Funchal, Madeira

Madeira and its little companion island, Purto Santo, were mentioned by the ancient Roman Author Pliny.  He know about the “Fortunate Isles,” which is what the Romans called the Canaries, and then described his mysterious “Purple Islands” as being about the right position for Madeira.  Madeira was largely left alone until more recent centuries.  Sailors from Genoa noted its position and moved on, but it was the Portuguese who reaped the reward of discovery. Prince Henry the Navigator sent many expeditions into the Atlantic in the early 15^th century and Madeira was one of his first prizes.

Grape vines were imported from Crete and Cyprus, and sugar cane from Sicily.  Many exotic plants were also introduced from ships returning from every corner of the globe.  Madeira grew into a semi-tropical paradise known as the “floating garden”.  The early colonists developed a complex irrigation system of water channels called “levadas,” which are still in use.  They carry water from the mountain tops through the terraced farms, to fields and villages further downhill.  These ingenious aqueducts assured that the local wine and sugar industries would be second to none.

We took the shuttle to town and what a breath of fresh air from the Ivory Coast.  The 6 of us walked all day and thoroughly enjoyed the island.  There were flowers everywhere and not a piece of paper on the ground.  We strolled along the marina, of course, looking at the sailboats.  The last time Gary and I were here, we met a couple that had a boat in the harbor.  They had a small kiosk on the dock selling pictures they had drawn.  The one we bought now hangs in our aft cabin on the boat.  We had lunch at a local restaurant and all had fresh fish along with wine from Madeira.  It rained for quite a while, which is common here, but most of the rain came while we were eating.  There were a lot of embroidery shops selling tablecloths, bed linens and place mats & napkins, all with beautiful patterns. Tonight we sail for Casablanca.