LET'S GO TO SAN MIGUEL ISLAND (AZORES) #3

One of the biggest attractions in the Island is the typical dish called Furnas stew that is cooked in a very peculiar way. The dish is a stew made from pieces of pork and other meat, Portuguese smoked sausages and a lot of vegetables.

Why is it so famous in this Island? Because of the way it is cooked...

The ingredients are placed inside a large pan which is then covered with a bag. Then they put the pan inside of a hole in the volcanic soil that presents high temperatures. To finish they put a wooden lid and cover up the hole with soil.

The food stays underneath for seven hours in these natural kitchens. This is not only a tourist attraction but a popular Sunday lunch tradition to go there with the family, cook the dish and enjoy it in those magnificent surroundings. Feeling of excitement is present when the pot is removed from the ground. 
I couldn't miss having it at one of the various restaurants by the lake. Honestly, I didn't like it very much. The taste is totally different from the dish that is served in mainland Portugal.

After lunch, I had to walk through Furnas town to ease the diggestion...
Azores people are very religious and April and May are the months when each parish honours its respective Patron Saint. Coincidently, on that sunday, there was one religious parade.
We spent the rest of the day at the Botanical Park. This, for   its peculiar characteristic, which intentionally, I don't unveil it now, will be blogged in separate...
Enjoy the dish, don't eat much because you may feel it heavy in your stomach...

~~Thanks for stopping by ~~