A Vacation to the Azores: An Opportunity for Family Connection and Unforgettable Memories to be Made

Travelling is something that I enjoy profusely, no matter where I go. To me, I just love the feeling of going somewhere you’ve never been before, seeing beautiful views of lakes, mountains, oceans and having new experiences. There are infinite possibilities that lead to how special travelling really is. 

This summer, my family and I (my mom: Lavanya, my sister: Saanya, my cousins: Mihika and Aneesh, my aunt: Sowmya, and my uncle: Ramesh) went on a vacation to Azores, a set of islands in Portugal, and we had an incredible time. The entire vacation was dedicated to hiking, seeing incredible lakes and waterfalls, and also spending time with each other. 

Let me share some of the places that we went to. Firstly, there was this gorgeous lake called Lagoa do Fogo, and it was a stunning blue lake. We had to hike down over 200 uneven steps to reach the shore, and the views were incredible. The hike was also challenging and included climbing a ladder, which made the experience even more special. 

Also, we went whale watching! We got to see both bottlenose dolphins as well as sperm whales, which was magical. Both animals were truly amazing to see, and it was definitely an experience that I will never forget. 

Lastly, we went on a boat ride to Villa Campo de Franco, an island just off the coastline of Sao Miguel. We were on a small boat, and we got to see these incredible view of the huge rock formations along with the shimmering turquoise waters. It was a beautiful sight, and all of us really enjoyed it. 

However, despite the gorgeous views, my favorite thing about this trip was not the place itself but rather the time that we got to spend with each other. My entire family are all really close, and all of us have amazing memories with one another. Also, this trip specifically gave us a lot of time to really connect and spend time with each other. Our bond was always extremely close, but as we talk more and more, our relationship becomes stronger and closer. 

To me, family is truly the most important and significant thing in life, and it’s truly irreplaceable. Your family are the only ones who will always have your back no matter what happens. They are the ones who will always get you, always love you, always stick with you. 

I have this beautiful quote that says “Family is the one force in life we don’t choose, yet it shapes us in ways nothing else can. It’s the quiet constant—always there, even when everything else changes. No matter how far we roam or who we become, the pull of family is inevitable, like gravity drawing us home. In its imperfect, unconditional way, family reminds us who we are and where we belong.” I love this quote, because I think it practically sums up the idea of how significant family really is in our lives. I am extremely grateful for the incredible time we spent as a family in Azores and am looking forward to all the future holidays we will get to experience together.