![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsRVG1GBZNy8D6b6ePyJYSbfQu8xgPlmBsuGANs0LThMaYJRjmRzUuaEqjFYZZbqQnKrE6B-0Yq0bW_gD52xqt9uV7DKD4ueItaRlkJnNOxe-GZ9X-T4gv96NrFPU46auE_bHO3kNCBppRD6O5lDx9SSeCXQqeGV-Fc3xViAfW-9HOZzQhLc3d0a0u3w8\/s4069\/Funchal.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nWe\u2019ve been home now, from our late autumn cruise, for just As I\u2019ve probably mentioned before, I\u2019d visited Funchal<\/b> before, again The coach dropped us off at a bus station on the seafront, Our first stop was a small caf\u00e9 with outdoor shaded seating, There were plenty of local caf\u00e9s We moved on and looked elsewhere, and after taking a Wanting something light for our lunch, we checked out their Afterwards, whilst Mrs PBT\u2019s <\/b>got stuck into her obligatory The following morning, at Mrs PBT’s<\/b> suggestion, I went into Funchal<\/b> It had been quite a climb up to the cathedral, although Not all the shops were open, as it was a religious After crossing the busy highway that runs down from the I went inside to make use of the \u201cfacilities\u201d <\/i><\/b>and also to
\nover a month, and I suddenly realised that I hadn’t written anything about our
\nvisit to Madeira<\/b> \u2013 officially the third port of call on our two-week voyage.
\nHowever, as things turned out, with our aborted attempt to dock at Praia de
\nVitoria, Madeira<\/b> was actually the second location we visited. Our ship docked
\nat Funchal, <\/b>the lovely and rather charming capital of Madeira<\/b>, where we had an
\novernight stop at Funchal. <\/b>This gave us two full days in which to explore this
\ncharming town along with the surrounding area.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\narriving by ship, although that time it was a school \u201ceducational cruise\u201d<\/i><\/b> in a
\nconverted, former troop ship. As almost 50 years <\/b>had passed since that visit,
\nmy memories of Madeira<\/b>\u00a0are rather limited. Having said that, I\u2019m pretty certain
\nthat my school mates and I just proceeded down the gangway and walked into
\nFunchal,<\/b> rather than being bussed into town, as Eileen,<\/b> me and other passengers
\nwere. The drive itself took around 10 minutes<\/b>, if that\u2019s anything to go by, but
\nafter half a century, who really knows.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nwhere there were landscaped gardens, shaded with palm trees. We decided to
\nexplore the immediate vicinity before finding a suitable place for lunch.
\nEileen\u2019s niece,<\/b> and her husband had visited the island recently and had strongly
\nrecommended a restaurant situated further along the seafront. She hadn\u2019t
\nindicated how far along, but after reviewing the location on Google Maps,<\/b> we
\nrealized it was a good 45\u201350-minute walk.<\/b> This was rather too far Mrs PBT\u2019s,
\n<\/b>and further too than I\u2019d care to walk, just for a bite to eat. Fortunately, we
\ndiscovered several excellent alternatives in the vicinity.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nbeneath a canopy. We dropped in, ordered a coffee each, as well as a delicious
\nPortuguese custard tart.<\/b> Sitting there gave us time to figure out where to eat
\nlater. We then wandered down one of the side streets that run parallel to the
\nshoreline\u2014narrow, bustling, and full of charm.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nand bars opening onto the street, all very inviting and tempting, although one
\nparticularly proprietor was rather too vocal and persistent for my liking, in
\nhis attempts to encourage visitors to try his rooftop bar. It may well have afforded
\nviews out over the seafront, but he didn\u2019t get our custom, no matter how good
\nhis establishment might have been.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nshortcut, back towards the sea front, we found the terminus of the city’s
\nfamous cable car. For \u20ac20,<\/b> you can ride right to the top of the hills (mountains)
\nbehind the city, and enjoy uninterrupted views stretching right across Funchal,
\n<\/b>and out to the sea beyond. Having watched the film \u201cWhere Eagles Dare\u201d<\/i><\/b>, I’ve
\nnever been that keen on cable cars. Mrs PBT\u2019s<\/b> felt the same, so we decided to
\nskip that activity, and walked a little further in the direction of the ship.
