The city of Funchal on the island of Madeira, Portugal was our next stop. It is said the name was chosen due to the abundance of fennel (funcho in Portuguese) growing on the island. With the weather so amazingly cooperative thus far on our trip, all systems were still a go, as we had sunny skies and cool temperatures. We hopped onto our bus and headed to Camacha, a small village in the hills east of Funchal. We took a few panoramic pictures at the tippy top, but Lilly was more interested in the little playground at a Catholic school at the top of the hill. We spent most time there on the see-saw. The island is famous for making baskets, other wicker goods and Madeira wine, so we picked up some goodies in the souvenir shop.
Then we headed to Pico do Arieiro, Madeira Island's third highest peak at 6,000 feet. Again, like the Canary Islands, the drops on the side of the roads were truly scary. I saw no road at all when you looked out the window; nor did you see any fences/guardrails to keep you on the road. I kept telling the other passengers not to lean too far to one side of the bus. Seriously!
Our last stop was the highlight of the day. We drove to another village, Monte. Here, they are famous for their "toboggan ride." Originally it was used by the people living in Monte as a fast means of transport down to Funchal. To ride, you load two passengers into a toboggan sleigh-like car and slide at high speeds on narrow, winding streets down to Funchal. These two-seater wicker sleds glide on wooden runners, pushed and steered by two men dressed in white cotton clothes and a straw hat, and who used their rubber-soled boots as brakes. Lilly went with Ruth and Mario in the car but was upset I did not go with her. I had to go in with a stranger to move the line faster at the start of the ride. Our drivers were supercool and stopped midway to pass Lilly to me so she could ride with Mommy the other half ride down.
The downhill journey took about 10 minutes. At the pit stop we were at the perfect vantage point to take pics in front of our ship, docked in the waters below. I have to say Funchal was like an island of flowers. There were blooms everywhere. Although it was spring, the guide said the island was in a constant state of blooming buds, which really made it picturesque.
Marbella, Costa Del Sol was next. First stopping in Malaga, Spain, we took an hour bus ride down the coast to Puerto Banus, Marbella, playground to the Euro-rich. We skipped the scheduled guided tour and did our own thing. We walked to the beach where Lilly again had a blast at a playground. Then we visited the old quarter of the town with its narrow streets leading to the Plaza de los Naranjos - (Orange Tree Square). We drove another 20 minutes to Puerto Banus, an area lined with designer boutiques, restaurants, hotels and the marina, which is home to large yachts. We wandered along the promenade and people-watched and then stopped at an outdoor café and had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and GREAT coffee! It reminded us very much of St. Tropez.
