Best Western Hotel Estrelicia Funchal

... tuxedo&#8217;s and the other half in jacket and tie. We have been going to Bolero&#8217;s for latin music after dinner to salsa off the calories and I must be doing something right because my hips have been a little sore the next morning. Between the onboard shopping, after dinner shows, different nightclubs and bars there is not a shortage of interesting things to do while on the ship. <br><br><br><br>Funchal is a nice little island that is a sovereign state under ...

On Sunday we got up, had breakfast and we went off on a tour organized by P&amp;O to the top of the second highest cliff in the world, and very spectacular it was. On the way we saw all sorts of plant life, including banana trees and the very colourfull South African trees, with very large red flowers. We passed through Camara de Lobos and on to Pico da Torre where a magnificent view over the cliffs down to the sea showed how beautiful Madeira is.

We arrived outside Funchal at about 12:30 and because Independence of the Seas had taken our berth, the ship anchored outside the docks and we went ashore in the ships tenders. Had a couple of hours wandering around the lovely town of Funchal and went back ...

... at cloud level. That is quite a site. Then we went down into Nun&#8217;s Valley where we got to buy some chocolate, Madeira wine, and special Rum with Honey and Lemon. That chocolate was excellent. The use a lot of chestnuts and that made the chocolate very tasty<br><br>Then the part that I waited for&#8230;riding the toboggan down the mountain. First we rode the cable car to the top of Monte which takes about 10 ...

Generally of a high standard, despite the occasional tourist trap, below are a few that are worth remembering.<br><br>Venture forth into the old fisherman's quarter, but be wary as there is at least one restaurant I would not deem suitable, forgetting the name not wanting to remember the experience and having left so fast. Distinguishing factors are a luke warm soup, congealed butter on the garlic bread fish dish that looked like puke and ...

... be stress free and relaxing, not reminiscent of a Benidorm special with attached waterfront drinking hole and jive club.<br><br>Having survived 7 nights of this hotel none of which have been particularly comfortable and or restful, had we known of the managements plans to serenade us till midnight three nights running, then to throw a gala event at the pool area overlooked by most rooms which resulted in the current racket outside, we would have selected alternate ...

... for a few yards and then take the path up to the old ice house. <br><br>For those of you who are tall be wary of the next section as at a point the path is cut into the mountain side and the overhang is just about 5' 6" which would be of no import, except that it is precisely where you are concentrating on the 1&#8217; wide path with the near vertical 500&#8217; drop to the left.<br><br>Just over half way the path folks just after what looks ...

East coast, a good and satisfying walk.<br><br>Take water as there is little or no facilities, only a small trailer which occasionally arrives. It was hot and sunny even though there was a fresh sea breeze and Funchal was under cloud. A good trick is to take a small amount of water out of a water bottle and put it in the freezer overnight.<br><br>Finding the SAM busses is not easy so allow time to locate the ...

... all be it a little lower down. <br><br>The start of the trail is to the right of the place name, in the car park just below the tea rooms. See photo. It is not marked in any way for whatever reason I do not know. <br><br>A point of warning: most of the path is laid to stone which has been smoothed with the passage of time and when wet can get very slippery, even when rain has not fallen for some days ...

... Part of Town<br>MADEIRA Island<br>PORTUGAL<br>PHONE 291225070 <br><br>Restaurante Juliu's<br><br>LINKS <br><br>MUSICIANS<br><br>Fado Singer Vera Lúcia<br><br>Fado Singer Ricardo Miguel Freitas<br><br>Portuguese ...