 Despite its tiny size, Madeira is criss-crossed by thousands of miles of water channels. As these lavadas run through the Portuguese island, so does life — green and bursting. Nature is everywhere in the capital, Funchal. The trees are from all corners of the world, after centuries of the trading hub collecting anything passing by, and the banana plants yield local varieties sweeter than any I have ever tried. When my group arrives, May's flower festival is starting to wind down but the streets are still paved with blooms. Looming above are the ancient peaks, covered with UNESCO-protected laurel forests. The land is generous. On Madeira, there is no such thing as a bad farmer, as an off-road tour guide says as he points out wild pumpkins, and a lost hiker wouldn't go hungry. Flying fish accompany the boat journey from the airport to central Funchal, where I'm staying at the Barceló Funchal Oldtown hotel, a stone's throw from the Gothic cathedral. The Barceló's a charming base, with its crisp local-inspired furnishings and balconies overlooking the indigo sea. And it boasts mouth-watering food at its restaurant, Noz: fresh fish ceviche from the market for just €13, along with tuna, octopus and slow-cooked pork options — even condensed-milk coffee. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Barceló Funchal Oldtown hotel is a stone's throw from the Gothic cathedral (Picture: Supplied) The interior boasts great views too (Picture: Supplied) And out in the city's warm streets, on to which the restaurant spills, the wonder doesn't stop. Folk dancers perform and lush parks break up the pavements of black and white stone. Unseen up in the hills, basket toboggans whoosh tourists down steep streets and women sit in front of their windows and embroider linen, by hand, for the local clothing company. A snapshot of the city from boat (Picture: Jen){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Despite its tiny size, Madeira is criss-crossed by thousands of miles of water channels. As these lavadas run through the Portuguese island, so does life – green and bursting.
Nature is everywhere in the capital, Funchal. The trees are from all corners of the world, after centuries of the trading hub collecting anything passing by, and the banana plants yield local varieties sweeter than any I have ever tried. When my group arrives, May’s flower festival is starting to wind down but the streets are still paved with blooms.
Looming above are the ancient peaks, covered with UNESCO-protected laurel forests. The land is generous. On Madeira, there is no such thing as a bad farmer, as an off-road tour guide says as he points out wild pumpkins, and a lost hiker wouldn’t go hungry.
Flying fish accompany the boat journey from the airport to central Funchal, where I’m staying at the Barcelo Funchal Oldtown hotel, a stone’s throw from the Gothic cathedral. The Barcelo’s a charming base, with its crisp local-inspired furnishings and balconies overlooking the indigo sea. And it boasts mouth-watering food at its restaurant, Noz: fresh fish ceviche from the market for just €13, along with tuna, octopus and slow-cooked pork options – even condensed-milk coffee.