the team     

 

… To conclude this introduction I cannot prevent myself from saying what I think today about "whaling", here and there. Time has weakened the impulsive aggressiveness of my adventurer mind and now the sensitivity dominates my analysis concerning my past as a whaler. It is my right and my duty to analyse it: in view of the illegal persecution still carried out on these animals, regardless of well known ecological problems, I join forces with the others with my cry as a man of the sea :

- Stop with that! The echo of that cry is barely a reflex of humanity.

Nuno Alvares, in "Memórias de Um Baleeiro" (a whaler's memories) - 1985 


Serge Viallelle, cofounder of the Espaço Talassa, this former "old salt" who put in at the Azores, has fallen in love, in no particular order with the islands, with a girl from Azores (Alexandra), with dolphins and whales. In 1987, helped by João Vigia, Serge founded the first Observation Base of Cetaceans from Azores in Lajes do Pico.
 
Alexandra Teles, as a cofounder of the Espaço Talassa and Serge's partner, she experienced the first (difficult) miles of the Espaço Talassa in 1989. Architect by profession she designed our base in Lajes and now she runs with her good mood as well as with her sense of aestheticism the OBCA complex, where it is pleasant to be after getting back from the sea.
Marta Melo, who is the granddaughter of a whaler, and a native of Lajes do Pico answers the telephone and will help you in the organization of your call in the Azores. She has a passion for her island and by the way, will be able to give you nice little spots, such as a creek snuggled up in the bottom of a volcano or a path through the high mountain pastures

João Gonçalves "vigia" was a whaler for 36 years and moved over into tourism … as he said! João has been getting a lot of patience since 1992, to teach "the young environmentalists" the art of knowing how to approach an animal, to understand its behaviour and to respect it. João set sail for an endless journey in December 2005 but wherever he may be, he keeps guiding our adventures.

Sidonio Gonçalves, is the son of João vigia, apparently cats do not give birth to dogs!, and knew the last whaling in the Azores. He learnt the profession of lookout in the 70's with his father settled in the second level of the look-out post of Queimada. He has been scanning the horizon for the team of the Espaço Talassa since 1995.

Maria João Leal, biologist. With João at the look-out post, at sea on "Bernadette", you could meet her in the OBCA and ask her at any moment for any information you need concerning such or such species… she will answer you with a smile and effectiveness.

João Quaresma comes from a family of shipowners called " Picaroto " and the stories of sailors used to punctuate the long wait for the " lancha " on the warf of Madalena. This photographer who is also campaigning for the protection and study of Sado dolphins, has been also moving to Lajes in spring since Espaço Talassa started. At sea, he is the ideal skipper for all those who have a passion for amateur of professional photographs.

Pedro Madruga, skipper : son of a professional fisherman of São João, located on the south coast of Pico and a "piercing" lover, Pedro joined our team in 2003. As he’s very familiar with the Azores sea, it didn’t take him long to adapt his own natural sensibility and know-how to approach large whales as gently as possible, those mammals he got used to meet when he was on board his father’s trawler.

Marilia : In the Hotel "Whale' come ao Pico", Marília is your housekeeper. Passionately fond of her hometown “Ponta da Ilha” do not hesitate asking her about the secret places, mainly about  "Pontas Negras", in the southern coast of the island, where she lives.

At breakfast  Marília will offer local products, whenever possible, such as: honey, cheese, banana, maize bread, araçá jam ...  a smile and efficiency.

Marlene : Natural from Calheta de Nesquim, where the first azorean whaling company was created, and belonging to a family of whalers, Marlene has today a different view, full with softness, over the marine animals... and also the domestic ones... dogs, cats.... Dynamism, effectiveness and a smile, which you will meet at BOCA, at the restaurant or at the hotel!