Madeira is More Than Just My Last Name
We’ve made it to the last leg of our year of adventure! This one is a family affair with some time to explore and learn a little more about where I come from. What better place to start than Madeira Island just off the coast of Portugal and nestled in the Canary Islands. Madeira being my last name, I’ve always been curious to see what this island is all about.
The first thing I noticed after landing is that this island has one of the most dangerous runways in the world. It also felt odd to see Madeira written everywhere. I’ll admit that it took a little time to get used to it being used everywhere and plastered on every souvenir.
Madeira is the perfect holiday destination all year around, they often refer to it as the Hawaii of Europe. It’s a tropical island offering amazing scenery, wonderful beaches and quaint villages. The driving is not for the faint of heart. The switchback roads and super steep hills were a little scary but Rob amazed us with his skills getting us to breathtaking view points all around the island.
It was a jam packed four days. We stayed in an apartment perfectly situated in the capital city of Funchal. We were able to walk to many of the must sees within the city and rented a car to explore just about every corner of the island.
Our first day, straight from the airport in Santa Cruz we headed to Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools. The stunning views along the way left us breathless. The pools were, fed by the ocean, were beautiful and the water temperature was just right. Later in the afternoon we headed back to check in and explore Funchal. We took the Cable Car up to Monte and did the traditional basket ride back down to Funchal.
Day 2 was our hiking day. It was probably the most difficult hike I’ve ever done but exhilarating at the same time. Pico do Areeiro, at 1,818 m high, is Madeira Island's third highest peak. From the top, we were able to look down on the clouds. The air is fresh and clear and the hike is strenuous but well worth it for the breathtaking views.
After a stop for lunch by the sea we attempted the 2nd hike of the day to catch a glimpse of some waterfalls. Matteo and I made it to the end but not sure this one was worth the hike. Lol
Day 3 we visited Mercado do Lavadores for a typical breakfast while enjoying the beautiful stands filled with fresh fruit, flowers and local products. Since we love the water, we made our way down to the fresh pools just on the outskirts of Funchal and enjoyed the beautiful water and people watching.
Our last day left us with some free time to do a walking tour of Funchal. Walking along the Marina let us to the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum, glorious gardens, historical buildings and charming churches. As we headed to the airport we had time for one more viewpoint called Miradouro da Ponta do Rosto. Popular lookout at cliff's edge offering views of the jagged coastline & offshore rock formations. Our final stop was Santana were we visited typical Madeira style homes that had been preserved and displayed villages of years ago. Their version of Pioneer Village.
Madeira was definitely better than I expected, and is more than the home of Madeira wine. Whether you are a vacationer or a traveller, it has many options to choose from. Add this one to your list, it’s beauty, cuisine, and climate makes it a top destination.
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