Problems
Past
I have a photo of myself with family descending the Madeira hillside on a kind of local seated sledge. Like a horse-drawn cart but with no wheels and no horse! No wonder we are all grinning. Where were we? What have I done with this historic photo? I need a catalogue of photos!
Present
Where to go and what to do? Before planning a trip, I collect information days, weeks, months, years in advance. I started with a trip to taste Madeira wine in the UK (see my previous posts). The rep for Madeira wines, Geoff, kindly sent me information.
Here are some notes I have made on Madeira, based on editing what Geoff said:
Hotels - biggest and best?
Reid's hilltop hotel where Winston Churchill stayed.
Savoy by the sea.
"1.A city hotel which we use for group visits in the centre of Funchal.
Hotel Orquidea.
2. Romantic hotel. Our favourite is Porto Mare hotel.
3. Restaurants, all are good. A small intimate on is
L'Osteria Restaurant
4. PVP has probably the best wine selection, informal and good food.
5. All the restaurants serve the locally made table wine. It is OK, but not very exciting and rather expensive. I would say that their table wine is at a level where English wine was 20 years ago.
6. All the producers have visitor facilities, booking is required for groups. All have websites.
7. Cocktails. A document was published by IVBAM
If you contact IVBAM I am sure that they would be pleased to send you a copy. ivbam.sra@gov-madeira.pt
All restaurants and bars serve freshly pressed fruit drinks."
Sites - See and Do
Madeira movie experience.
Madeira history museum.
Botanical Gardens.
Lava tunnels and waterside walks.
The artificial beach where black sand has been replaced by pale sand.
Sites - See and Do
Madeira movie experience.
Madeira history museum.
Botanical Gardens.
Lava tunnels and waterside walks.
The artificial beach where black sand has been replaced by pale sand.
Drink
Madeira wine, rum, passionfruit cocktail.
Zarco statue in Funchal, capital of Madeira. Photo in Wikipedia by Hedwig Storch.
A famous historical figure known locally is Zarco, whose statue is on one of the main streets, Avenida Arriarcho. Zarco was an explorer and, like Christopher Columbus, some suspect Zarco was descended from a Jewish family which converted to Christanity.
Most famous living man from Madeira, Cristiano Ronaldo, footballer who has played for real Madrid and previously Manchester United. You might fly into Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo, named after him in 2017. Notice the bust of him in the airport. You might want to photograph it and have a selfie with it.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Please see my other blog and share links with your friends and family.
http://luxurytravelforless.co.uk
