Funchal

Lush mature trees in central Funchal.

 The Jacaranda trees were already showing their purple blooms and it seemed like every species of palm tree was represented in just one square block.

 

 A not-too-shabby house in the center.

 Church tower

 Looking down at our hotel pool. It was surprisingly quiet and serene poolside given the size of the hotel. It probably had something to do with the scarcity of children.

 

 

 Pai talked me into taking a very scary looking gondola up the hill.
These baskets are for sleding down with two men standing on the back to steer and brake. We didn't do it, but it did look fun!

 A couple from a cruise ship shared the gondola car down with us and took this picture.

 That night we went to a restaurant recommened by Pai's colleague who lives in Funchal. I think it was called Riso. The below street was lined with quaint looking places to eat, but they all had those annoying waiters that stand out front and try to lure people in. Here on the mainland- that amost always equals overpriced restaurants for tourists with medíocre food so we avoided them completely.

It was a great recommendation and we got a perfect table right against the cliff wall.

 a church we passed on the way to the restaurant

 The view from our table

It was the absolute perfect holiday and I know we'll be back soon!

An Anniversary Weekend in Beautiful Madeira

How Madeira was never on my list of must-see places is a mystery. This place is paradise! My camera battery died half way through the trip so I took pictures sparingly, knowing it would die at any moment, but even so I got A LOT of pictures.

I'll start with scenery, and then do a separate post with my Funchal pictures.

 

We rented a car and just sort of drove without any real plan other than to explore the island. One can't go wrong, because around every corner is a scene more spectacular than the last.

If you look closely, you can see the above church in the below photo.

We came to the north side of the island and decided to have a picnic up on what looked like an easy-to-hike hill. No trip with Pai is compelete without super human walking distances, the wrong shoes (on me) and blisters, so up a ridiculously dangerous hill we went.

 

 

Look who we met halfway up

Below is the hill we hiked.

 

Every valley had hidden majestic waterfalls that always stopped us in our tracks, or compelled us to pull over and get out of the car for a closer look.

Pai wins a gold medal for driving because not only did he manage the most perilous roads I have ever experienced, but he obliged all of my requests - on just about every bend in the road- to stop the car.

 

I think my Hollywood imagination took over as I half expected drug lords to burst out of the jungle in jeeps with AK47s. That never did happen, but lots of hikers with ski poles and appauling hiker clothes came out of nowhere when we least expected it.

There are most certainly more banana trees than people. I'm ready to plant a banana tree in our own garden ASAP.

I didn't get any pictures of the abundant, spectacular, prolific, flowers because of my camera battery, but the flowers were the best part. Madeira earns its nickname of the "floating garden," for sure.

This is a traditional island house.

 There are natural ocean pools that seem Disney-fake they were so beautiful.

 And mini waterfalls at every turn.

 We tried to get a selfie at the bottom of a small waterfall, but it didnt work.

 A valley on the north side of island

Note the road carved into the hillside below.

 

I would love to go back with the children when they are all old enough to do arduous hikes without complaint, and sensible enough not to fall off a cliff. For now I might just start planning next year's anniversary weekend.

 

 

Easter

I think I went a little too heavy on the video, and didn't get enough pictures on Easter Sunday. The weather was so uncharacteristically cold (in the 60s!) that no one wore their Easter clothes.

 

Moojie hid the eggs around the farm equipment and they each got five small  eggs and one large egg.

 

 

 

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 The boys had so much fun playing hide and seek in the tall grass. That Freddy was in a bright red sweatshirt was no impediment to a heated and fun game.

 Moojie's tree is still growing at na excepcional rate.

 Freddy's, on the other hand, is the source of great suffering, but I think he negotiated a switch to another more robust tree.

Misty Morning Walk

 

We went from hot seaside sun to the chilly fog-covered Alentejo for a few days of family time.

 

These mares roam free, but show up every morning for food and a little company. We didn't ride this weekend, but Sebby did get a chance to sit on a calf.

  Flowers were irresistable to Seb; he could hardly stand to pass a bush without picking at least one flower.  The hills were covered in thousands of these white flowers, wild lavender, and purple and yellow wild flowers.

 Freddy's grandmother taught him the names of all of the wild grasses, and how to tell which plants are poisonous and which are safe for the animals to eat. He soaked it all up and made sure to come and show me each flower and tell me a little bit about it.

 A spontaneous peek-a-boo break

The big kids were on teenagers-without-school time and joined for afternoon walks.

 We were on the hunt for wild orchids and did find these beauties as well as a rare red variety that I somehow don't have pictures of. Maybe I was too busy trying to keep Seb from picking them.

This is what I love about being in the Alentejo. We set off on long meandering morning walks, and by the time we get back to the house, it's almost time for lunch, of course followed by rest, and then it's time to set out on another beautiful afternoon walk. What's not to love about this schedule?