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.