Madeira – 1st year cruising anniversary

We have now spent a week exploring “Grand Madeira”, the mainland of the Madeira archipelago. Tomorrow, weather dependent, we are off to Graciosa, a Canary Island close to Lanzarote, where we hope to be able to anchor for a couple of weeks. Madeira is very different compared to Porto Santo. The whole Island feels like you are permanently inside a huge greenhouse. Besides abundance of flowers and exotic “green stuff”, the island is also a heaven for geologist (we guess anyway). We rented a Nissan Micra for a couple of days and I felt sorry for the engine and brakes having to cope with a lot of 15 degrees slopes. Another big difference to Porto Santo is the lack of sand beaches. If you want a (safe) swim in the sea you have to settle with natural sea pools where the tide fills the pools with fresh seawater and makes it safe to have a swim. The swell on the windward (north shore) is magnificent and makes these waters great surfing grounds, several times of the year there is 8 meters waves before break on specific places on the north shore.

A spectacular view from Europe’s second highest sea cliff (580 meter sheer cliffs). As I (Peter) suffer from vertigo I kept a safe distance.

Cabo Lobos with nicely painted fishing boats

A nice dip in to the marina / hotel seawater pool

Door painting seems to be a serious business in Funchal

A brave swimmer

Madeira wine details

Eva calls the tulipe trees

Lizards, everywhere!

Almejas, our all time favourite, clams cooked in olive oil and garlic!

Limpas, I guess we need more time to appreciate the taste