We mentioned in an earlier blog that we skipped the first two ports due to bad weather which made for dangerous docking. The good news was the Captain announced we would now be staying overnight in the port of Funchal, Madeira. Madeira is an island off the coast of Portugal and a Portuguese territory. This gave us two full days to visit the beautiful island.

We traveled 1,486 miles with rough seas from Southampton, England where we boarded the ship to Madeira. The island of Madeira is approximately 400 miles off the coast of South Africa.

The two days we were there the weather was partly cloudy and hot. The first day we took the Hop on Hop Off bus around the island. It is such a beautiful, picturesque place. The kind of place we would perhaps think about spending an extended length of time except for the fact it is extremely hilly. Wherever you would walk would involve lots of hills. If only we were younger!

We wanted to visit the highest cliff in Europe and the second highest in the world, Cape Girao. At one point we had to get off the bus and take a smaller bus up the mountain over narrow, winding roads. I don’t know how even a small bus managed the steep, twisty roads. Along the way we saw many banana trees.

The Madeira Flag

At the top we paid three Euro each to walk out onto a skywalk or suspended glass platform where you could look down and see the cliffs and ocean 1,902 feet below. Several people could not get themselves to take that first step onto the platform. You have to convince your brain it is okay to take that step. I didn’t think the experience was nearly as scary as the glass platform at Willis Tower in Chicago where you look down and see all the skyscrapers beneath your feet. The bus driver gave us 25 minutes there which was enough time to enjoy the views. We then got back on the bus and made our way back down the twisty mountain.

Hanging Angel Street Art

We then re-boarded the larger bus as it continued around Funchal and eventually dropped us off at the cruise terminal.

The next day we took the ship’s shuttle bus to the cable car, a very popular tourist attraction in Funchal. When we arrived at the cable car station there appeared to be at least 200 people in line in front of us. Fortunately they have a separate handicap accessible entrance we were able to use that put us right at the entrance where you get on the next cable car. A man there with his wife in a wheelchair said he felt so guilty going in front of all those people. I told him I would gladly wait in line if I was physically able but I am not so I don’t feel bad about bypassing the line. My past experiences with cable cars is it is hard to get on a cable car because it never completely stops. I was really worried about possibly falling getting on or off. But when the operators saw us standing there they slowed the car down as much as possible and with Bill’s help I was able to get on and off safely. The ride up the mountain took about 15 minutes and had lovely views of Madeira.

At the top we walked to the 18th century “Sanctuary of the Lady of Monte”. There is 52 steps in front of the church and an additional 68 steep steps going up the hill to reach it. I wasn’t able to do the hill or the steps so I waited below while Bill went in.

Emperor Charles I of Austria died in exile and is buried there.

There are two ways to get back down to the city below. One was by cable car. The other choice was by the popular tobaggan wicker sleds. You sit in a tobaggan for two people. Two men climb on the back and push you down the mountain for a fast, curvy, exhilarating ride.

There was a very long line of people waiting to ride. I would have done that in a heartbeat if it hadn’t been for my back. I don’t think my spine surgeon would approve. Maybe we will return someday and we can do it.

We took the cable car down.

We had a great time in Madeira and would love to return again someday.

Next up: Santa Cruz, Tenerife in the Canary Islands part of Spain