Now we know why we got an extra hour in Marrakech! We’ve been diverted! Hurricane Rafael is still churning away out there in the Atlantic – heading toward Ponta Delgada, our originally scheduled last port. In order to avoid any “discomfort” (i.e., rough seas), our itinerary was changed and we are now visiting Madeira today (Saturday) as opposed to Ponta Delgada on Sunday. Works for us! We love Madeira!
It’s a beautiful day too – cool, crisp, no clouds. We’re up early intending to find a rental car agency and drive around the island. But our searches for rental cars has come up pretty empty, so as we get off the ship and start our walk around the port, we decide it’s too pretty of a day to be stuck in a car driving around – we’d rather hang out in town and just wander. Good call!
We start our jaunt with a great cappuccino in a little café/bakery, then continue on into the main area of town, walking along the seafront promenade. The town is so pretty – all black and white architecture, with the beautiful cathedrale in the center of town. Walking around here is just a pleasure.
As usual we head toward the market, but before we get there, we visit a little side street that used to be the “red light” district and now houses all sorts of artist studios. the town wanted to clean up and beautify the area, so they gave it over to the artists who in turn have decorated their doorways with samples of their work. Great find! We were there early enough (of course, the early birds) so that most of the studios were not open yet and we could get a great feel for the art work. Just take a look at the next album….
Fabulous, right? That was just great!
So – onto the market, where we just loitered about – looking at all the fresh fish – the great espada (ugly as sin, but oh so delicious!), fresh tuna, you name it. Great seafood here!
Next the produce market with every vegetable and fruit imaginable – and everyone offering samples. Fun!
Then off we go wandering around town, window shopping and enjoying the day. I did a little more than window show, and found a great pair of short boots that are perfect with jeans and even tights and a skirt. And at one of the vendor stalls set up all around the cathedrale we found a cheap little kiln fired clay ashtray for the porch (no more beer cans or candy dishes!!!). Then we just meandered, grocery shopped for supplies (oh the vinho verde! 1.87 euros….ahhhhh) and supported the Madeira economy a little more with beer and wine at an outdoor café.
Then it was back to the ship, where we sat on our balcony soaking up the gorgeous weather and amusing ourselves with the antics of a sailing school – both sailboats and sail-surfing. those kids! Some of them were obviously more experiences than others, but, oh my! The sails in the water, bailing out the boats, one kid flipping the boat! That kept us busy until we sailed!
We stayed outside, watching the beautiful hilly terrain, stuffed tight with white, tan and terra cotta roofed little houses, glide past us as we sailed out of port for our 7 days at sea! Overall a wonderful way to end the land portion of our trip!
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