Madeira! Not enough superlatives in the English language for Madeira! We LOVED it here! It is absolutely a hiker's paradise! The map we have of Madeira has more hiking trails than roads. We spent 5 whole days on the island of Madeira ( a Portuguese island off the coast of Africa - only a 90 minute flight from Lisbon). Although a part of Portugal, Madeira absolutely stands alone, has its own customs, culture, and personality. The people were so welcoming and kind and the island itself was spectacular. An outdoor enthusiast's dream. I will forever cherish our photos taken in Madeira but I also know, without a shadow of a doubt, that these photos do not do the scenery justice. Heart stopping, breath taking views and sights and sounds. Simply AMAZING! We started our journey across and through Madeira in Funchal, the capital.
Madeira is a volcanic island and thus cliffs line most of the coast...leading to VERY hilly terrain getting from the coastal capital up into the highlands. We rode a cable car up and we rode these things down! Luke's rendition of this ride down the hills and L and my rendition are so completely opposite. L and I had the best time! Luke, not so much. Ha!
Voted as one of the "Top Ten Commutes" in the world you sit in one of these wicker baskets, the basket runners (humans) grease the rails and off you go down the hills! Hills, like San Francisco hills, these are not bunny slopes, these are the real deal. Brakes? Brakes are the basket runners feet. HA!!! So, I guess when you see it in words like this...it's a terrible idea...but in reality....FUN! (unless you are Luke)
L = enjoyment, Luke = terror but forcing the requested smile!!!!
We rode the cable cars from Funchal up to check out these AMAZING gardens! Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. A HUGE space with winding trails and plants and trees and flowers that would blow your mind. Beautiful.
Gorgeous layout with lots of secret spaces and surprises!
The gardens also had 2 really fantastic exhibits...one on geology!
The other on African masks, figures, and rituals.
It was a bit of a rainy and cool afternoon but it certainly didn't damper our time here. Hours of wandering before we took the baskets down the hill.
The view from our Funchal apartment. Perfection! L planned the Madeira trip (I planned the Morocco trip), he did a FANTASTIC job!
Funchal fish market
Funchal farmer's market
The cable car that led us up, Up, UP!
Terracotta roofs reminding us of Lisbon
The beach in Funchal
We loved our first day being in Madeira! We got our fill of culture and history and the urban life...from here on it is off to the wild. The hiking, the wandering, the time in the GREAT outdoors. It's why we travel!
Our first and longest hike was a levada walk. Levadas are a huge part of Madeira's history and life line. As with most oceanic islands Madeira has a rainy side and a dry side. Levadas were created to transport water from the precipitation heavy northwest side of the island to the much more arid southeast side. This is a gorgeous view from one levada walk.
A levada. Most were constructed or updated in the 1940's . Today they not only provide water to a large portion of the island (including Funchal, the capital) but they also provide hydroelectric power. There are over 1,300 miles of levadas on the island, providing incredible walking paths. Some are cut right into the mountain side and some run through portions of the mountains so tunnels were dug. Just an incredible engineering feat and we talked a lot about the men and women involved with this massive project.
When packing for our time abroad I noticed that L had added "headlamps" to our list. I didn't question it and packed our trusty headlamps for the trip across the Atlantic. I was SO thankful for them on our first levada walk and every Madeira hike after! Tunnel after tunnel after tunnel. Cool hiking!!
None of our pictures do the beauty justice.
This was my kind of hike. Incredibly interesting and beautiful and unique but not at all strenuous! We seriously hiked almost a 15 mile trail without even noticing the distance...levadas have such a gradual incline that you don't even realize you are going up (or down). Fantastic!
Waterfall love
"This one is super cool!"
At times super narrow...especially if we passed someone going the other way...you wouldn't believe the contortionist skills we have. :-)
Waterfall, levada, and a tunnel....the trifecta
This guy and his appreciation....LOVE
Gorgeous
Karen. We named our rental car. She was hilariously awful!
Also, even the parking lot has a breathtaking view.
A typical house style in the town of Santana where we stayed. Adorable.
More levada hike views!
I could spend weeks on end hiking these levada trails! Totally in my element!
Just look at that sky!
1,300+ miles of these! The time, the effort, the blood, sweat, and tears. Amazing!
Take me back!!!!
Perhaps Luke's favorite...the endless tunnels. He was a good height for almost all of them, L and I hit our heads more times than we would like to admit.
Some of these tunnels were actually quite long - over a quarter mile
Another beauty!
I just love us!!!
Thanks to our 10 year old for showing us how to get photos like this!
#realizingweareold
One right after the other, better just to leave the headlamp on :-)
Taking the lead
Our last day in Madeira we did a hike on the southeastern most tip (arid side of the island) of the island. One word....WINDY! I actually thought our little guy might get swept away a couple of times. Crazy! But a gorgeous hike in a completely different environment than the forest and not at all gradual...LOTS of steps.
Quite barren
Check our that geologic wonder!
This hike started on the other side of that nearest peak
I told him to sit down so I could stop worrying for a few seconds that he would be lifted by the wind
The child is dancing...dancing in the WIND
Now he is RUNNING....running in the wind. L was not concerned in the least.
Our last evening in Madeira...reflecting and throwing pebbles. Profound and Simple all at the same time.
This post is the beginning and the end of our Madeira trip but there is more Madeira (aka paradise) to come!! Stay tuned.....and put Madeira on your bucket list. :-)
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