Safety Tips in Região Autónoma dos Açores

This warning I think should be mentioned, as if you come on holiday to the Azores (especially from the real world). If you happen to hire a car, or a scooter, or a bicicle always be aware of what the man infront of you is doing. Always keep your distance, and always never ever take him for granted. especially when he is driving a nice big brand new 4 x 4. If the Farmer or the driver of the Big shiny 4 x 4 happens to see his brother, sister or aunty walking on the road. In the Azores this means Chat Time, no warning no signals just break and STOP. So what if he happens to be blocking the major road running around the Island or any other road for that matter. This is an island and here things are done on Island time.

Another big problem that we have on our roads are the cows. The roads here are very curvy and windy. If you are hammering it at 80km per hour you are going quite fast on these roads. Very often the cows escape or they are being transported by foot to their new grazing spot, watch out as you might just be taking a windy bend and 2m after that bend, 20 cows. No amount of breaking will help, you will find a cow sitting in your front chair and together you and him will be flying into the ocean over a cliff.