Month: February 2024

A rainy morning to wake up to but it is also raining in Madeira. But it was a wet walk with Ellie through Wingham woods and orchards. We found some snowdrops in the woods.

We called at the farm shop on the way back. They still have crates of their Jazz apples and of course we bought all the fresh vegetables and Mal bought a lot of their seed potatoes for the allotment.

Unpacking, sorting and washing while Mal attended to some insurances that all seem to run out at once. We also had to ring the garage as they have added 3,000 miles on to the MOT certificate. We have to take the car back in tomorrow so they can check.

I’m pleased we came home yesterday, the weather has changed!………….

“Madeira International Airport has been strongly affected by adverse weather conditions, namely the wind that has already blown at up to 73 km/h near the runway in Santa Cruz. By 3 pm, three planes bound for Funchal had diverged to Porto Santo (Ryanair flight from Lisbon), to Lisbon (easyJet flight that returned to its origin), and to Faro (Ryanair flight from Porto). The latter has already been reported as canceled (arrival and departure), bringing the number of canceled flights in today’s schedule to 18. Between arrivals and departures, TAP canceled six flights to and from Lisbon yesterday, the German Condor canceled this morning the five flights that were supposed to arrive throughout the day from five cities in Germany, in addition to the five return trips also canceled.”

Thought for the Day – “There is only one happiness in this life: to love and be loved.” ~ George Sand

We went for breakfast and then back to the room to start packing and look who appeared on our balcony…

A lot of land and hotels in Madeira are owned by Ronaldo and have the logo CR7. This includes apartments due to be built just along the seafront from our hotel.

Keys were given in at 12 and then we had lunch together recounting some of our holiday fun and saying we didn’t want it to end. As they say “all good things…” but I have to say we miss Ellie  even though we know she is well looked after with Lou and Rhys.

The last time we will wake up to this view

Our transfer arrived and took us to the airport. We were pleased to be leaving this day rather than the next as strong winds and rain were predicted. If there is a strong cross wind then planes won’t land.

Goodbye to Madeira (for now!)

Here you can see the runway as we took off, it is short and right next to the sea.

We arrived in Gatwick 20 minutes earlier than planned. Gilly and Paula headed back to Luton and Lou met us and took us back to their house to collect Ellie and my newly MOT’d car . Midnight by the time we were home.

Thought for the Day – “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” ~  Henri J.M. Nouwen

 

Breakfast and then by the pool!

We went for a walk along the sea front before lunch .

Instead of sandcastles, this is the equivalent here…

We joined Paula and Gilly for lunch.

A quiet afternoon and then our last sunset for a while.

Our last night and Celso, the karaoke man was back and he really is so good. I think we had a fair bit to drink too! We did have a very enjoyable last night and last ones in the bar again!

I think Mohamed will miss us or maybe glad to see the back of us!

Thought for the Day – “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Sunrise in Madeira is 8am which always seems a little odd. We have a kitchenette in the room, even though it is all inclusive so we have a kettle and fridge and of course brought our own Yorkshire tea bags with us and the milk we bring from the restaurant. In fact they don’t care what you bring to the room, bottles of wine, anything! But meals are so nice sitting next to the sound of the sea waves.

Just as Mal was taking this picture, my phone rang. I thought it was the taxi we had booked to take us to Monte Palace Gardens but no, it was maxillofacial. They have 2 cancelations tomorrow and would I like to go. Had I been home I would have but not possible at the moment.

Whilst we have been away Lou very kindly booked our car into the garage for a service and MOT. Each year we think “this is it” we will need another car but once again it has passed the MOT and with no advisories! It just keeps on going but I guess we should start looking as the mileage is knocking up.

We booked a taxi from Madeira taxi tours to collect us from the hotel to take us to Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. The taxi driver was on time collecting us and meeting us later all for 48 euros. It is such a beautiful place. Suffice to say it was stunning but very steep uneven paths and we could have spent a couple of days there! I think we could have spent a day in the Mineral Museum, absolutely fascinating.

