Bet you thought that was a cuss word, huh? Well, it’s not. It is Portugese for ‘fennel’ and the name of the largest city on the island of Madeira where we spent our first day on land since Fort Lauderdale a week ago. It is 300 miles due west of Marrakesh, Morrocco, which makes it half as close to Africa as it is to it’s home country of Portugal.
Madeira is Portugese for ‘woods’, because the island was, and is, covered with trees. And because of its mild climate, it is not only a popular vacation spot for most of Europe, but is a gardener’s paradise with abundant fruits, flowers and vegetables in addition to many eucalyptus. It is a volcanic island, and reminded both of us as a sort of cross between Kauai and La Jolla.
Our weather was a bit cloudy, but very comfortable at 65 degrees. We took a drive up and over, and then through, the series of ragged volcanic ridges and cliffs. Let me tell you, driving a huge bus on narrow one-and-a-half lane roads which twist and wind up and down the sides of the mountains is no little feat and a definite E Ticket ride for those of us (me) on the window side of the sheer drop off cliffs and vertical rock faces. There are no white stripes on the side of the road, much less any shoulder. Just me, the bus window and about four inches of space. Sometimes less, as when the trees slap against the window and sometimes more, as when the cliff drops away a thousand feet or so.
I did take a few more pictures, but only one on this device, so until I can get real wifi, this picture will have to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment