Hey :-)
Thanks for your message :-) My summer vacation is almost over, tomorrow I go back to work so it’s high time to write few words before I will drown in my daily routine. I wonder how could I describe my holiday trip to Madeira as I don’t want it to be some kind of lousy tourist guide writing all these things you can easily find in countless books, magazines described better way, I think I should concentrate on my subjective impressions instead.
I came back home just about Monday midnight, so every piece of my body, mind and thoughts are still full this atmosphere I was living for last week. I look outside the window and start to believe that some kind of curse is hanging over my head or maybe I was born under bad sign but rain and gloomy weather seem to harass me for last months…but as ancient Romans used to say “ab ovo usque ad malo” let me start from beginning :-)
I’ve got on Madeira last Monday at night, I was happy that plane landed on one of most dangerous airports safe and sound, so after getting to hotel I was sleeping like a stone and when I woke up I’ve realized that I should not count on a sunny weather, the southern part of island where I was living was covered with such a grey mist and it was less than 20 Celsius degrees. I’ve reminded about weather phenomenon that happen quite often there in June. I remember how I was laughing when my work mate said that he’s going to spend summer in Bretagne (France) that will experience only wind, clouds and smell of Cod fish, but the irony of our life is endless, he was enjoying wonderful weather and I was drowning in clouds and smell of cod.
First day I was trying to see most interesting places in capital – Funchal and take some pictures but I think it looks rather like taken on Polish sea not on southern island. I’ve visited museum of Madeira wine and then a huge market with fresh fishes, fruits then I was walking through the city looking for some fado bar to feel the climate of Portugal but instead there was everywhere (I know that it was only such a impression but still) extremely unpleasant smell of urine everywhere, my colleague was laughing that I have too sensitive nose but I was really happy to get out of time on second day. We decided to see some famous Levadas. First I was walking through the fog and temperature was about 14 I believe but then it became sunny and I could enjoy a Laurus forests and picturesque waterfalls on a black volcanic rocks. Then we’ve got on North of island and there was totally different world, full sun, azure blue sky and sea, it was just amazing to see that there’s sun somewhere near :-) Next day I remember mainly because car broke down in the middle of tunnel, fortunately my colleague was able to drive back a little bit. After driving all these crazy roads where you can use hardly 3rd gear (most of all first and second) the clutch burned down. I’m really impressed that these people are able to drive there, I thought that I live in mountains and we have bad roads but now I see that I have never saw mountain roads in my whole life ;-) Fortunately we’ve got a new car, better and stronger one and we were able to do some mountain route from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. It was fog and rain and people were looking at me like I’m an idiot as I was walking in shorts and sandals ;-) Now I realize it was quite dangerous but during the trekking I didn’t see precipices round because of fog. Then in mountain hut we were talking with some nice old man that didn’t speak English so we had to use language of signs and few Portuguese words, finally he realized that we were from “Polonia, terra do Papa João Paulo II” and he became even nicer for us ;-)
Last day on Madeira I’ve spent on beach full of rounded, black, volcanic stones watching waves and from time to time trying to get into water that was actually extremely cold ;-)
Before going back home we’ve visited Lisbon, and guess how was the weather? ;-) It was beautiful…rain, actually it was raining cats and dogs so instead watching monuments of history I was looking for some restaurant to find a shelter and something warm to eat and drink ;-) I only visited place where (according to legend) was born Saint Anthony as he was always one of these saints close to my heart. Only first hour in Belem district was quite good. Then we’ve visited Capo de Rocca the most eastern point of European continent and finally weather became better.
It’s a shame that even writing about my summer trip I concentrate on weather condition I’m sorry about it but it was definitely something that influenced my stay and my mood. Now I listen to my favorite fado singer Carminho, I’ve bought her new album on airport and it reminds me a bit about my trip while I try to face daily reality that hit me again with countless problems and things that I’ve left undone. I think it’s all I can write now, I have some work to do if it will not be raining. Hope that you’re fine, send you my best wishes, and smile. Take care and keep warm,
michal