Madeira - a great stop on route
Talulah's Web Diary
Paul & Anette Morris
Wed 12 Jul 2006 21:43
Well, we've had a great time in Madeira!
The weather was interesting to say the least. It was often cloudy on
the north of the island, and then sunny in the centre and the south.
We decided that we would take some time in a hire car and explore the
island. First up to the north and then to the centre and the
south. First we had a day in Funchal - searching for bottled gas
believe it or not! so that Anette could bake her bread. Then we were
off to sample the delights of the island.
We
managed to find a restaurant that only cooked local fare - and it was fantastic
- tomato and onion soup with an egg in it, and then rabbit and deer sausage and
something called Espetada - a local meat brioche which has left a memory that
will endure to the next time we are back in Madeira.
Next
was a walk (?) in the mountains, which are steep, forested and beautiful,
and Anette and I could have walked and climbed all day in the sun, the
clear air and the complete solitude. On the walk we noticed now
and then small terraces on which grew things like corn, grapes, potatoes, apples
and many other vegetables and fruit. It seemed that the
Madeirans make use of every scrap of level (?) land they can for
agriculture. It doesn't seem to matter how remote it
is.
We're leaving this marina at Quinta do Lourde
tomorrow. Not sure where we're going yet until I take a look at
the Atlantic weather pattern for the next 5 days. It could be
further along the coast on Madeira, or it could be the
Selvagem Islands; a group of small deserted island in the Atlantic that you
need a permit to land on. We've managed to get a permit from the
Authorities in Funchal, so we hope that the winds will be kind to us to
let sail there.
Meanwhile, there are some photos of Madeira attached so
that you can see what we've been up to.............more in a day or
so.....
