| Madeira was rediscovered by Portuguese sailors | | | | time favourite it's very cheap and is the best |
| between 1418 and 1420. A popular resort famous | | | | tasting fish I have ever had. The seafood is also |
| for it's Madeira wine and spectacular New Years | | | | fresh and plentiful; and the prawns are huge and |
| fireworks celebrations, the largest in the world. | | | | very tasty. |
| Having recently returned from Madeira I just | | | | I did go on a day trip to the North of the Island |
| thought it would be nice to share some of my | | | | to a lovely town called Porto Moniz. I have to say |
| experiences. Firstly, the main reason I chose this | | | | next time I return to Madeira this is definitely |
| destinations was for the good weather | | | | where I will staying. It is a small but very stunning |
| temperatures. Madeira is a sub tropical island which | | | | village with a big personality. They have natural |
| is situated just below the Canary Islands and | | | | swimming pools which are right on the sea, they |
| therefore has very good weather all year round | | | | are amazingly unique. I have never seen anything |
| with temperatures never falling below 20 degrees. | | | | like it before. The pools are huge and have big |
| The Island is very lush with an array of flowers | | | | slides as well as children's section with mini slides |
| always in bloom. Madeira is famous for its wine, | | | | they also have a really good sunbathing deck |
| which is a great experience to see it being made | | | | where you can top up your tan and relax with a |
| and taste of course. The walks in the mountains | | | | drink from the bar or have a meal in one of the |
| are not to be missed; I have never seen anything | | | | restaurants. |
| as beautiful in my life. In Madeira there are the | | | | The locals are all Portuguese and I have to say |
| famous 'Levades' which are situated in the | | | | how polite and friendly they were without being |
| mountains along the walks, these are natural | | | | sleazy. They were very interesting and were |
| springs in the form of waterfalls which I have to | | | | always happy to engage in conversation about |
| say are stunning. | | | | the history of Madeira or the weather. The English |
| I stayed in Funchal which is the City where there | | | | was very good too, unlike my Portuguese which I |
| is a main port serving many boat trips, cruise | | | | have to admit is embarrassingly nonexistent! |
| ships and a great array of all the latest shops as | | | | All in all I can highly recommend Madeira to all |
| well as restaurants and bars. There is usually lots | | | | ages, whether you are looking for a relaxing |
| of entertainment going on here such as Folklore | | | | holiday in the sun or you want to explore the |
| Dancing and singing which is free of charge. The | | | | beautiful lush Island. The added bonus is that it is |
| restaurants are excellent with the local catch of | | | | only a 3 hour flight from the UK. |
| the day 'Espada', scabbard in English being my all | | | | |