Imagine being on a teeny island in the Atlantic Ocean, with nothing else around you for miles. And a storm blows in, howling winds, wild rain and crashing waves. That's where we found ourselves on the Wednesday of our holiday. After breakfast, which we had to eat indoors along with everyone else including the cat due to the weather we headed back to our room. The rain did ease for a while and we had a walk around the hotel gardens and then took a walk to a local tour operator in the hopes of booking a coach trip. Alas they were closed so we headed back to the hotel, just in time cause the rain started again! We took shelter in our room and watched the storm from out balcony for a while. Boy did it pour!!
We were booked to go on a tour that afternoon and were starting to worry that it would be cancelled, but the tour bus turned up and off we went. Madeira has several micro-climates due to the mountains and different altitudes, so by the time we had got under way and started heading to higher ground the rain eased off and eventually disappeared. The first stop of the day was Camara do Lobos, which is just along the coast from Funchal. Winston Churchill came here many years ago to holiday, and the stop where he liked to sit and paint has been marked. It was a short stop, but given the weather probably not a bad thing. We had time to visit the church and have a walk around the small havbour before leaving.
Our next stop was Eira do Serrado, a viewing point high up in the mountains where you can look down on the village in the valley below. The view is stunning, in fact we were above cloud level, and it was amazing to watch the clouds rise up to greet us. This area is known as Nun's Valley, many years ago a group of nuns fled inland to escape marauding pirates. They knew of this valley and journey over treacherous mountains to reach it and set up a new dwelling. On arriving at the view point the bus parked and we had to walk the rest of the way along a fairly narrow path. In parts there had been minor rock falls which was a little worrying, but you know when your time comes, it won't matter where you are - so on we went! It was worth it! We could see for miles, and were able to look down on a rainbow! From here we headed down (and down) into the valley to the village itself. We had some time to explore, so we visited the church and looked around the few shops that were there. I found a lovely blanket, decorated with scenes of Madeira, which I bought along with a little back pack. The lady in the shop was rather excited by two purchases within w few minutes of each other! The town was quiet and I am guessing business was slow!
On leaving the village we headed back to Funchal stopping a couple of times to admire the views. When we got back we decided to get off in the Old Town and we had an early dinner at Sao Jose. A lovely little restaurant with a 3 course for 10euro menu! And they were able to cater to Paul's newly embraced vegetarianism! Most places did actually, Madeira is clearly a country where being a vegetarian isn't common, yet restaurants were willing to prepare something for Paul specially! Our dinner was lovely, and this is where I tried a local dish of scabbard fish served with flambéed banana. Sounds weird, but does actually work! It was lovely being able to sit outside (the rain had stopped and we were under a canopy) and watch the world go by.
It was another lovely day, which ended in a little wander over to the Mall before calling it a night. It just looked so pretty with all the lights and Christmas decorations.
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