I got my bags packed on a roll heading out there and I'm ready to go looking real good

in my passport photo.

Amateur Traveler episode 750. Today the amateur traveler talks about tea

plantations and volcanoes, a farmer's market and vineyards, canioneering and

cheese as we go to the islands of the Azores.

I know that I should be heading home, but maybe not, maybe not today.

Welcome to the amateur traveler. I'm your host Chris Christensen. Let's talk about the

Azores. I'd like to welcome the show Maria Lawton from ZoriangreenBeen.com and also from

Maria's Portuguese table on PBS and Maria has come to talk to us about the Azores.

Maria, welcome to the show.

Oh, thanks, Chris.

Thanks for having me on.

And first of all, what is your connection to the Azores?

Well, I was born in the Azores. My family has lived in the Azores for about five centuries.

And I can trace my family's lineage from the first island that was discovered in Santa Maria to back to the

mainland in an area called Traszumotch, which is behind the mountains, which is on the border of Spain, and exactly where

Portugal began.

So my roots are very deep.

And first let's put the Azars on the map.

What are the Azores?

The Azores are these nine islands, volcanic islands,

this archipelago of nine islands

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