Girls trip
Author: Laura
After the first exploration of the house, we started our girls trip with a relaxing yoga session at the pool with a gorgeous panoramic view. Afterwards we started planning for the coming days and enjoyed a cold Madeira beer on the side. The travel and hiking guides in the house, which can be used by everyone, helped us a lot.
We ended the eventful days by watching the sunset with a glass of wine at the pool, at the lighthouse of Ponta do Pargo or even at the wild beach of Caletha. To also experience the early morning hours in the mountains, we went to Bica da Cana for sunrise and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere there.
On some days we have conjured ourselves a menu in the house, but we have also had several opportunities to get to know Madeira culinary. Among other things, we were thrilled by the unique ambience of the Café Portinho directly on the sea in Jardim do Mar, here you can enjoy traditional cuisine and hot tip - very good sangria! On the beach promenade of Caletha we had numerous restaurants to choose from, here was something for every taste. We especially enjoyed visiting the Leme Marisqueira (Portuguese) or the Manifattura di Gelato (Italian).
As a balance to the good food, the movement may not be missing, so we have undertaken some excursions and hikes. A few tours have also combined well, so we have first been enchanted by the mystical atmosphere of the fairy forest in Fanal and then went to the natural pools in Porto Moniz for swimming. Here we also had some snacks and a Madeira Spritz with a beautiful view, the restaurant Sea View is highly recommended. Of course, we did not miss the famous levada hikes and chose the Caldeirão verde hike, which leads to a waterfall in the middle of the greenery.
We also very much enjoyed the coastal walk - Ponta de São Lourenço with its rugged rocky coastline and completely different vegetation. We also looked at the Risco waterfall, here it was a long way along the tarred road, but luckily there is a cheap shuttle bus to the top! Our most challenging tour was probably the Pico do Arieiro to Pico do Ruivo, that was not only exhausting, but also vertigo! But with perseverance and stamina we were rewarded with a breathtaking view above the clouds. After the effort, we deserved to swim at the beach of Calheta and relax at our own pool at home.
On our trip to Funchal, we also experienced quite a lot. We started at the Mercado dos Lavradores, where there were numerous stalls, but you should be careful because it can be very expensive. At Blandys, we went wine tasting and got to know the rather strong, sweet taste of Madeira Wine. Through the famous Zona Velha, with its artistically decorated doors and walls, we then arrived at the Rei da Poncha Bar, where we enjoyed the freshly prepared Poncha - beware, very tasty, but also very strong. For dinner, we went back to the Zona Velha, where we had a very good meal at the Ristorante Taberna Ruel. Funchal also invites you to go shopping in malls (e.g. La Vie - where you can also park cheaply or the Forum Madeira) or just to stroll through the many small shops and various cafés.
For us, one thing is certain: Madeira has not seen the last of us. There is so much to discover and experience here that it is worth coming back more often.