“My name is Ana Cristina Neves, I’m 23, I live in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil and have got an Azorean heart – Terceirense (Portuguese name for Terceira island inhabitants). For this reason I am also a Portuguese citizen. My parents are Azorean, from Terceira Island, and I’m a member of the folklore group of Casa dos Açores in Rio de Janeiro. I graduated in July 2004 in Dental Care, and I’m really interested in Brazilian literature and, lately, in Portuguese literature, too, specially in regards to Antero de Quental and Almeida Garret, two outstanding poets.
The dream trip began on Faial Island within its special landscape and amazing cultural richness. Horta’s Museum is incredible, with impressing Fig Pith Tree peaces so soft and beautiful, full of small details. The Regional Legislative Assembly is also fantastic, its incredible acoustics and outstanding architecture. The Department of Oceanography and Fisheries is very modern, totally computerized, presents several research projects regarding sea life and streams, chlorophyll values, temperature, really nice.
The great vineyards and the monumental Pico Mountain crossing the clouds capture the attention of all who go there. The Handicrafts School is also very interesting. Works in fish scale like pictures, earrings, flowers are made there, really “cool”. The scales of a great variety of fishes are used and dyed there. The Whalers’ Museum is remarkable. It has paintings and peaces made up of whale teeth, which are amazing. The Wine Museum is also interesting, with a vast number of ancient peaces.
Terceira Island is charming! All its natural beauty fills up the eyes of those who contemplate it! So many pastures, bulls, beaches, cheerful and welcoming people! There, in Alpendre, we learn the importance of our roots and the need of always preserving them. We learn to know ourselves and each other. Listening to Maduro Dias and Carlos Corvelo I realized that the economy of the Azores has been suffering great changes, originating very low numbers of unemployment and great numbers in tourism.
São Miguel is the biggest island, in territory and population. Its natural richness is made up of misty vegetation along with astonishing lagoons, such as Fogo and Sete Cidades. The technological richness is something impressing on São Miguel, seen not only in the Regional Office for Science and Technology but also considering the wide number of computers spread throughout the island. Also the University of the Azores has an amazing scientific structure, evident mainly in the evaluation of earthquakes. The production of cheese, liqueurs and tea shows us the great economic potential of the region, since the factories produce both for the Azorean population and export to the mainland, as well as to many European countries, U.S.A. and Canada. At Carlos Machado’s Museum I travelled back to the time of immigration, to Azorean traditions, Senhor Santo Cristo festivities, to the works of the past and finally the variety of fauna in exhibition.
Culture and patrimonial preservation are everywhere, in every corner. This is extremely attractive and magnificent, and makes us think that initiatives like this one of the Regional Department for the Communities contribute to the strengthening of the Azorean roots, increasing the bonds with the countries where Azorean emigrants reside.
Knowledge and culture are priceless. It was a fantastic and unforgettable journey, which every one of you should take!