24 hours later and the winds of karma have shifted and things are working effortlessly today.

Off to get that hike in and we’re doing the hike around Lagoa das Furnas. Skies are clear, driving was easy, first row parking and we are the only ones in sight!

What makes this place special is how the geothermal currents are used for cooking. They have ‘wells’ that are about 3 feet deep with boiling water on the bottom. In these wells people put batches of food to cook for dinner and they’ve been doing this for decades. We notice that on many of the dirt mounds covering the lids are names of restaurants. But more on the later.

Our plan is to walk around the lake but we get easily distracted by a side quest. The Parque da Grená. This area was purchased a couple of hundred years ago…a house almost built, property abandoned, made into a garbage dump, forgotten about and then recently taken over by a local group to promote and preserve the area.

As we go up this lush green space I can’t help but think of our own Enchanted Forest in BC. This is incredible…both in atmosphere and the number of stairs.

Our reward for climbing all zillion stairs is the finally waterfall and stunning views from the top.

On the way down we explore Grená House – built in the 1800’s but never finished. It would have made for an amazing summer house.

Back down and by the shoreline, we finally get to walking around the lake. 6.5 kms and a cool baroque chapel behind us and we find ourselves back in the car ready for lunch.

Now we’re starving and want to try this food that they cook at those thermal pools. A quick drive gets us to the town of Furnas where we find Tony’s. It’s open, find parking right away, and that dish we want to try usually requires preordering BUT since they have enough they say ‘of course you can have some!’ So we do! Easy peasy

Once we’ve suitably stuffed ourselves we have time to see a tea plantation. Easy drive, easy parking, free private guided tour and of course the sampling afterwards. The winds have definitely shifted in our favour today my friends.

Pushing our luck before heading back to the room on our final day, Janelle locates a pineapple plantation. Who knew it takes up to two years to grow one pineapple. I guess I’ll stop bitching when they’re $7! Oh, and yes easy drive, rock star parking and free entry!