Day One in Lisbon

Happily today was a lot cooler, though still very pleasant. After a hotel breakfast we investigated the tourist information. Then off to the metro station to buy a couple of day tickets for the trams, buses etc. Some local character showed us how to use the machine for which we slipped him a euro - a result for both sides! One of the tram routes is recommended as a way of seeing the old city. It is operated by 1900s four-wheeled trams which can negotiate the narrow, steep and winding streets. Their hill-climbing (and descending) abilities are truly impressive. We followed that up with a boat trip on the Tagus and a trip round the castle. It was rebuilt as a vanity project by Salazar in the Thirties but a there was a bit of archaeology from the iron age and the Moorish period too.



This is the big square on the waterfront nearest the old city.


This is the biggest corkscrew in the world on the opposite bank of the Tagus to Lisbon.


This is Belem tower upriver from Lisbon.


This is the archway on the landward side of the waterfront square with a view up to the centre of the city.


This was a view of Lisbon from Salazar's rebuilt castle walls. It's a very interesting place if a bit scruffy in a lot of places. The city centre was demolished by an earthquake and tsunami in the 1750s so hardly anything is older than that.

Location:Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon

Madeira to Lisbon

I'm saving this for later having failed to connect to the free WiFi at the airport. The transfer driver arrived promptly in a 5-series BMW and took us very sedately to the airport. Small airports working well within their limits are so much more pleasant than the giant hubs like Heathrow or even Manchester. Small is definitely beautiful. We were checked in and through security in no time.
Not quite so slick at Lisbon. We landed 20 minutes early but parked a mile or so from the terminal building, at least it seemed like it on the bus. The luggage was slow arriving even though ours were in the first few off. Then the pickup seemed a bit disorganised. Anyway the hotel is very nice and near the old centre of Lisbon. We walked down to the Tagus waterfront last night which took us about 20 minutes through the centre of the city. The temperature by that time had dropped from 36 to 32 or so by then! We ate in a restaurant round the corner which was rather 'nouvelle cuisine' in its portions -not unwelcome actually.
Here are a few photos.
More Agapanthus! They aren't as common here as in Madeira though.








Didn't actually check it out, but intriguing.
The Basilica which is a landmark apparently.

Location:Madeira Airport

Last Day

Judy and Roger had a lazy day yesterday so we were without our private taxi service! We had a day in and around Funchal, mostly consisting of a repeat visit to Monte. This time we were blessed with brilliant blue skies and warm sunshine. We took on the gardens in Monte that we missed out on last time because without fleeces and long trousers it was too chilly.


We had the fleeces this time but they stayed in the rucksack and David regretted the precautionary long trousers! The gardens seemed to flow down the hill almost to Funchal but we made it down to the cafe and back up again.





Monte is where the brave sit in a basket and plummet down the steep road back to Funchal. Admittedly they have men 'helping' them along, but it looks scary!



I have to say that I have never seen so many Agapanthus plants ever, anywhere. They are all over the island, like weeds! But very pretty.


In the evening we met Judy and Roger for a meal in the Casa Penhe after in drink in 'the pub' at the hotel. A 1959 RR Silver Cloud parked outside the hotel was attracting a lot of attention and a nice red MG T-series drove past while we were having our drink.

Location:Funchal

Corral of the Nuns

Picked up around 10:45. Off to secret valley Curral de Freias via Eira de Serrado for coffee and views into CdeF. Spectacular views. Lunch in exploding restaurant. Bright and sunny. Back to Cabo Girao (500m cliffs) near J&R's apartment. Then off to Câmara de Lobos fishing village. Triathlon in progress. Got lost in Funchal looking for restaurant then back to apt. to change. Taxi to restaurant - great setting and food, rice with everything! Back to apt. for drink and fireworks.

Location:As yesterday

Eastern Madeira

Picked up around 10:30 by Judy and Roger Allan from Rushwick who are staying in a place not far from our hotel. They have a hire car which is handy! We set off in sunshine for São Lourenço point via coffee in Caniçal. Interesting Spaniard who had worked for P&G in Newcastle. Raining when we got to the viewpoint so made for Blandy Gardens instead. Good in parts - quite English feel to them. Lunch there then to Pico de Areiro (1818m). Broke through the cloud into brilliant sunshine.
Dropped back at hotel. Dinner in Turkish restaurant between Casa de Penha and Irish pub. Waitress friendly, food disappointing.

Finding our feet

We awoke to the sight of a cruise liner docking, the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas. There was no wind which must have simplified bringing a 300+ by 39 metre vessel (thanks Nick) vessel alongside.
In to town by bus to find the Tourist Information and get some maps. After coffee David went to the Electricity Museum and Carolyn went to the cathedral. The former was fascinating, as the Madeira electricity system was set up and, until 1949, maintained, by British companies. Apart from one small German diesel generator (some outfit with a three-pointed star trademark) all the rest had the names of mostly disappeared British firms. Massive Mirrlees and Ruston and Hornsby diesel engines, Brush and GEC generators etc.
After lunch we had another terrifying bus ride to the Botanical Gardens. Quite extensive but not very well labelled and a bit second-hand looking. Instead of getting the bus back we took up the offer of a taxi driver to take us down for €5 as he had to go and pick up his wife in Funchal. Much more restful.
Dinner in the Casa Penhe. Good food, friendly and helpful service and a nice spot all round.

Location:Pestana Carlton

Arrived!

Well here we are, comfortably installed with our two balconies and sea view.




The flight from Lisbon to Funchal was uneventful. TAP are never going to win prizes for their inflight sandwiches but got ourselves and our luggage to Funchal airport safely and punctually. The transfer worked fine too. It took us a while to work out the layout of the resort but we've mastered it now.
Before unpacking we treated ourselves to a drink on the terrace and a beer and a pizza in 'The Pub' in the hotel, not very adventurous I know but tasty and not expensive. After that it was time to unpack and fall into bed.
Yesterday was orientation day. After breakfast of muesli from the resort shop we set off to find a local supermarket and ended up taking a bus to Monte! Next time we go somewhere at elevation well take our fleeces - it was distinctly chilly up there. Anyway the view and the church were interesting and we plan to go back. We treated ourselves to five-day bus passes so the only cost will be time and wear and tear on the nerves. The bus drivers are very aggressive and the buses very powerful to cope with the gradients and accelerating and decelerating. Driving with one hand and resting the other on the open window must be in the Madeira driver's manual.
Lunch of fish sandwich in the 'beerhaus' overlooking the marina. We had dinner behind the cathedral in the town centre. We walked most of the way back having failed to find the bus route. Orientation continues!

Location:Pestana Carlton

Message from Lisbon

Well we're on Portuguese soil, having gone through customs and another security check. Yesterday was rather full, between David's U3A workshop in Birmingham and Carolyn's drama production. We set off for Manchester airport around five past nine and didn't have a bad run, temporary speed restrictions notwithstanding, until we got within within five miles of the airport hotel we had booked into. At this point we discovered that the bit of the M56 that we needed to use had been closed! In a way we had been lucky because signs on the M6 were advising a closure between junctions 12 and 13 which turned out to be a false alarm. Not so this one on the M56! Carolyn and the Satnav between them saved the day and we duly pitched up at the Clayton (formerly Bewley's) hotel tired but triumphant at around 11pm.

Location:Lisbon Airport