Madeira

Trip Start Jan 03, 2008
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Trip End Apr 27, 2008


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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Madeira, a tiny island in the Atlantic, and a haven for tourists from Portugal and other parts of Europe, would be a wonderful place to stay for a few weeks. Our day in Funchal was sunny and warm, and perfect for walking through the area on the leeward side closest to the sea. We did not take the funicular to the top of one of the peaks and avoided the ride down the hill in a basket-but we enjoyed ourselves exploring the little streets, wandering around embroidery and ceramic shops, and admiring the masses of flowers for sale on nearly every corner-and on display in the wonderful parks in the city.
There was a wonderful, two-story Mercado much like the open market we saw in Tahiti. Several flower stalls, fruit and vegetable tables, and vendors selling typical caps, embroidered goods, and, of course, Madeira.
We stopped for lunch at one of the small restaurants that dot the waterfront-and I had ravioli (it must be an Italian thing!). Jude and I sampled green wine (Vhino Verde)-which was the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon meal. The sun was warm and the sky was blue and the water just beyond the park next door was sparkling-it was a wonderful spot.
Later, we visited one of the oldest wineries in Funchal, a former Franciscan monastery, to taste Madeira made from several very different grapes, and made following very different processes-some have other grapes added, some are baked at a very low heat, some are aged in oak casks. The age of the wine, the grape used, and the processing make for very different wines-some better suited to accompany light meals of consommé, for example, and to complement desserts.
April 17, Thursday
Our trip across the Atlantic started out as a very quiet endeavor, with smooth seas, blue skies, and just a little bit of wind. The waves got larger and the wind was stronger as we passed to the south and west of the Azores, but the ship is rocking just enough to let us know we are on the ocean-not enough to be uncomfortable.
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