Today is the day we leave Flores. It has been a great 3 days of exploring the island in search of the Pimentel's. We rented a taxi for the last two days and saw most of the island and met many people. We kept the boat in Lajes which is the only safe anchorage on the island. Our travels took us to Lajes, Fajazinha, Faja Grande, Santa Cruz and well as many small villages. The towns with their narrow roads, plazas, and stone walls were very beautiful. We were really taken back when the sun finally came out and exposed the lush countryside with hundreds of water falls.

My family all come from Fajazinha shown above. This is where my Great, Great, Great Grandfather first settled in the early 1800's. In the mid 1800's there were 10,500 people living on the island. The whaling industry was very big in those days and it was common for a family to have 10 to 15 children. The population of the island peaked in 1860 and has steadily declined ever since. Currently there are only 3900 inhabitants and no direct relations to my family. I met several people that had Pimentel somewhere in their name. It seems to me that our entire living family moved to other countries mainly the United States via Boston. The easiest way to get off the island in those days was by way of whaling boat. Most of the strong young men took advantage of this opportunity.

We are leaving for the Horta on the island of Faial today it is only 130 miles away so we should be there by midday tomorrow.

Photos Here