Darren, Dianne, thanks for the welcome back.
Today I'm posting pics from our first stop, Funchal, Madeira. Rough weather delayed our arrival and we got there in the evening of the day we should have got there in the morning. However it meant we had time to go ashore then plus all the next day - but we would have to miss one of our stops in the Cape Verde Islands (more about that later).
The weather in Madeira was just right for me - low 70s and little humidity - very comfortable. First impressions were how green it was - and flowers everywhere. But it's not like that in the mountains as we saw the next day. Still, the warmth was lovely after leaving a misty damp Britain in mid-October.
- First sight of land after four days - the outlying islands of Madeira
- We won't have to rely on the promenade deck for our exercise for a day or two
- There were already two cruise ships in harbour when we arrived - floating brick P&O Ventura dwarfing the German Aida
- This rock wall was opposite our berth in Funchal
- These trees were also opposite. High up on a rock wall a bit further along
- An old fortress and foliage, taken through a gap in the roof of a walkway
- Pinnacles and palm tree around the cathedral tower
- Artistic doorway in the Old Town of Funchal - there were lots of others, all different
- Cable car up to the village of Monte, above Funchal
- Running statue in seafront gardens