\nThere we noticed a contemporary and laid-back place called \u201cLoft\u201d,<\/b> with a few tables overlooking
\nthe grassy area we’d just passed through. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nmenu, which included some nice bruschetta\u2019s, <\/b>and decided to give the place a
\ntry. We found a table, in the shade, and ordered some drinks. A half litre of
\nCoral White<\/b> \u2013 the local lager, for me and whatever Eileen<\/b> was having – mineral
\nwater I expect. Our food arrived, looking nicely presented, and tasting as good
\nas it looked. It was just the right size for lunch, as without wishing to sound
\ntoo self-righteous, we were trying to be mindful about what we ate, despite
\nbeing on holiday.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\ncoffee, I decided to try the Coral Stout,<\/b> but somehow, I ended up with another White
\nbeer. Something had obviously been lost in translation, but no matter. On our way
\nback to the coach terminal, we found the inevitable souvenir shop and picked up
\na few goodies, including a couple of the ever-popular fridge magnets. No pineapples
\nthough, just to disappoint those who get excited about such things! Afterward,
\nwe took the bus back to the cruise terminal and returned to the ship.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\non my own. If anything, the day was hotter than the previous one, and I was
\nleft wishing I’d brought my water bottle with me \u2013 an “elementary school boy
\nerror”, <\/i><\/b>as one of my colleagues would say. But I hadn’t, regardless of my
\ncolleague\u2019s advice, so after staying in the shade as much as possible, I found
\na nice little corner caf\u00e9, close to Funchal\u2019s<\/b> rather modest looking cathedral.<\/b>
\nI sat outside, in the shade, enjoying a coffee plus a bottle of ice-cold water,
\nbefore contemplating my next move.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\ngiven that Funchal<\/b> is constructed on a hill, this wasn\u2019t surprising. I\u2019d ended
\nup on the other side of the main thoroughfare that bisects the town, so I
\nheaded in a roughly easterly direction, and ended up close to where Eileen <\/b>and
\nI had been the day before.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nholiday, but the restaurants, bars and souvenir outlets were certainly trading,
\nas were the ice-cream sellers, so hiding behind the pretext that a cone, or
\nsmall tub would cool me down, I ordered a generous scoop. It was one of those places
\nthat leave you spoiled for choice, but whilst tempted by mango, I opted for the
\npineapple ice cream \u2013 what is it about that fruit that is so tempting?<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nupper parts of Funchal, <\/b>towards the seafront, I realised I was back in the maze
\nof narrow back streets where we had walked the previous day. I was tempted by a
\nsmall, local fish-restaurant, where patrons could sit outside, and enjoy a meal
\nwhilst watching the world go by. With menus in English,<\/b> and photos to guide one,
\nI opted for a freshly grilled sea-bass \u2013 highly recommended according to the friendly
\nwaiter. Served with some freshly cooked, boiled potatoes and garnished with parsley
\nand butter, it was the perfect lunchtime meal. A glass of Coral Stout<\/b> – the beer I’d missed out on the day before, went down
\nwell with my meal, as well as being another tick on Untappd.<\/b> <\/p>\n
\npay the bill. As I was counting out the cash, the waiter, and the chef, offered
\nme a glass of \u201cPoncha\u201d,<\/i><\/b> a traditional alcoholic beverage, made with sugar cane rum,
\nhoney and lemon juice that is popular in<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/em>Madeira. <\/b>The rum was
\nover-proof, so this shot, which was on the house, had quite a kick to it.\u00a0 <\/span>A nice place, though with good food, nice surroundings
\nand friendly people, what more could one want? <\/p>\n