(Photo from the plane)
Last time, I wrote about hidden gems, which happens to be some of the places I would love to visit. Now, I decided to tell you more about myself, and to take you back with me to the places I've been and I truly recommend. I decided to start with my favourite place, Madeira, also known as the Land of Eternal Spring.
It has been a long-cherished dream of mine to visit this island. Few years back, I finally got my family to go with me for my mom's birthday. I knew I would love it from the first glimpse through the small airplane window. All covered in luxuriant greenery, aggressively hit by the ocean waves, rising to the sky this volcanic island won a special place in my heart.
So let me tell you a bit about what you can do and see in Madeira. I am sure you will fall for it too.
I would recommend if you visit Madeira to look for accommodation in
Lido. It is well linked to all the attractions, there are many restaurants in this area and also the public natural swimming pool is here. Madeira is a tiny island anyways, in car or taxi you can go on day trips anywhere.
You should know that this island has very few sandy beaches, where you can go for a day or an afternoon. Otherwise, there are natural pools (I ll tell you more later on) or
Bathing complexes. Basically a swimming pool by the shore filled with ocean water. Those aggressive waves I mentioned above hit the shore and the water goes into the pool, splashing you when you sunbath. You will be surprised how my locals spend their weekends and afternoons there. I personally recommend giving up on that fancy pool at your hotel filled with chlorine and join the locals. There is
always a nice vibe. You can watch them jumping off some
trampolines or from the rocks into the ocean.
The capital city,
Funchal, was ruined by terrible floods and mudslides in 2010, but know the port is all rebuilt. You can walk around the promenade facing the port. Here, in April takes place the Flower Festival. It is a real carnaval and the whole city is celebrating spring. This is a great time to visit. The central market -
Mercado dos Lavradores - is worth paying a visit. Though it is quite touristy and pricey, you can taste local fruits which cannot be found anywhere else: a variety of passion fruits - banana passion fruit, pineapple passion fruit, lemon or tomato passion fruit. Some are kind of weird-tasting, but still, you can only have them here. The one I loved the most, as it is a real experience to peel it and eat it, is the: ananas-banana (Pineapple banana). It is the long green one in the picture. But anyways, you should try! Ask the locals and they will teach you how to eat it :))
Speaking of food, when you get tired from walking and you need a quick snack try Bolo de Caco, a stone cooked flatbread, normally served with garlic butter. You will go for a second one :)
From the port you can go up a bit and visit the Botanical Garden. It is an icon of Madeira, and the gardens look amazing all year long due to the weather. Also you can see far away over the ocean from there.
Continue your trip up to
Monte. There a nice old church you can visit. Also there is the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, a very beautiful garden to walk around, relax and take pictures. But this place is best known for its traditional transportation mean: the toboggan. It is a basket driven by 2 men. You just sit on it and you will slide down the hill to the next village. It is a fun experience, a bit pricey, but it's a once in a lifetime. Thou, I'd do it again :)))
Just a ride away is one of the highest peaks on the island, Pico do Areiro. This can be reached by car, it is very accessible for everyone, and if you are lucky and there is good weather and no fog, you will have a great view. If you would like, a strenuous hike away is Pico Ruivo, the highest peak. The weather is very unpredictable and the rocks get wet and slippery. Be careful!
If you travel for an active holiday you will have lots of fun. Beside many available routes up to Pico Ruivo, there are also the less technical trekkings - Levada. There are about 200 levadas available. Long or short, their paths follow the old irrigation channels. These canals are man made, digged into the mountains rocks. They carry water from high altitude, continuously. The walks will offer you great views. I personally followed a short one, to Vereda dos Balcoes, but it was a foggy day, I did not have much of a view... This may be the main reason I wanna go back to Madeira, to try more hikes around this volcanic island.
Speaking of volcanoes. The island is basically a volcano rising from the Atlantic ocean floor. Formed after many volcanic activities the crater is no longer found, however volcanic features can still be seen. For instance, in
Porto Moniz there are the volcanic pools. Formed right where land meets the ocean, those pools are filled up by the ocean waves. You can swim in this pools and get splashed by the Atlantic.
For those days when you want to just rest by the ocean, one of the few sandy beaches is in Machico. Here is where the first discoverers landed. Now it's maybe the best beach in Madeira, with golden sand, shipped from Morocco, and with calm water. It is a clean, family-friendly place.
If you have visited the Botanical Garden you are already familiar with the traditional houses. If you liked them there is small town, Santana, where you can also visit the huts and buy souvenirs.
Madeira is an autonomous island of Portugal. Located quite far from mainland, so it is quite expensive since many goods need to be shipped in. However, they have developed some industries. Besides the local bananas (which are absolutely delicious) and their crazy local fruits, they produce their own beverage: Coral beer, the Brisal soda, Madeira Wine and Poncha. The local beer is very tasty and cheaper then the international brands. Try the Madeira Wine, or as Churchill called it "liquid history". It's a high quality, fortified amber-color wine. The local Poncha is an alcoholic drink, sweet and fruity. I bought many bottles as gifts for friends, and for me :D
Of course, being an island, fish and seafood is very popular. Always fresh and tasty, you will never be disappointed if you order. However, there is a local delicacy you have to try, the black scabbard. It is a deep water predator, which cannot be caught by rod. The locals use a special technique to catch this fish. The best place to try it out is in Camara do Lobos, a tiny fishermen town. You will love the town and the food, trust me :)
Oh, and not to forget, you should not leave before trying the local dessert: Bolo de Mel (honey cake), the oldest cake recipe, since Madeira was a sugar producer. Back then it was a Christmas tradition, but now can be easily found in the cafeterias.
And before I go, the island is the homeland of Cristiano Ronaldo. The locals really adore him, not only for his football career but mostly for what he has done for the locals and the island's development. So try to not open this subject if you do not agree with them.
I hope I have not missed anything, but if I did let me know in a comment. Go visit Madeira, enjoy the hikes, eat their food and talk to the locals - they all speak great English!
Take care, and see the world! :)
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