Madeira and Island of Porto Santo and The World Underwater

Madeira is full of surprises, and driving northwards it’s noticeable how the scenery changes from dramatically low lying terrain to steep, lush green hillsides full of forests of Eucalyptus and Laurel, giving watery life to many crops of cherries and the sweetest tasting bananas, along with vines bulging with grapes used by many producers of high quality wines, including the famous dark but slightly sweet Madeira fortified wine. Coastlines also change dramatically; this is where huge Atlantic waves unceasingly pound steep cliffs, creating artistic sprays of water which can be quite mesmerising. I remember someone telling me that every seventh wave is the big one, which is why I stood quietly watching wave after wave hitting cliffs, waiting to see if the seventh wave was bigger than the last seventh wave.

After our surprise Terra Bona cliffside wine tasting, we then drove inland through various small narrow roads and numerous tunnels (constructions helped by EU development funds), until we reached the village of Santana. Here we were welcomed by the owner of one Madeira’s top boutique hotels, Quinta do Furão, along with several local dignitaries, including the newly elected 35 year old major of Santana, Dinarte Fernandez, a delightful character whose family have lived locally for over a century.

Lunch started with cocktails overlooking steep cliffs above the Atlantic’s azure blue waves. I could easily visualise waking up each morning to these stunning views, should I opt to stay in the hotel. About an hour later, lunch followed, when we were all ushered into the hotel’s well appointed cliffside restaurant, a separate building to the hotel but again affording extraordinary views of local scenery. Typically, our meal was to last several hours and was another completely unforgettable gourmet experience, comprising five delicious courses, all created by the hotel’s prize winning chef, and specially prepared for our group. As might have been expected, lunch finished with a few speeches and several customary toasts from small glasses filled with the famous fortified Madeira wine.

After an exhausting but busy day I knew that as soon as I returned our five star Savoy Signature hotel all I wanted to was go for a refreshing swim in the hotel’s infinity pool on the 17th floor and immediately grabbed my swimsuit from my room and and could hardly wait to feel the pool’s deliciously warm water and have a relaxing half hour swim. The pool itself overlooks nearby lush green hillsides littered with white painted houses on one side and the deep blue Atlantic ocean on the other. What better way to relax after a busy day wandering around the island seeing sights I’d not previously seen even though this was my third visit to Madeira which just goes to show there’s plenty to keep visitors busy. Dinner that evening was in the delightful Kampo restaurant in the centre of Funchal’s old town and comes highly recommended. After dinner as we returned to the hotel, we walked along one of the old city’s renowned narrow, cobbled streets where doors of old stone buildings were all unusually decorated, some painted with pretty women in traditional dress.

The next day was equally busy but this time we drove to the north side of the island visiting the town of Boaventura and enjoying another winetasting and delicious lunch including a quick visit to the Porto da Cruz Rum factory to taste a variety of rums…. the rest can left up to your imagination but needless to say dinner was another gourmet affair in the Hostel de Santa Maria restaurant another well established ad popular restaurant, and definitely well worth a visit.

The following day we were off the Island of Porto Santo on an early morning flight that meant leaving the hotel at 5.30 in the morning but it was all worth it another Magical Madeira adventure in store … which continues in my next blog.