(Part 2 of 2 on the Azores)

The second portion of my November ’08 sojourn to the Portuguese Azores with my wife, Gail, focused on the capital city of Ponta Delgada and the main island of São Miguel. The three days we spent on the island, hosted by Azores Express and the Azores tourist office, resulted in our having a capsule view of a lifestyle we found to be enviable.

Arriving in Ponta Delgada on our interisland flight from Pico in late afternoon, we were met by our...

Dear Globetrotter:

Welcome to the 398th issue of your monthly overseas travel magazine.

If you’re heading to Bali or other islands in Indonesia, be aware of recent shortages of wine, liquor and imported foods like cheese and crackers.

A trade regulation came into effect on Dec. 15 that restricts imports of electronics, textiles, toys, food and beverages. Where before smugglers had operated openly, now the rules are strictly enforced.

The crackdown has been...

by Randy Keck, Part 1 of 2 on the Azores

Many travelers are not aware that it is possible to fly nonstop from the US to the Azores. My wife, Gail, and I did just that on a 7-day November ’08 getaway, taking a 5-hour flight from our Boston gateway to the lush Portuguese islands nestled in the eastern Atlantic. We were hosted by Azores Express, the only airline that flies to the Azores nonstop from the US, and the Azores tourist office.

Despite being on the same latitude as...