It was awesome.

I’ve been working on this since last year and it was hard to believe the time had finally come. I love Faial. It’s a home away from home for me. I love sharing it with people in my NB life and I was very honored (and excited) to share it with some of my Boutique Fitness Family (BFFs).

It was most important to me that everyone had an authentic experience. I did not want to stay in a resort or book a tour through a travel agent. Growing up my parents always talked more about the relationships and people from the islands than about the physical beauty.  We needed to be in a situation where our clients could experience the Azorean hospitality as if they were all family.

So, I called on my friends and family to help me create the most genuine experience. From helping me choose the right Quinta, to customizing each day based on weather, to serving homemade moonshine and preparing the most generous picnic… I could not have asked for a better outcome.

Our crew was tops.

With all the camaraderie and all the laughter and deep appreciation for each other, you’d never guess that most of them didn’t know each other before the trip, nor that our ages ranged from 44 – 87.

I arrived Monday morning. I had never been to the Quinta where we stayed, so I wanted to make sure that everything was just right before the crew showed up on Tuesday morning. It was the perfect spot. 

I met with Mario, tour guide extraordinaire and long time friend, so we could make a plan for the week. The weather was looking a little iffy, so we made a list of all the places I wanted to go and we planned day by day as best we could. The weather on the islands is less reliable than in New England, so we made plans B and C for each day too.

Caldeira

Turned out that Tuesday was the best day, weather wise. We decided to take the crew – sleep deprived and jetlagged- to the top of Caldeira (the largest volcano in the center of the island) for a 4.5 mile hike around the perimeter of the volcano. It was probably the best thing we could have done to help them all get back into a circadian rhythm. From the top of the volcano, you can see all of the island. It’s breathtaking and makes you feel on top of the world.

Barbara

It was on this hike that everyone learned how tough and resilient Barbara Belanger (87 yrs) is. She hiked everything we hiked. Mario would hold her hand through some of the tricky parts and she liked that too. Haha

Mario

The island was preparing for the 10 volcanoes trail run (link) so the trails were marked super well! We covered lots of ground around all the parts of the island. After our trek into Ribeirinhas, Mario brought us to his village, where he and his wife had prepared a beautiful picnic for us. They went above and beyond and everyone was floored by their hospitality. As was I. When we were planning the week I had suggested a picnic, and even though I know how the Portuguese do it, I wasn’t expecting that level of detail. From various cheeses & breads, to meats, fruits, dessert, wine, and of course, moonshine… Our bellies and our hearts were very full.

Horseback Riding

The rainiest day was Thursday. We had already booked horseback riding for the group and not one single person bailed. So, horseback riding in the rain it was. It was a very cool experience. The folks at Patio were so great and the horses were so gentle. At Boutique we have 3 Sharons and 3 Jenns… Well, at Patio, they have 3 Diogos! It was a very fun day.

Every night was a family style dinner. This wasn’t planned, it happened organically and it was wonderful. We even managed to convince Mario to join us a couple of times. 

Belmira & Tony

One of my favorite parts of the trip was taking the whole crew to my cousin’s house in Varadouro. Belmira and Tony accepted everyone with open arms, homemade moonshine, and cake! The crew explored their modest gardens and greenhouses and got to see first hand what home in Faial is like. 

The whole trip was awesome. We didn’t get to do everything I wanted, but alas the weather didn’t fully cooperate and time was limited. Never has this island felt more like home than during this trip, and rest assured, there will be more to come.