My thoughts on Madeira

My thoughts and love for Madeira make it one of the wonders of the world for me, one tiny Island that rises 6,000 metres from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean it has given life and soul to the habitat of its indigenous people. It is an island of Levada walks all over the island, that follows the irrigation water routes built by hand hundreds of years ago to get the precious water from the mountains to the numerous small lakes for irrigation. The terraced fields are built on the sides of the mountains, these Levada walks are from easy walking to mountain path terrain. A pleasurable and scenic activity experience for all levels of fitness. Take a day or half day trips to the South, Eastern, Northern, and Western sides of the island, by coach, taxi or jeep safari. These trips help you understand how Madeira's people love their island. Southern trips to the capital Funchal, a Pandora's box of interesting, fascinating locally owned shops and Blandy’s Madeira Winery. There’s a cable car to take you to Monte Palace Tropical gardens and the onward trip by cable car to the Botanical gardens, on the way back try the man guided wooden toboggan trip back down the hill from Monte not for the faint hearted or there is the cable car. Back in Funchal there is the old town where you can walk to the old market hall which is bulging with tourists and local people mingling with the local farmers stalls selling exotic Island flowers, plants, and bulbs. Ready to eat vegetables, fruit, nuts, chillies, bread and cakes of the island and locally brewed liquors. In the lower hall of the market during the morning the local catches of fish are displayed allowing you to walk up close to the stall tables and purchase directly from the fishermen. Fish such as the “Black Scabbard Fish” famous in Madeira, an ugly black skinned fish caught from the depth of 600 meters, or there is tuna, sea bream, snappers, sardines, squid, octopus and many other species. The Madeiran people have created from the rubbish of a unique catastrophic land slide that engulfed and destroyed the old Madeira, a promenade area of the harbour. An architectural miracle of flat ornate 3-kilometre disabled access from the docking ships to the old fort harbour and garden walks that gives peaceful and panoramic views. When you stand with your back to the sea and look at the of the city of Funchal it is like an amphitheatre and this stage now hosts the start of many of the local festivals. Eastern trips take you to from the sea where there are small interesting hamlets and villages up to the flat topped mountains to the open grazing lands of sheep, goats, cows, horses, wild dears, rabbits, small wild animals, no snakes, or nasties. Most of these trips include a delicious authentic Madeiran lunch and wine experience whilst listening to the Islands history usually given by the guide. Northern trips enhances the beauty of the spectacular Atlantic sea scape of high rise rugged and ragged cliffs vertically standing in defiance to the force of the sea. Even with this natural high garrison mountain sea defence, there is access down steep, winding roads to several villages, hotels, shops and restaurants including a natural lido. Western trips include the Madeira lace manufacturers, the weather observation viewing post and magnificent views of Nuns Valley. A visit to Nuns Valley is surrounded by high cliffs that gave secret hideaways for the Nuns from marauding pirates, now it is a small town that supports itself by tourists who purchase their crafts, including products made from the annual “November harvest of Chestnuts” and home farmed vegetables and fruit. Usually the Western trip includes a short drop off to see the unique triangular shaped houses once habited by the locals. Renowned for Winston Churchills painted portraits of landscapes on his numerous holidays to Madeira. Landing on the small Island for the first time, after you have flown towards it and seen the magnificent character of its natural beauty with its terraced staggered old and new houses it opens the expectation of what gems the local people, and their character awaits the visitor. Once landed at Madeira airport and the aircraft doors open the embarkment commences, and the feeling of your arrival is one of welcome in Madeira, the very same welcome is also felt from the airport staff. The air and the warmth of the island engulfs you, and that feeling has never changed even after several visits to this beautiful island. Madeira has an abundance of Hotels that cater for the UK market, the hottest month of the year is between August and September with an average daily maximum of 27 C and an average low of 21 C, the rest of the year around 20 C/23 C during the UK winter (What a prospect) The regions are noted for their Madeira wine. Culture, table music, local and international fine dining, including tomato and onion soup, tuna steak with fried maize, black scabbard fish fillet with banana. Espetada and Bolo do caco, wine and garlic pork, chicken, beef, lamb, goat, and a choice every day of all the fish that swim around Madeira. In the old town of Madeira there is a cobbled street called the street of "Painted doors” you don't have to reserve, but you can always get a table which is a unique dining experience. I look forward to helping you choose your hotel and arranging your first visit to this beautiful island one day. Debbie Hayward-Bird (Independent Travel Counsellor)