Anyone been to Madeira?
Posted by: JamieWednesday on 08 May 2013
I fancy it. Never been. Always looks beautiful.
What's it like?
I fancy it. Never been. Always looks beautiful.
What's it like?
Very nice. Rather like the north side of Tenerife in climate, mad drivers etc. 
I fancy it. Never been. Always looks beautiful.
What's it like?
Hi Jamie,
It's been a while now but it's worth a trip. Visit the Madeira winery and rent a Mini Moke to drive up the volcano. Do NOT try to step off the volcano onto the clouds, - because at altitude, from the edge it looks like you could.
Best regards,
Mark Dunn
Been many years ago. Beautiful island but can be wet. We stayed near a sleepy little village called 'Machico' which is probably a high rise resort by now.
The main city Funchal is a bit overrun by mad drivers but has its moments.
G
PS - plenty photo ops!
yep went their many years ago with the late Mrs h,stayed at the Casino Park Hotel in Funchal which is just a short walk up from the town centre and not a bad gaff.
2 things from memory...take care if you drive round the island loadsa places to drive over the cliff.....the runway then was about 75yds long and as soon as the planes wheels hit it the pilot slammed the thing into reverse like you would not believe. Afternoon tea at Reids has to be done,but i found it all poncy. If you go take a boat trip to the little island next door.....porto Santo.
All in all a good holiday.
Mista h
Isn't the runway part built on stilts, looks like the M1 round Brum?
Hi James,
it's a lovely island, well worth a visit. Very green, lush and mountainous with some spectacular scenery. The irrigation system on the island relies on Levadas, channels that run around the hills, and you can book guided walks around them, or go off on your own if you feel adventurous enough.
Funchal's market is interesting & the fish market has some very strange-looking fish for sale, pulled up from the very deep water that surrounds the island.
As mista h has pointed out, the runway is...interesting...
Cheers all, a deal is available to us and I might take it!
We watched a plane circle attempting to land numerous times before actually touching down. Round and round it went. We thought the landing gear was stuck but apparently not. That was 1979 mind so probably a clapped out Comet. G
Probably one of the last Dan-Air ones then..!
Probably one of the last Dan-Air ones then..!
Dan-Air it was! We also flew with them to majorca in 1976. I remember as a kid being terrified after flying through two air pockets where the plane just dropped like a stone for what seemed an age. G
JW
One other thing if you do go. When we went the late Mrs h bought back some Bird of Paradise seeds,stuck some in the garden.......NOTHING. she then gave a few packets to her sister who can grow anything......result...some superb flowers,worth bringing back if you do go.
Mista h
Oh, and a tour or two of the Madeira wineries!
The other thing to note: Lemon groves with skull and crossbones signs attatched which, to any rational human being means DO NOT CONSUME. Not my mother who was very ill after squeezing one into a cup of tea. She was similarly ill year on year at about the same time when back in the UK. We christened it 'Lemonitis'.
Avoid doing something this stupid.
G