Celebrate Mardi Gras the European Way just 4 hours Away

(TRAVPR.COM) USA - January 10th, 2013 - BOSTON, MA – This year, Carnaval is just four hours away if you opt to spend the holiday on the Mid-Atlantic Islands of the Azores, where “Shrove Tuesday” celebrations have taken place for centuries. SATA Airlines is offering travel packages at $999 per person (includes tax, double occupancy). Travelers can chose from several hotels and three islands to enjoy the festivities.

In the Azores, Mardi Gras is known as “Carnaval”, a four-day celebration starting on Saturday, February 9, 2013 and continuing through Tuesday, February 12, 2013. Parades and pageants are heart of the Carnaval festivities. There is lively music, colorful costumes, hand-made masks, and floats in this mild climated mid-Atlantic archipelago.

On the island of São Miguel, known for its pineapples and tea, you can chose from four hotels in historic Ponta Delgada, the Azores’ main city on the island of São Miguel. Weeklong packages include 6 nights lodging, air transport from Boston, and breakfast.

Carnaval has a sweet taste on S. Miguel; with street vendors selling fried sweet dough, called a Malassada. The festival on the Azores biggest island starts of with a black tie grand ball, and heats up with music. There is a children’s parade in the streets of the capital, Ponta Delgada, with children in costume from each school district on the island. Then, a massive Carnaval parade fills the streets into the wee hours.

Smaller town have choir concerts, parades, and the town of Lagoa has a big fried dough festival, called the Festa da Malassada.

All SATA travel packages are available for Tuesday and Friday departures.

SATA offers direct flights on wide body A310 aircraft to São Miguel, the main island in the Azores archipelago. Connecting flights from São Miguel are offered to Lisbon and the island of Madeira.

For more information and reservations, contact Azores Express at 800-762-9995, www.sata.pt

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