People back home started missing me. Sis feels that we have been gone for ages, time to go home.

I don’t know. I have mixed feelings.
Madeira is like a safe haven, a protective cocoon, a shelter from the troubled world. You can leave everything behind and just be.

Yeah, that is how I feel…All you have to do here is JUST BE!

Just be yourself ! You might say that vacations are always about relaxing, having fun, getting away from the daily routine. Right. But I honestly believe that even if you live here, your mind is relaxed, your mood is brighter, your smile is more sincere, your heart is warmer.

That’s Madeira.

This time it feels even shorter, we had less then 2 weeks here. Each and every time I leave , I have a list of new things to do, to visit, to discover.

We have visited Fanal, in the middle of the Laurissilva Forest. Admired the beautiful hundreds of years old trees, met some cows, helped my son to get of a tree he so willingly climbed up to , but couldn’t get down. Imagined it in fog -which is almost always the case or so I was told- while the sun was shining brilliantly.

Wowed to go back in fall. We ended the day at Seixal, admired the gorgeous black sandy beach. Surrounded by mountains it almost felt like you are in a lagoon. Another must go back place.

A dear friend took us on a different levada walk, this time we started off at Santana on the Levada do Calderao Verde. We didn’t go all the way , not enough time for that, but it was an incredible experience.
The huge trees, their roots, the waterfall, just the scents of the forest. And my son willingly walking even rrunning at times was a bonus. That is what happens when he has company of his own age. He must be so bored of us by now.

Spent quite a lot of the time searching for the right property, yes, international property hunting is still on. The deal is not done yet, but we found something.

And eating, drinking,at all sorts of places. We jokingly sad that we should get payed for this. For having great cappuccinos at the Ritz and at the Storia del caffe in the Forum Madeira. Visiting the O Solar da Santola for their octopus salad and Quinta do Carmo red wine.

Tried the Zona Velha restaurant, must be honest, only because our favourite one was full and did not feel like waiting. Had octopus carpaccio for the first time, it was fresh, salty, tasted like the sea.

Our son was almost solely living on fish and chips with mushy peas courtesy of the Ritz – he ate the fish, and his Dad got the chips, I had the peas – and the famous Brisa apple.

Had more cappuccinos and delicious ice cream at the Reid’s Palace or at the Cliff Bay Hotel while enjoying the beautiful views of the garden and the sea.

Discovered that the new Pestana CR7 hotel which Ronaldo did officially open on Friday – even though many of the planes could not land again because of the cross winds, his obviously did – does amazing pina coladas, one more thing ticked off my list.

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday they have a bar up by the pool with the incredible view of the city of Funchal in front of you, the ocean to the right and the Santa Catarina park to your right.

The hotel itself is nothing special, looks more like a motel. Being so close to the harbour is an advantage and disadvantage at the same time. You‘ve got great views, however the cruise ships and the ship that takes you to Porto Santo anchoring right in front of it, puffing smoke continuously is not a pleasant experience. Not to mention the noise.

Sadly the food is forgettable, ok pizza , and a weird soggy chickpea burger. Did not eat much, so figured I could have dessert.

We ordered a banana cheesecake. On a slate plate we got some sliced, sugary banana and a glass filled with some sort of cream with slices of bananas in it . It was the most horrible dessert I’ve ever had, tasted like almost rotten fruit.

Never mind, no need to eat there again, but easily forgave them after 2 pina coladas.

And La Ao Fundo. Our favourite. If I come to think of it, we had dinner there almost every other day. They even keep our wine there for us, if we happen not to finish the bottle.
The best ever.
I didn’t realise that they are so new, they will be 2 years old in December. We have been going there for over a year.

It is such a great feeling when you go there and they greet you with sincere joy. I honestly believe that they really mean it, not just a customer attracting gimmick. No need to tell them, they will bring the wine you love, the Brisa for our son, the little dishes of appetisers – which are free, not like in Algarve where they made you pay for it in the end – they prepare the shrimp for A. without salt and with extra chilli. She will come and grate extra lime zest on to my risotto because I told her once I love it like that and she remembers.

I got carried away a bit I guess. Must be hungry.

Tonight is another night there. As matter of fact time to get ready.