Madeira

Hi everyone,

We've been in Madeira for 8 nights.  Three were spent in the anchorage at Ensenada da Abra, four anchored off Machico and we'll spend the rest of our time in Marina Quinta do Lorde.

Madeira!
(sign on Funchal waterfront)

Our three nights at Ensenada da Abra were quite social.  We spent time with OCC Macaronesia Cruise SVs Asteria & Metzi, plus German SVs CrazyB and Zora.  One afternoon we had a beach BBQ/Braai.

Colour landscape at Ensenada da Abra

Beach BBQ in Ensenada da Abra

Our next anchorage was off the town of Machico.  It's a nice town but the anchorage is notoriously rolly, and so it was for us.  But hire cars were cheap and we shared a car with the Metzis for three days.  We had a marvellous time exploring Madeira with them.

Approaching Machico

Machico anchorage from harbour

Machico artwork

Machico waterfront

On car hire day 1 we explored the western part of the island, including a great Levada walk, a swim in the sea water pools at Port Moniz and driving around the coast.  Levadas are man-made water channels used for town water supply, agricultural irrigation and hydro power.  This network of waterways was started in the 15th century, then greatly expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Let the Levada walking begin!

Levada

Levada view

Lunch 1 (sv Metzi photo)

Wonderful coastal scenery

Nice viewpoints

Porto Moniz pools

Dramatic coastlines

On car hire day 2 we did a long Levada walk of about 20,000 steps in the island's centre.  The walk involved descending about 100 storeys down into a valley then climbing back out again.  At the base were a waterfall and the '25 fountains'.  Spectacular and exhausting!

More amazing landscapes

Ready to walk

Down to the waterfall base

At the waterfall base

View down the valley

At the 25 fountains

Looking up from the 25 fountains

From the walk we drove across to the windward side of the island - out of bright sunshine into cloud/fog.  But we found another great lunch spot.

Sky cows & cloud/fog

Lunch 2

On car hire day 3 we explored the eastern part of the island including a short Levada walk, amazing landscapes, a look around the town of Santana and yet another fantastic lunch.

Levada view

Walking break

View to the coast

Lunch 3

Amazing valley views

Santana traditional cottage

On Machico day 4 we bussed to Funchal with the sv Metzis to briefly rediscover the town and to visit the Botanical Gardens.

Funchal waterfront

Funchal city centre

Funchal waterfront art

Funchal old town door artwork

Tiled artwork

Funchal old farmer's market

Tutti Fruti

Spectacular plants and flowers in the Botanical Garden

Funchal from the Botanical Gardens

On returning to Machico mid-afternoon we made ready for sea and motored the 4nm to Marina Quinta do Lorde.  What a difference from the rolly anchorage!

Approaching Quinta do Lorde

Quinta do Lorde

We have a few boat jobs to do over the next two days, followed by a good weather window for the Canaries.

Trust all's well where you are.