Blogs from Madeira, Portugal, Europe - page 17

So I went to Madeira and took loads of photos there. Here are some. More to come.... read more

C'est fini, presque, pour cette fois. Je termine sur une note festive et canavalesque. Het is bijna voorbij. En ik eindig mijn verhalen over deze periode op Madeira met een feestelijk carnavalsverslag. It's almost over. This is the last story about this stay on Madeira, a cheerful one on carnival. Saturday evening at nine we had a (relatively) small fireworks display to announce the start of the float parade. Last year we'd seen the fireworks and the parade in the rain. This year the day was sunny and the night clear, but rather cold, only 12 degrees. Poor boys and girls, scantily clad in their flimsy veils and feathers. They were dancing away to keep themselves warm. No such luck for the people who'd bought tickets to watch from the bleachers, they must have been frozen ... read more

It has started, carnival 2011. The streets of Funchal have been redecorated (some of the festive lights were still there from end of the year festivities), and yesterday there was again humpah humpah music in the streets. Lots of children have dressed up and are dancing in the streets to entertain the people. The newspapers reported hotelowners very satisfied with their occupancy rates. But not just that, also some very good guitar music by two italian guys. And I like to share al that happiness ! You can see more carnivalesque pictures on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60855&id=100000507281655&l=4659f5f76b Yesterday a new coffee shop opened near us. High time, we thought, because they have Illy coffee, which is still our favourite, together with Nespresso. So we went and had a coffee, which was delicious. And free, because of the opening. ... read more

We'd seen the junk Nuthin Wong still swying in the harbour of Funchal for the harbour of Funchal for the past few weeks, and wondered when he'd be leaving. Last Monday Clive was back on the pier with his folding table and several copies of his book. He told us he was waiting for a video camera to arrive. It was held up in Porto for some reason, but it should arrive the next day. Never send anything through Fedex, he warned us. The camera would serve to make films in addition to his blog and in the end make a DVD of his voyage. Anyhow, as soon as the camera had arrived, they'd leave. Originally he was to go back to Canada. But while in Madeira he'd received an email from a old friend who ... read more

Een week geleden wilden we we weer eens echte toeristen zijn en hebben we ons aangemeld voor een vaartochtje met de catamaran Seaborn II. Op zoek naar Flipper. Uit de haven wegvarend om half elf, legde een van de bemanningsleden de werking van het zwemvest uit. Daarna vertelde hij dat achter hem de bar was, die iedereen natuurlijk al gezien had met de duidelijke bierpomp, en de flessen poncha en madeira. In de haven was het nog rustig vaarwater, maar eenmaal buitengaats werd de deining steeds forser. Paul loopt nogal snel groen aan op zee, maar op een catamaran heeft hij veel minder problemen. Wel is het belangrijk dat hij een goeie zitplaats kiest, liefst in het midden van de boot waar de schommeling het minst is, en de blik op een vast punt richten wil ... read more