we found one of the manu german summer promotions
for beach, sun and warm destinations...
we left thursday afternoon (for 4 hors of direct flight)
and we still enjoyed the movie 21 in the airplane (good one)
arriving at dusk in Funchal, still in time...
to see the parade for the 500 years aniversay of the town!
on the next day we went to the Lido (salt water pools)
but we decide to go in the water in the pevbbles' beach next door
(twisting a foot while crossing the road was not in the plans, though...)
we had lunch right there with a view to the sea: fish!
in the afternoon we followed the island's central mountain range
from the Encumeada in the direction of Porto Moniz
so many geckos catchin some sun we found there!!!
comming back, along the coastline, we still had time for a dive...
but in a white sand beach built in Calheta!!
dinner was back in Funchal... more fish!!
saturday we went around the northwest side of the island
we went through the mountain passing by Camacha straight to Santana
where the known tipical triangular houses are from
afterwards we went in the north coast, a bit cloudy and windy
and went to see the São Vicente volcanic caves
we then went straight to Porto Moniz again
to spend the rest of the afternoon in the natural pools
back to Funchal, in the evening we decided to go to the cinema
took a while but we finally found the place (misleading traffic signs?)
but, finally, we saw the Dark Knight (very good!!)
on the next day we went along the southeast coast, straight to Machico
we started by stopping in the São Tiago fortress, in Funchal
then we went past Garajau (which has before a fantastic viewpoint)
we ate some more fish (and tried grilled lapas - what a treat!)
we went to Santa Cruz where there were many kids jumping off the peers
and after driving under the airoport runway (impressive work!)
we drove past Machico (where we would later come for dinner)
and went straight to the tip of the island where we went in the walking course
(from the Sâo Lourenço formation to Sardinha Peer)
on monday we had a more relaxed day, swimming pool in the morning...
and in the afternoon went to Curral das Freiras, in the middle of the mountain
with a stop in the middle to see the surrounding villages
while there we also climbed the Barcelos Peak
back to Funchal, we went back to the shopping mall
this time to go to Fnac and watch Wall-e (fantastic)
next day we did the walk between the Areeiro and Ruivo Peaks
a 6h30 two way walk (plus around one hour to have lunch there)
always on the edge of enormous cliffs, steep stairs
and spectacular views of the mountain above the clouds
(excluding the pain from the twisted feed it was really worth it)
on the day before last we still visited Funchal (finally!)
after a failed visit to São João do Pico Fortress (forbidden)
we took the bus to Madeira's Botanical Garden
before the lenghty tour (what an impressive collection of cactuses!!)
we went up by cable car to Monte where the basket cars leave
we then came back to Funchal where we still stopped in the garden,
before going back to the Hotel for a deserved break!!
thursday we spent the remaining hours at the beach, in Calheta,
and going there we stopped to look at Cabo Girão,
one of the highest cliffs in Europe and the world!!
finally, in the afternoon, under a scorching sun,
we went back to the airoport, and then Darmstadt...
and we still watched a fourth movi in the airplane - PS: I Love You!!
we had the sea, the food and portuguese language close by again
we realy enjoied it!!
