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Tips on Madeira
- Thread starter essbee
- Start date
Find and drink a bottle of Blandy's 1952 Verdelho, through an evening sitting at a table with a sea view. You can thank me on your return 
Daffy Duck
Stop bloody moaning!
Don't know if the place is still there but near the top of where you get the wooden sleighs, there's a large winery selling loads of different types of Madeira wine, from the very sweet through to very dry and you get loads of free tasters.
Probably to calm the nerves when you get in your sled. It's a pretty hairy ride but the guys who guide you down are amazing.
And, as others have pointed out, close you eyes when you come in to land. You'll see why when you get there.
Probably to calm the nerves when you get in your sled. It's a pretty hairy ride but the guys who guide you down are amazing.
And, as others have pointed out, close you eyes when you come in to land. You'll see why when you get there.
pasty
A different kind of pasty
Oh yeah, Blandy's. We also did the tour round the Wine Lodge which was good as well.
Blandy's Wine Lodge
Blandy's Wine Lodge
Bombadier Botty
Complete Twaddle
- Jun 2, 2008
- 3,258
Defo do cable car (can do wooden sledges at the top) and hire car is a must - you'll spend most of your holiday driving through a series of tunnels though! As said above driving can be hairy on narrow, sheer drop winding narrow mountain roads but the interior has some stunning and verdant scenery and some great little out of the way cafes selling cactus juice etc. Go to old town Funchal for food in the evening, great scuba diving from some beaches. Enjoy and don't do anything Ronaldo-related!
If you stand at the marina looking out to sea, is 'the old town' off to the right?
We stayed in big '70's looking hotel just above a (the) casino, in that direction.
I ask because instead of walking the main road to and from the marina we'd walk the roads running parallel further back.
That's where we found some great little restaurants serving simple & delicious meals.
If that's 'old town' that's a must.
Bombadier Botty
Complete Twaddle
- Jun 2, 2008
- 3,258
Opposite direction I think Stat, looking inland from Marina it would be on your right, several wooden buildings, cobbled streets, there's even one red house there that's got 'Arsenal' painted in big letters across its front, very strange. The main drag of old town does however run parallel to the main road a little way back from it....hmmm...
That'll be the cable car and fish market direction?
It would appear the back streets of Fungal in either direction from the Marina are awash with good food.
Parque de Santa Catarina is nice... very well tended... fountains, flowerbeds etc... there was lots of construction work going on along the seafront and marina when we were there... looked like it would be very smart when finished!
Madeira? – My memory? – An island transformed into a giant, fantasy scalextric.
Some years ago, armed with a seemingly unlimited EU budget, the island’s road system was modernised.
Construction strategy? – Straight lines! – i.e. Shortest distance between two points!
Result? – Mile after mile of blasted claustrophobic tunnels though the mountains – mile after mile of abyss defying viaducts over the ravines….
Great and challenging racing conditions for the local Hamilton wanna-be’s - who seemed to be just about everyone else on the road; but for us in our littl’ol, rather under-powered, 2 door timid rental it was just a little bit intimidating.
Don’t get me wrong - back home – I’m quite macho – in my 0-60 in next to nothing, turbo, Southwick Tunnel is a “pussy-cat”, as is Hindhead, Dartford, Medway and all other U.K. tunnels I’ve taken on. QE2 Bridge? Nice view! – M48 Severn crossing? Yawn! – 1960’s built Shoreham by-pass flyover/interchange? Bring on those gales!
I did like the island – and would happily go back. However, if I decided to car-rent again, I think the astute preparation would be a visit to Thorpe Park to take on some of their beasts in order to acclimatise just a bit
.
P.S. The cable car is pretty scary, also - Big drops! – Gosh! I’m such a wimp.
Some years ago, armed with a seemingly unlimited EU budget, the island’s road system was modernised.
Construction strategy? – Straight lines! – i.e. Shortest distance between two points!
Result? – Mile after mile of blasted claustrophobic tunnels though the mountains – mile after mile of abyss defying viaducts over the ravines….
Great and challenging racing conditions for the local Hamilton wanna-be’s - who seemed to be just about everyone else on the road; but for us in our littl’ol, rather under-powered, 2 door timid rental it was just a little bit intimidating.
Don’t get me wrong - back home – I’m quite macho – in my 0-60 in next to nothing, turbo, Southwick Tunnel is a “pussy-cat”, as is Hindhead, Dartford, Medway and all other U.K. tunnels I’ve taken on. QE2 Bridge? Nice view! – M48 Severn crossing? Yawn! – 1960’s built Shoreham by-pass flyover/interchange? Bring on those gales!
I did like the island – and would happily go back. However, if I decided to car-rent again, I think the astute preparation would be a visit to Thorpe Park to take on some of their beasts in order to acclimatise just a bit
.
P.S. The cable car is pretty scary, also - Big drops! – Gosh! I’m such a wimp.
AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
Went there twice, the locals really friendly and as already mentioned the scenery is stunning
Gary Gurr
New member
Reids for afternoon tea.
The local drive like idiots
It rains a lot.
The basket ride needs brown trousers
Don't worry of someone removes your luggage at the airport, it does turn up up in your room
The was an old boy who sold stuff from the back of a van called Reg the Veg.
I made the last one up and its been a few years since we were there last.
Hope you enjoy it
The local drive like idiots
It rains a lot.
The basket ride needs brown trousers
Don't worry of someone removes your luggage at the airport, it does turn up up in your room
The was an old boy who sold stuff from the back of a van called Reg the Veg.
I made the last one up and its been a few years since we were there last.
Hope you enjoy it