9th of July

Wish I could start every day like this. Was out of the house within 5 minutes of waking up. They all told me that no one is crazy enough to walk up to the Club House. I guess I am! Love proving people wrong. That’s what gives me the final push, the last bit of courage to do something that other’s think it’s impossible.

Come from a family where putting me down was an every day occurrence . The last thing I heard from my Dad before going in for my entrance exam to the university was ” You will not succeed!” Of course I did.
I not only walked/jogged up to the Club House, I went a little further, to the Casa Velha Do Palheiro. It’s not the distance what makes it difficult, it is the steepness of the road leading up to it. Did stop several times to enjoy the incredible view of the city below, the endless ocean and the flowers everywhere. Everywhere I look I see African lilies ( Agapanthus) , purple ones,white ones,lining both sides of the streets combined with some blue hydrangeas. The local soil must be high in Aluminum and have a low pH level.

Kept taking pictures of them, haven’t seen this many before. In 2012 there was a fire raging in the Palheiro Estate. Since then they planted thousands of indigenous trees to replace those that were lost in the flames, but it takes time for nature to recover. Even here, where plants grow so fast due to the excellent climate of the island.

This was my me-time, needed it so much. Someone close to my heart told me to be selfish. He is so right.
Found my son again on the iPad, same arguments as usual. Difficult when the father of my son doesn’t support me on this. I am the evil mum, who doesn’t understand him, can’t imagine what a boring life he has without it, nothing to be done, oh so boring. Almost felt sorry for him.

Took it away,hid it in my bedroom.
Ex greeted me with the news of booking a hotel in Porto Santo for next Tuesday. When he knew full well that’s my levada walk day. Never mind, quick change of dates, the lady was really nice about it. This way I got them to walk in the Santa Catarina park, the booking kiosk being next to it. Did enjoy it, even though they have much less flowers than in April.
Had a leisurely lunch of salmon with some veggies while my son was contemplating on his life without his beloved friend, The IPad.

Funniest moment of the day when Abdullatif received a mail confirming his booking in the Pestana Grand hotel in Funchal. Instead of booking it in Porto Santo he made a reservation in the hotel we used to stay before he bought this property. Took him some few phone calls to correct it. Luckily they found us a room in the Pestana Colombus. We were relieved, we already bought the tickets for the ferry to take us there.

Meanwhile I was going through the various brochures picked up earlier.
So many choices, all of them are so tempting.
My favourite is a whole day trip to the Desertas Islands. It became a Nature Reserve in 1990. The reserve is divided into two zones, one of them is prohibited for visitors. It would take about 3 and a half hours to get there. On the island you get to have a guided tour, chance to swim in the ocean, lunch on board and another 3 and a half hours sailing back home. You might get the chance of seeing some dolphins, mostly the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Stenella frontalis, the Bottlenose Dolpin Tursiops truncatus and some Pilot Whales.Last time to Porto Santo we saw quite a few of them, happily following us for a while, they are such amazing friendly animals.
The Desertas Islands are home to a vide variety of marine birds that breed there. The monk seals use it as well for resting and breeding.
One of my dream trips, yet to be fulfilled. Canyoning,snorkeling,surfing,swimming with dolphins, sailing in a glass-bottom boat just some of the other choices that one might choose from.
Haven’t mentioned the museums, the gardens, the amazing old buildings of the Zona Velha ( old Funchal). Maybe next time.
Finished off the day with another long walk along the ocean. Mishal went down to the beach, a pebbled one, not so easy to walk on it with high heels.

Madeira does have quite a few beaches where you could sunbathe and swim,but mostly pebbled. Wasn’t really a good idea since just a few days before departure I twisted my ankle in the parking lot of his school and it still feels very wobbly. The things you would do for your child.
Returned to the same restaurant for dinner. This time the atmosphere was different, nothing wrong with them,service was excellent as usual,just us, three of us were not very happy. Mishal was being his usual grouchy self, moaning and whining. It was late, no child should be out at time of the night, but then where to leave him? This is not a romantic trip after all, it is all about making our son happy. He ended up saying ” I don’t even want to live with you, seriously thinking of asking my friend’s mum to let me move in with them!” How ridiculous is that?

I know he doesn’t mean it, he is just testing me, wants to know how far he can go, just pushing his limits, but it still hurts, can’t believe that he is saying that.
Don’t want to make a scene ( lots of people around us), so just tell him to go ahead if that is what he wants and keep looking down at the fishes next to our table, loads of them swimming around. His dad is closely watching me, I can feel his stare, tells his son:” Your mother is really upset now!” On the way home in the taxi he tries to apologize, I wouldn’t have it. He gets into bed, wish him good night, assures him that we will talk about it the next day. Keep staring out the window, there is fog across the ocean, slowly creeping in, can feel it in my heart, my soul is freezing.

Turn around, go into his room, get into bed and hug him. With a deep sigh he goes back to sleep. Hug his small, bony body and taste the saltiness of my tears rolling down my cheeks. A mother’s love is unconditional. Tomorrow is another day…