A dip in the hot springs of Furnas
White clouds of mist and a breeze of sulphur scent greet us as soon as we arrive in Furnas and then we are right in the middle of bubbling spring pots (caldeiras) and boiling hot water running out of the rock openings. In the Parque Terra Nostra there is also a thermal bath with healing effects. Unfortunately, the iron-rich water with its brownish color is rather unsightly and it takes some effort to sit in it.
But the secluded bathing spot "Poca da Donna Beja", where the locals also bathe, is simply too inviting. Here I sit between two rocks from which the 36° hot water gushes out and sweat in 20° temperatures and light rain. And if you're already in this corner of the island, you shouldn't miss the botanical garden and the charming Terra Nostra Hotel.
At Caldeira Velha, however, it is not only the hot underground springs that attract vacationers here, but also the holes in the ground from which it smells delicious. The geothermal heat is also used for cooking here. The "cozido" involves cooking different types of meat with vegetables in large pots in the ground for around five hours. It's funny to watch how the locals then take their pots out of the hole in the ground and sit together on the benches all around for a family meal. I enjoy the "stew" in a specially designed barn with a glass of red wine from the island of Graciosa and try not to think about the calories.
By Elsa-Maria Honecker
