2. Tag Funchal

2. Island Day

It seems to me that Madeira wakes up later than BW. There is also a one-hour time difference back. So at 7:30 AM, it’s still not really bright. An hour later, a lot of birds sing in the trees, the first guests are entering the pool, and the staff is wiping away the last remnants of the night rain. Two cruise ships and a three-mast sailing ship are docked in the harbor. And the first seagull glides over the hotel.

Before breakfast, we will meet our tour guide to discuss some guided tours with her. Since long hikes are not an option for me at the moment, we probably need some help to explore the island.

Everything has been clarified and arranged. We will be on the road for two days with a bus and a tour guide.

For today, we preferred to explore the area on foot. As always, there is a market hall enticing us here as well. According to the Madeira Handbook, it is advisable to look for delicious items on the first floor. On the ground floor, many tourists are likely to be overcharged. We went over the fish market level and then climbed the stairs. The crowd was incredible. There was a lot to see, try, and already plenty of wine by lunchtime. Many fruits were offered with a little spoon. I was not familiar with many of them, as well as some vegetable varieties. The small spice packets were a bit easier to handle.

Then we walked through the pedestrian zone to the nearest church. I didn’t want to take photos – there was also a funeral taking place there. But we always light candles whenever possible. Then we went to the harbor. Two large cruise ships and some sailing boats were still anchored or had just returned. In addition, there were many other boats to get to the nearby islands, observe whales and dolphins, or just to give tourists a water tour.

Our goal was to find a bus station to get to the Botanical Garden in the afternoon. There were plenty of long-distance buses, but we only found the line to the garden later, near the hotel. The way was not far; unfortunately, it was always steep uphill, as in many streets of Funchal. But we managed it today again.

Entry: 10 Euros per person – was not exaggerated. There was so much to see that I cannot describe it all. Photos of the many amazing trees tell really more than any description. We also took a breather with a delicious Bolo de Mel right next to the pond with many frogs, who truly entertained the whole “beer garden” with their “singing.” There was also a red cat that just wanted to have a drink.

The journey back to the hotel took a bit longer than expected. So I practiced a bit of QiGong during the waiting time to bring my body back into balance. The joy I already had. In the center of Funchal, we then searched for shoes with a good profile for me. The paths on the tours could be slippery after the night rain, even if there wouldn’t be any significant inclines. It’s better to be prepared for slippery paths. Sneakers would not be an alternative. I eventually found a pair after a longer search. They were also broken in for the next 4 hours. Everything went well. There are still plenty of blister plasters in the suitcase.

At the hotel, we then enjoyed a delicious dinner.

Bacalao and Espada – it must be fish here. On an island, fish simply belongs. Fish with banana was never on our menu – no matter where we have been in the world. It was worth it. For today, that was enough new, interesting, and delicious experiences.

See you soon!