What’s In a Date

I saw this street sign in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in the Azores.  Unusual to see a date on a street sign, I wouldn’t have thought much about it except it’s also my birthday.

I’ve always associated 6th June with D-day – while I was there I presumed the street had been renamed to commemorate that.   In fact, it’s more likely to commemorate the 6 June 1975 Micalense Farmers’ Protest that led to terrorism  and political turmoil.

As it happens, it also seems to be the date in 2001 when 1/2 a tonne (500kg/1100lbs) of high quality cocaine was washed up on the shore of São Miguel – an island of 140,000 people.  (Not quite Whisky Galore – I’ve read they are still picking up the pieces in some quarters of the community!)

—Stephen—