Ni øer, tre plader

Polly fløj lavt over sort klippe og grønne marker ved havet. Tågen gled hen over bakkerne inde i landet. Dette var São Miguel, den største ø på Azorerne.

Polly flew low over black rock and green fields by the sea. Mist moved over the hills inland. This was São Miguel, the biggest Azores island.

Øen blev skabt under havet. Tre store stykker af jorden skubber sammen der. Varme stiger op gennem sprækker i klippen. Hver ø her kom fra ild og afkølet sten.

The island was made under the sea. Three huge pieces of the earth push together there. Heat rises through cracks in the rock. Every island here came from fire and cooled rock.

De fleste marker her har en hæk af hortensiaer: blå, lilla og somme tider lyserøde. Landmænd hentede planterne i Asien for længe siden. De skulle markere skel mellem markerne. Den rige jord gør blomsterne dybt blå.

Most fields here have a hedge of hydrangea flowers: blue, purple, and sometimes pink. Farmers brought the plants from Asia long ago to mark field borders. The rich soil makes the flowers deep blue.

Længere inde i landet lå grønne bakker om stille dale. Tynd hvid damp steg op et sted derinde. Polly fløj op mod højlandet for at se.

Further inland, green hills rose around quiet valleys. Thin white steam rose from somewhere among them. Polly flew toward the high ground to look.