On the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, from the vantage point Vista do Rei, you’ll have a fabulous view of the twin lakes by the seven little villages – Sete Cidades – at the bottom of a volcanic crater. One lake appears blue, the other green. This is, rather prosaically, caused by variations in the reflection of sunlight into the caldera.
Much more romantic then, is the legend that tells of a pretty blue-eyed princess falling in love with a shepherd boy with gorgeous green eyes. “Not suitable at all,” said the King. He had other plans for his daughter and forced her to give up her love. Saying goodbye, the young lovers cried so much their tears formed two lagoons at their feet, reflecting the colour of their eyes.
Up near the lookout is the ghostly Monte Palace hotel, abandoned, guarded by two fierce dogs. Meanwhile, my youngest daughter, Catarina, cares nothing about the view but is much more interested in a friendly stray.
For more on the Azores, read The Allure of the Azores or Upclose Guide to the Azores Islands, both on EuropeUpClose.
See other cool photos over at DeliciousBaby.
What a tempting photo, and I love romantic background stories. Thanks for cluing me in on an area I know little about.
The Azores is one of my favourite places to hike and sail but I have never been to Sete Cidades. The pictures are beautiful.
This looks stunning!
Thanks for joining Travel Photo Thursday.
Nancie recently posted..Bush and Bin Laden Traveling Together — Can it Be
Great photos! Man, I love abandon old hotels and resorts. Mind you I get scared easily, but I just really dig places like this.
so beautiful…
Arrrgggg…. (adding yet ANOTHER place that I need to go to). This is going to take a lifetime….
Michael Hodson recently posted..Why Come to Dahab- Egypt… Right Now
Gorgeous photos and lovely story – so romantic about the shepherd boy and the princess.
Ah, lovely – I remember you mentioning the Azores in a comment and now I get to see them, thanks =)
Andrea recently posted..Mercado del Puerto- Montevideo’s Meat Market
Really beautiful photos and a sweet story from a place I’ve never even heard about, I love that.
Love love love the romantic story. And the area is gorgeous.
Sonja recently posted..Photo Friday- Happy Mothers Day
Wow. Simply stunning. You’ve captured it all beautifully.
Pretty pictures with a great story!
Wanderluster recently posted..Flying High – Photo of the Day
I love the legend. It reminds me a bit of the fanciful tale of Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan-mama bear and two cubs swimming to escape a fire…the cubs get tired and drown…while mama makes it too shore and waits in vain for her cubs…big dune on shore named for her and two small offshore named for the cubs.
Dominique recently posted..Photo Friday- The Kewpies at Kewpee in Lima- Ohio
@Dominique: What a sad story of the brutality of nature. Never heard of Sleeping Bear Dunes, so I just googled it. Looks nice and a little wild – and reminds me of Råbjerg Mile, windblown sand dunes on the Baltic coast of Denmark. Might be a similar climate as northern Michigan, I suppose.
Lovely snapshots of the Azores! I’m dying to go there. Portugal is my husband’s and my favorite country. I’d love to see more of it!
Camels & Chocolate recently posted..Shrimp Trucks and Snow Cones
How poetic.
What kind of suitor did the king have in mind? Surely couldn’t be anyone more romantic than the shepherd boy. And with green eyes!
I wonder what happened to the princess after she obeyed her father and cried her eyes out? Two kids and hedge fund somewhere? Or did she refuse, and went to live in a nunnery?
David @ Quillcards recently posted..Help Bring Attention To Child In Need India This Mother’s Day
@David: An interesting question that, what happens after. Perhaps she got angry at the king, staged a coup to kick him off the throne, took over as head of state, and decreed that everyone should marry for love
A sad, yet beautiful story. The Azores have always sounded so romantic to me, out there in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean – like Atlantis almost,
Don’t you just love legends? Why are they always so sad?
inka recently posted..Dance boys- turtle trainers and sugar sculptors-three peculiar Ottoman professions
@Inka – yes, I wonder about that, too. Perhaps the melancholic and the sad evokes stronger feelings… like songs in a minor key.
Sophie,
Now I know something about the Azores…thank you. The photos look pretty and the dog looks a little grumpy.
Jason
Jason recently posted..Travel And Kids- No School For A Year
What a beautiful place, and an even more lovely story behind it!:) I have always liked legends and myths, particularly when they tell the story to the places. The first picture is a really captivating view, and postcard-worthy!:D
Christy recently posted..Hong Kong Street Snack- Little egg waffles Gai Dan Chai 雞蛋仔
Gorgeous! It’s funny how such a beautiful place has to have a romantic legend for its creation.
Suzy recently posted..Solo Travel Staring
My dad is from the Azores, but from Santa Maria Island, not São Miguel (where Sete Cidades is). We went there two summers ago and I remember hearing the same story about the lakes. So sweet! In fact, one of my first blog entries was about São Miguel. I’d love to return some day
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Railway Maps of the World- The Book
This is a very beautiful place! Love the two lakes and the story! And by the way, guys with green eyes are AWESOME!!!!
Jeremy Branham recently posted..Slovenia sets the standard for Green Tourism in Europe
The doggy is so cute.
Wow, what an amazing view! That is incredible how one of the lakes is green and the other blue!
Mark Wiens recently posted..Guide to the 4000 Islands of Laos- Don Det and Don Khon Part 2
A sweet strory and great pictures
robin recently posted..Flamenco
I feel like we don’t have such good legends about places in the US. Or maybe I’m like your daughter and don’t pay attention to them
The Travel Chica recently posted..Graffiti Art in Buenos Aires
I love the Azores, what fabulous pictures. All the green and the volcanic landscape remind me of the North Island of New Zealand. Thanks for sharing the legends!
Christina recently posted..Weekly photo- Rotorua thermal pools- North Island
Beautiful, looks like one of those places you see in the European love movies.
David @ MalaysiaAsia recently posted..Sarawak Longhouse Pictures in B&W
Wow…beautiful pictures!
Siddhartha Joshi recently posted..a train ride to remember…
Thanks