Air Force 1 Mid 07 Madeira, Portugal's Atlantic 'I

vicki978rt

Even one day in Madeira is enough to appreciate how its mild climate and ambience suited the ‘wintering wealthy’ and European aristocrats seeking ‘early retirement’ after one revolution too many at home. Portuguese and English are spoken and the currency is the Euro - factors that complement Madeira's convenient position and [link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
Funchal, the capital and main port of Madeira, was also a favourite with ships on the Cape Town route. Set in a spectacular natural amphitheatre of forested slopes, its fine harbour offered shelter from the storms of both the North and South Atlantic. No doubt the Portuguese who discovered Madeira in 1418 were delighted to find there were no aboriginal inhabitants. They quickly made this fertile dot in the vast Atlantic Ocean their own, and rapid development followed.
These early settlers called Madeira and its much smaller neighbour Porto Santo ‘The Isles of the Blest’, or the Fortunate Isles, and then rather spoiled the effect by introducing slaves to work their highly profitable sugar cane fields. The Trade Winds brought heavy rain to the north-west of the island, leaving the south-east in a ‘rain shadow’, so an enormous amount of labour was required to build aqueducts across the mountainous volcanic ridges that run along Madeira’s long east-west axis.
Why Madeira is Popular Destination for Cruise Lines
Read on
Shopping for Madeira Wines, Linens and Ceramics
Portuguese Food & Traditional Dishes in Madeira
Madeira for Winter Sunshine, Island Holidays
Mild and mostly sunny weather throughout the year [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but bring an umbrella just in case – the vivid greenery and lush fruits and vegetables need a bit of rain, in spite of the levadas.The port has a beautiful setting, and is within a 15-minute walk (or short taxi ride) into town.Funchal is attractive, old-world-leisurely, clean and safe. Lots of colonial-style buildings and some great fish restaurants with delicious local wines from the sunny volcanic slopes.New Year Fireworks centred on Funchal harbour – mini-cruises come from Portugal, Spain and Italy specially for this 30 minutes of magic rivalled only by Olympic Games displays.Peacocks, gorgeous blossoms and subtropical trees in the world-famous Botanical Gardens.What to Do in Madeira on Limited TimeSee the full-scale replica of Columbus’s flag-ship, ‘Santa Maria’, anchored in the port and imagine crossing the Atlantic in something that small.Centuries-old, family-run wine lodges offer tasting and buying opportunities for the island’s most famous product, Madeira wine.Distinctive Portuguese styles of lace-making and embroidery have become an art form here. Select an ‘heirloom’ piece or stock up on presents.Try a 10-minute swoosh down a steep hill in a wicker-basket toboggan pushed by singing, handsome young men in local costume.Take a helicopter ride for a 30-minute bird’s eye view of Madeira’s spectacular scenery.Walking a levadas trail, even an easy one [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], works up an appetite for dinner on the ship.Afternoon Tea at Reid’s Hotel, with all the trimmings - one of the world’s ‘Grand Hotel’ experiences.
Today, these levadas, as they are known, still provide much needed water for Funchal and the south. They are also one of Madeira’s best known tourist attractions. Walking trails, graded for difficulty, follow their tortuous and sometimes dangerous routes, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenic, lush interior, along with glimpses of traditional island life.