An Account of Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese Island in the Atlantic, further North than the Canaries but still blessed with sunny weather for most for the year. Simple travel tips for possible Madeira visitors. 1. The Landing at Funchal Airport is always hairy. Pockets of air buffet the plane and you bank over the sea before planting the plane on a procarious runway. 2. Funchal is a lovely town, very pleasant to walk around and has great Cafes. 3. There are currently no smoking restrictions in clubs and bars so be prepared for a bit of retro nicotine air. 4. Madeira cake is quite nice - heavy, and frankly, one is enough. 5. The people mostly speak English. 6. The folk music is truly dreadful, and the folk dancing worse - be warned. 7. The food is excellent if you like masses of meat and garlic. 8. Portuguese wine is pretty good - but strong. 9. The cable car trip up the mountain is excellent value. 10. The basket sledge riding is fun but a con at 30 euros PLUS the cab drive back - another 20? The daytime temperature hovers around the early twenties in November and when the sun is out you can easily catch a sun tan. We arrived and came together on a Friday evening and had a lovely dinner, after a drinks reception on the terrace of a 5 star hotel suite, given by the great hotel Manager. The next day was the business sessions where we spoke for an hour, and then that night a traditional meal in the hills followed by folk dancing. Jeremy was dragged up to dance and that was, frankly, hilarious! Then down to the nicotine infested casino and nightclub. Where, frankly, I mixed my drinks a bit after being constantly topped up by Jeremy and a former champion jockey, Freddie Skelton. The next morning I would have preferred to stay in bed as one chap did, instead of embarking on a treasure hunt (no treasure and not much of a hunt) around Funchal. I was asked to join a top team including two senior people and a sponsor who seemed happy to let me lead them around! My focus was simple, win the treasure hunt, and at the very least, beat Jeremy. And we did! I won a bottle of disgusting local drink. It was presented to me in Reid's Hotel during High Tea - which was very special. The final evening was a gala dinner which was in an amazing marquee, followed by a karaoke night! Some of you will say, it sounds like a holiday.... no it was work. Honestly.