Running of the bulls

Terceira is one of the bigger islands of the Azores.  Beautiful cathedrals and ancient forts dot the island.  The Azores were a vital stop along the all important spice trade route and that fact was not lost on the Portuguese. Therefore an elaborate system of forts were built to protect Angra bay from pirates.  

Sao Joao Baptista Fort

 This fort sits on the slope of Mount Brasil and it is quite a trek to get up to it.   Apparently, that was part of the strategy - to have the enemy fatigued by the time they climbed up to the fort.  Construction on this particular fort began in 1593!!  It is now part of the UNESCO world heritage site that includes the town of Angra.  

Angra do Heroismo

Terceira Marina

Red Tile Roofs

The ARC rally had arranged for us all to see the running of the bulls while in Terceira.  An event that takes place all over the islands in the summertime.  We took a taxi to a little town to see what it was all about. The taxi driver was stringing us along pretending that he spoke no English, only Portuguese.  Ha, Ha - joke was on us.  He actually spoke perfect English which we found out when we said we were not getting in the street with the bulls!  

 So the guys in the white shirts and hats actually have the bulls tethered so they don't totally run free.  But it is a mistake to think they are holding them back - quite the opposite.  They are actually pulling the bulls towards you (if you are crazy enough to be in the street)!  

Run!!

 Most folks hide behind the barricades - but as we found out that does not always matter to the bulls.  One of them came charging through a little entry that folks were using to get behind the barricade.  He did not get all the way through - thank goodness!  Scared the daylights out of Matt as he was standing right near there.  

 All the while people are taunting the bulls - doing their best to get them agitated.  Fireworks, yelling, waving scarves - anything they can do to get them riled up.  

 As it turns out one of the bulls that evening managed to jump over a wall where some folks were hiding and roust them out of their hidey hole.  Thank goodness no one was hurt.  All in all it is part of the Portuguese culture and worth experiencing - but for me once was enough.  Tomorrow we will do an overnight sail to Sao Miquel.