed: because they 
are very small, large machinery cannot be used even if available. Stone 
walls surround each plot of land and serve as dividers. Since the land is 
of volcanic origin, much of the soil is extremely rocky and unsuitable for 
effective agricultural production. Corn is a basic staple, along with some 
wheat, rye, oats, beans, potatoes, and tea. Almost every house has a 
nearby vegetable garden. 

The military base at Lajes employs about 1000 Azorean workers and contri-
butes significantly to the economy of Terceira Island. Basic wage limits 
are set by agreements between the base commander and the Portuguese 
government. Outside the base, the effect of Americans is easily noted. 
Since many Americans rent their housing in the local towns and hire maids 
and gardeners, their infusion of money into the local economy has become 
significant. 

Tourism is now beginning to significantly contribute to the economy. 
Substantial funds come from Americans of Azorean ancestry who visit the 
Azores, especially in the spring and early summer, contributing thousands 
of dollars to the local economy. Many Azoreans living overseas remit funds 
to family members remaining on the islands. Slowly, international tourism 
is finding the Azores a pleasant place to stop on the way between Europe 
and America. However, because most airlines no longer have to stop on the 
trans-Atlantic route, there has been a decline in the number of tourists 
visiting the islands. Additional efforts to spread the word about the 
beauty and charm of the Azores still need to be made before larger numbers 
of tourists will be attracted to the islands. More tourist facilities, 
hotels, restaurants, and roads must be built before tourism has a signifi-
cant impact on the Azorean economy. 



                             THE AZOREANS 

The Azoreans are probably some of the most pure-blooded Portuguese there 
are, for the original Azoreans were rural Portuguese who arrived and 
inhabited unoccupied islands in the mid-1400s. By 1500, the culture, 
language, and traditions of Portugal's agricultural communities were 
firmly established in the Azores. Most of the small agricultural communi-
ties on the islands were affected by the foreign visitors from trans-
Atlantic crossings. There were some Flemish settlers who arrived in the 
1500s; they were the only significant group not of Portuguese descent. 
Thus, the Azores developed one of the most ethnically and culturally 
homogeneous societies in the western world. This grouping of Portuguese 
from Minho and the Alentejo created an extremely conservative, religious, 
hard-working, tough people accustomed to long hours of toil in the fields, 
with little in the way of luxury. The only educational system was directed 
by the church, and the village leadership tends to devolve upon the local 
priest. No public institutions of higher learning were available, and 
until recently, through radio and television, few modern ideas penetrated 
the censorship imposed by the Portuguese government. Portugal maintained a 
tight control over all aspects of life in the islands. 

Foreign trade and currency were required to pass through Lisbon. Foreign 
residents were required to have visas issued in Lisbon. A Portuguese 
governor general was the source of all legal political power and was 
directly appointed by the central government. If an Azorean wished to 
obtain higher education, he was required to obtain it in Portugal--for the 
islands had no institutions of higher learning. Export of all food produc-
tion was tightly controlled; imported industrial goods had to pass through 
the Lisbon docks. 

The Portuguese language that was spoken in rural communities in Portugal 
in the 1400s became the language of the islands. As each island developed 
its own communities, unique speech patterns evolved which were different 
from those of the other islands to the extent that today, an Azorean can 
easily tell which island another Azorean comes from. Yet, even on large 
islands of Sao Miguel and Terceira there are language differences between, 
for example, the farming and the fishing communities. The standard 
language comes from Lisbon itself. The Azores are rich in local tradition 
and many expressions and idioms have become unique in the Portuguese-
speaking world. Because of the conservative infrastructures development 
that has taken place over the centuries, the class structure is based upon 
one's birth, education, and wealth. The different classes mingle freely 
with one another, frequently living side by side in the same neighbor-
hoods. The Azorean has developed great respect for the dignity of the 
individual regardless of social standing. However, more important than any 
other factor today, the possibility of acquiring a higher education or 
technical skill has become the primary means by which an individual can 
increase his social and economic position. With increased education or 
technical skills, the Azorean can leave the islands and find new opportun-
ities in Portugal, Canada, the United States, or Brazil. It is this factor 
that has helped the individual Azorean and hurt the Azores, for its most 
educated and talented people have tended to leave the islands to find 
their futures elsewhere. 

The Azorean tends to be a very friendly and polite individual. Most 
Azoreans genuinely like Americans and will treat them with warmth and 
kindness. An invitation to an Azorean home is an honor and special 
privilege. Azoreans tend to dislike loud, boisterous, undignified behavior 

and strongly dislike behavior brought on by alcoholic excess. 

More than 90% of Azoreans are Roman Catholic. Religious festivities are a 
major source of entertainment, with the church having a dominant place in 
all social and cultural life of the islanders. Most major religious 
holidays are observed with village festivals and colorful processions 
along the roads that link the major towns and villages. The most colorful 
festivals occur in spring, with the highlight festivals in May and June. 

Crime, violence, and serious social misconduct are practically unknown in 
the islands. Since most of the people are employed in either agriculture, 
fishing or in commercial industries, few have the time, or energy to 
venture forth in the evenings to enjoy nightlife. The local pub, restau-
rant or nightclubs and discos are the source of entertainment in the 
evening hours. 


