So having landed in Madeira at about 13.00 there was plenty of time to explore the town and sea front before meeting the group at 19.30. Always difficult to know where to go to on the first day somewhere new – so rather a wander than a walk.
The beach had very large pebbles and there were areas of promenade along the edge. Looking back the city of Funchal stretches upwards for a long way.
A flower festival was advertised but not quite sure what this entailed but there was a small arena area and girls dressed in glamorous dresses and flowers in their hair.
A lot of interesting plants along this area and an obligatory ice cream!
I decided to turn away from the sea as I spotted some older and more interesting buildings.
Having already seen the cable car station I decided that that was what I was going to do next, so set off back by a different route. Having joined the queue it was soon my turn, I joined with a couple of young visitors who were staying in the city.
This has got to be one of the longest cable car rides I have ever been on – very smooth. I’m struck by the fact that Funchal doesn’t seem to have many old buildings, as my lift continues up hill.
The cable car at last arrives at Monte, where there is a tropical garden. On enquiring this will take me 2 /2.5 hours and there clearly isn’t enough time to experience this and catch the last cable car back. ( Two if the group got locked in , had to climb over a wall and make the lengthy and very steep walk back! )
So I visited the area around the church, a wedding had just happened, and the nearby garden.
I was also able to witness the willow sledges which had now become a tourist attraction but previously were used by the rich to transport them up and down hills and poorer people to move produce.
Back down t be cable car and navigated my way back to the hotel. The walk was about 7.5 km but the map is quite amusing because of the automatic inclusion of the cable cars!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 