We had originally booked a week in Madeira from 11th January to 18th but Ryan air cancelled the flight so we rebooked for the 7th to 14th of January but lost our car parking payment of 65:00 pounds as neither Ryan Air or Manchester Airports would refund us or amend the dates so we had to pay again for parking so that was not a good start.
We left home to drive to Manchester at 5am to give us plenty of time for our 8am check in, flight went ok arriving in Funchal 3:40 hours later weather was warm but had just been raining. Through arrivals and at bus stop for bus in to Funchal watched two bus drivers arguing with each other about getting in line to pick up passengers, funny to watch. Arrived in Funchal and took taxi up to Monte above Funchal to the guest house we were staying at and was ripped off by taxi driver so not a good start. Anyway, got settled in to our room which was shown to us by a lady working there who was rather abrupt but it was in a funny way we christened her Mrs. Shoo Shoo as she waved her arms in front shooing us out of the breakfast room when we went in to early. We ended up getting on really well with each other.
After unpacking we took a bus back down in to Funchal for a walk around some food shopping and seeing what was on offer for trips around the island as we had decided not to hire a car this time. we found a small shopping centre which had a supermarket in the basement and it had a restaurant where you put your food on your plate then at checkout, they weighed it and you paid on the weight and there were several vegetarian options for me and at a good price. so, whenever we were in Funchal we went there till one day we went in and it had disappeared they had boarded the area off with boards painted the same colour as the walls it was quite the illusion made us think we had imagined it ha-ha.
We spent the following day walking and busing around Funchal area and booked two trips to go to West and North part of island and another day to go to East, then we took a bus up to Monte Palace to walk around the tropical gardens which was lovely they even had a Japanese garden, we then went back down and visited Funchal cathedral which still had all its Christmas decorations up the building of it was completed in 1517.
The next day we were picked up near the guest house at 8:15 in a small bus and after picking up other passengers we set off for the West and North of the island. We first called at the famous glass viewing platform near Cabo Girao nearly 2,000 feet above the beach which gave a spectacular view. Then we went to Ribeira Brava one of the island's oldest towns on the coast which experienced very heavy flooding a number of years ago, a really lovely place. We then climbed out of the valley up over the top and continued heading west reaching Rabacal unfortunately the clouds descended so we couldn't see the views or walks. we then continued on to Porto Moniz on the coast at the most north westerly point which is effectively split in two the top area being the main town with lots of agriculture businesses and down by the coast the seaside area with lots of restaurants, natural rock bathing pools we had a meal in the recommended place from the driver and Jun enjoyed a sea food meal and I had a nice vegetarian meal as well. Then we walked along the front with huge waves crashing over ( no one swimming today ). We then had a lovely scenic coastal journey to the town of Seixal which was another nice place vineyards clinging to the sides of hills and cliffs, from there we drove to Sao Vicente a very picturesque town with beautiful painted houses where we spent some time walking around before heading back to Funchal stopping off at a roadside shops/cafe where we had a walk along the river following one of the Levadas and then having a drink of the local Poncha by the fire.
The next day we spent in and around Funchal, we took the cable car up to the top of the surrounding hills to visit the Jardim Botanical gardens and watched the tourists being steered down the hills on the local toboggans. Then later we visited the old sea fort as well as wandering around the old town area also took local buses along the coast just getting on and off before going back to Funchal and visiting the natural history museum.
The next day we were picked up by the mini bus to visit the East side of the island travelling up and along the coast then inland but lots of the views obscured by mist. We visited Santana where there are lots still of the traditional Madeiran houses one in particular was very interesting as the owner invited us all in gave each of us a drink they have lived in the house for generations but he now has a more modern one in the garden. One funny moment was when he pointed out the old bed and said to me "I was made and born in that bed". We then continued back down around the coast stopping at the cliffs at Ponta de Sao Lourenco and the port of Canical famous in that was where the film director John Huston went to film Moby Dick. Then down to the town of Machico and Santa Cruz before being dropped off back at the guest house.
The next day we spent visiting museums art galleries etc and also the Convent de Santa Clara, I visited the photography museum while Jun had a walk about. We then visited a local eating place we had been told about in which we queued down the stairs waiting for a table but it was worth it.
The following day we checked out of the guest house and moved to Santa Cruz and stayed in a beautiful hotel where we received a free upgrade. There was a festival on which marks the end of Christmas but for the first few hours we couldn't leave the hotel as the rain was torrential. Eventually it cleared and we went out for a nice long walk then returning to the centre visited all the local stalls set out for the festival and ate local traditional food, went in to the church for a service, then down to the beach are for a big concert that was being put on free but had to wait quite awhile as they were having problems setting up. When they did start there was a large crowd everyone singing and dancing all in all a great atmoshere. But we left fairly early as we had to be up for 4am for our taxi back to the airport. the hotel had put food out for us which was nice and we had a good flight back with no problems.