By the time we returned to the hotel we were exhausted. This meant we all went to bed a little earlier than usual!

Thought for the Day – “When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach people in ways that we never even expected.” ~ Laverne Cox

It really is so nice being in this hotel, such friendly staff, good food and cleanliness and good entertainment. All the rooms have a fridge, so you can bring bottles of wine to your room if that’s what you would like to do. So, we started thinking about coming again the end of the year. We were unable to book for November or December which was strange so when we went to breakfast (avocado and egg on toast!) we spoke to the receptionist and evidently they are closing for a refurb. That’s a shame.

We all went for a walk along the sea front, the opposite direction to the tunnel. This was closed on our previous stay. A lot of the rocks are crumbling.

In the afternoon we watched the Hammers game, oh dear they lost 3-0

There was a singer in the bar in the evening. A Norwegian couple came and sat with us and joined in our drinking! They had never tasted poncha before. The guy was really interesting telling us all about Norway. Another late night and last in the bar but Mohamed the bar man is so nice as we line our empty glasses up every night!

Thought for the Day – “Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend.” ~ Bill Watterson

We were up and again, thinking we are so lucky to be sitting having our breakfast right next to the sea.

Everywhere in the hotel is kept so clean and the gardens look so lovely as well.

We contacted Paula and Gilly to see if they wanted a walk to the Forum shops but Gilly was still asleep at 10.30am, so we went on our own. It is quite a steep walk but then everywhere in Madeira is! We have to walk through the tunnel first, the quickest way there.

Back to the hotel for lunch and Mal entertained himself playing with the geckos and the largest one nibbled at the end of his finger.

We may be on holiday but we watched the Spurs game and then a very exciting Luton Town game. Final score against Newcastle 4-4. It should have been 5-4 to Luton, the ref had no control over the game whatsoever. Carlton took the penalty and scored and then the ref told him he wasn’t watching, so made him take it again…..no problem he scored again!

We met up with Paula and Gilly in the evening for dinner. The hotel has been quite quiet but it was extremely busy in the restaurant tonight. We had a female singer in the evening and we decided to try all the cocktails! Again last in the bar but it was our favourite barman!

Paula was a little the worse for wear and lost her door key!

Thought for the Day – “Never regret anything that made you smile.” ~ Mark Twain

We booked a trip to the west coast of the island. They picked us up from the hotel straight after breakfast.

Again our guide was so informative. Our first stop was Camara de Lobos, a very pretty fishing village.

A short stop there and then past some banana plantations, some of which are getting dug up for housing to be built, sadly the same thing across a lot of our planet which we are ruining. Then on to Cabo Girao, where there is the sky walk. I have to say I am not good at walking on glass but while you are here!! 2 Euros each for the pleasure!!

Next on to Riberia Bravo where we stopped for a coffee by the sea.

Onwards and upwards to Parque Florestal.An ideal place for walkers along the levadas. It was just so peaceful and ideal for walks, wish we could have stayed longer.

Porto Moniz next for our lunch and a crafty jug of rose sangria!

By the time we had lunch we had all forgotten what time we had to meet the mini bus and even thought he may have left without us but he hadn’t. That’s the problem when you are really in holiday mode, your brain stops functioning.

As if we hadn’t done enough already the next stop was a cave in São Vicente where we were offered a Madeira wine tasting. We sampled a 3 year old, 5 year old and a 10 year old.

Finally we were dropped off back at our hotel. It was such a lovely day and one thing about the company we go with, they tell you so much about the island from the first time it was inhabited in 1420.

We had dinner and then the Madeiran dancers gave us a lovely show, with everyone joining in the dancing with them at the end. I asked Mal if he took any photos and he said no, he had dropped off to sleep! He was over the other side of the lounge. Yes, it was a tiring day!

Another late night, last ones in the bar!

Thought for the Day – “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.”~Helen Keller