                                SPORTS 

Bullfighting (touradas) is unique in the Portuguese world--for the bull is 
not killed. The bull is taunted, harassed, wrestled, and then freed. On 
the island of Terceira, the bullfight (touradas à corda) is even more 
unique. In the town festivals, the bull is let loose in the streets and 
chased through the center of town with only a rope on its neck. Youths 
attempt to taunt the bull by pulling on the rope. (Americans and Depen-
dents are not allowed to participate in these events by order of the Base 
Commander). 

As in Portugal, soccer occupies the center of attention among all sports. 
Visiting teams from different islands compete for titles and the right to 
represent the Azores against the best Portuguese mainland teams. Village 
pride and interisland rivalry reach their peak in the summer, when the 
best teams represent Portugal in competition against some of Europe's best 
players. 

Swimming is a sport that requires some caution, because the waters off the 
Azores are teaming with the sharks that inhabit the mid-Atlantic Gulf 
Stream waters. Many sharks will venture close to the beaches, presenting a 
serious hazard to swimming enthusiasts. 

Boating is a popular activity, and it is possible to rent a boat for an 
excursion or an interisland trip. 


                                  FOOD 

The local culinary specialties are directly related to island food produc-
tion. Fresh vegetables are available in season with limited availability 
in wintertime. Fresh fish is available at local fish markets year-round. 
However, shellfish, and lobster in particular, tend to be expensive. 

Beef, pork, liver, and kidney are available. Portuguese hams are delicious 
but, like shellfish, tend be to very expensive. Turkey and chicken are 
readily available but also expensive. Rabbit, quail, and dove are hunted 
and are local favorites. 

A delicious sausage is linguiça. A mainstay in the Azorean diet, it is 
common and popular, as is carne of caçoila. Carne de caçoila (called 

"alcatra" on Terceira Island) is a special beef dish similar to a beef 
stew but made in a delicious wine sauce and best had either in an Azorean 
home or at restaurants specializing in it. 

Two primary sources of carbohydrates are massa sovada, a sweet bread, and 
the inhame, a yam that can be found in a few Azorean gardens. On the 
islands of Pico and Faial, a thick cornmeal pancake is commonly eaten 
instead of bread. On the other islands, wheat bread is eaten with soups 
and with the fish stews. Eating in the Azores can be an exciting and 
delicious experience. 


                               DOMESTIC HELP 

You may want to consider hiring an Azorean maid or gardener during your 
stay on the islands. Most common are part-time maids who generally get 
about 25 Euros (31.00 U.S. dollars) per day and should be provided with 
a free lunch. 


                              TRANSPORTATION 

The roads on the islands are generally narrow, hilly and winding. You will 
find many horse-and bull-drawn wagons mixing with small trucks and buses, 
competing for space. The narrowness and steepness of the roads tends to 
encourage the use of small cars, most of which are German, Japanese, and 
Italian imports. Large American cars have serious problems going through 
the streets in the island's villages and interior roads. 

There are only three international airports in the Azores: São Miguel, 
Terceira, and Santa Maria are serviced by Portuguese Airways (TAP) and 
Azorean Airways (SATA). 

Interisland boats can be hired for travel between the islands, which can 
be an enjoyable experience. 


                              LOCAL INDUSTRY 

There is little manufacturing in the islands. Most interesting purchasable 
products, like the home-woven shawls and other cloth products, are from 
cottage industries. Some leather goods are locally produced and worth 
buying. Local wines are of good quality and the local brandy, aguardente, 
is excellent. Locally produced teas are also of good quality. Also you 
could buy wicker furniture and taste delicious cheese. 


                                HOUSING 

Should you select to rent a house while in the Azores, be prepared for a 
challenge. Most houses you will find will not be furnished. They will be 
completely stripped--even of light fixtures. Curtains, heating system, 
wall-to-wall carpeting, and shower curtains are not included. In fact, 
just walls, floors, and ceilings constitute the rental. Remember, you are 
in the middle of the Atlantic and it is cold and damp most of the year. 
Living in a stone house may increase your discomfort; therefore space 
heaters and dehumidifiers are essential, particularly in the winter, for 
the prevention of mildew and rot due to dampness, as well as for your own 

comfort. Even with heaters you will need to dress warmly inside the house. 

Plumbing is adequate. Gas or electric water heaters normally do not come 
with the house. Electricity is subject to interruption and fluctuation. 
Bottled gas is less expensive and more dependable. Electric current is 
220-volt, 50-cycle AC. Most of your American appliances will probably need 
converters. As local voltage varies considerably, a voltage regulator for 
the protection of sensitive appliances such as radios and television 
should be considered. 


                               CLOTHING 

Temperature zone clothing is suitable most of the year. Lightweight 
garments can be worn only a short time in summer. Bring a trench coat or 
overcoat/raincoat for the rainy, cold winters. It is advisable to bring 
lots of sweaters, flannels, and wool's for the winter. Lightweight winter 
clothing, appropriate in centrally heated buildings in the U.S., is not 
sufficient inside an Azorean home. Dress among Azoreans is modern to 
conservative. 


                             RADIO AND TV 

There are a few radio stations and one TV broadcasting station in the 
Azores, (not including AFRTS) which broadcast in Portuguese. About 50% of 
the programming on Portuguese TV is in Portuguese, the rest in English, 
German, or French with Portuguese subtitles. The American station (AFRTS) 
at Lajes Air Force Base delay-broadcasts, U.S. network shows as well as 
local productions.