Hotel do Canal * * * *

ABOUT HORTA AND FAIAL

Faial, one of Portugal's nine dreamy emerald isles, seemed to have had American whaling ships and ocean-crossing sailors in mind when she plunked herself down in the Atlantic. The whalers are long gone but the influence of New England architecture can be found in the brightly painted shutters that adorn many of the whitewashed houses in Horta. Beyond the town's tidy cobblestone streets lies an unspoiled landscape dominated by volcanic lakes and craters, and a seascape of dramatic cliffs and secret coves. Blue hydrangeas ("balls of yarn" in local lingo) frame houses and roadsides and divide the fields.

The town of Horta has several beautiful old buildings and it was of great importance on account of its sheltered harbour. When the first transatlantic cables were laid, Horta was the central communication station and many cable company offices were located here.

Horta is a pleasant town to explore with many old shops, cafes and good restaurants. Peter's bar is renowned as a meeting place for travellers and locals alike. Foto Jovial is a small photographic shop in the centre of the town where it is possible to purchase copies or just browse many old photographs of the Azores and their history.