The last day and my final post

Jim went on walkabout to get some local shots, starting with the front and back of the hotel.

We found this supermarket rather late in the week, good prices too!

Jim's favourite bread & cake shop.

You found everything at Joe's, including very reasonable wine.

Just up from the hotel where we were picked up for our excursions.

Yellow taxis everywhere.

Les all dolled up for our last evening meal,

a plentiful buffet of local dishes washed down with excellent wine. Fab!
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That's it from me. A big thank you to Jim & Les for letting us hi-jack their holiday and even steal many of their photos for your delight. Don't forget www.anenglishmaninlatranche.blogspot.com is still going strong!

Evening fun & last day in the hotel

We finished yet another busy day by treating ourselves to a famous Madeiran espetada (beef kebabs cooked on long metal skewers) complete with traditional dancing and singing.

A beautiful start to our last full day,

finally going German and sampling the sparkling white wine FOR BREAKFAST!

My mermaid in a last dip - sadly the weather was to change later  in the day.

Cable car ride

What better way to spend the afternoon than a return visit to Monte, but this time in the cable car, a fantastic ride with amazing views as can be seen here.

The cable car station on the waterfront at Funchal. 

An aerial view of the street with all the artistic doors.

We loved the intricate patterns made with the roads and tunnels.

No wasted space: can you see the allotments and channeled river between the roads??

Jim being serious,

Jim & Tine being normal!

Les looking photogenic,

and your faithful blogger videoing with his iTouch!

The fish market & return to Funchal waterfront

The coach dropped us back in Funchal so we decided to wander around a little before aiming for the cable car back up to Monte! First stop the fish market, most stalls empty by then.

Some might remember the tiled mural on an earlier post with long black fish.

More information on the Espada can be found here http://www.love-madeira.com/espada-fish.html - it makes a fascinating read!

Not sure what fish this was but it sure was ugly!

A closer look at the cruise liner we'd seen from Monte. They stop at Funchal most days.

An interesting statue

The former Beatles' yacht, once again.

This olive tree is allegedly over 2000 years old, slightly bigger than ours!

The girls did a bit of shopping whilst the boys had a bit of local culture...

...and a local pint! 

Toboggan ride at Monte

The last stop of our half day tour was Monte, high in the hills above Funchal, It is famed for its botanical gardens (J&L visited them later) and it's 'toboggan' ride down narrow streets.

View over Funchal, cruise ship moored up for the day.

Yet another beautiful church with tiled mural.

The toboggans are made from wicker with two wooden skis beneath. Here the 'carreiros' are unloading for the next willing tourists.

Anybody game?

A couple of takers. Does your faithful blogger look a little apprehensive here?!

The toboggan is controlled by two 'carreiros' with strong ropes and feet for breaks.

Jim & Les's view at the end of their ride...

...and ours.
Videos available for viewing chez nous!

Curral das Freiras (Nun's Valley)

Curral das Freiras (Nun's Valley) is an isolated village where the first road suitable for vehicles connecting it to the rest of the island was only built in 1959. The story goes that in 1566 nuns from the Santa Clara convent in Funchal fled from French (!) pirates, finding sanctuary here.

Sister Dave of La Tranche?

What better than a mid-morning break with locally grown sweet chestnut cake

and a drop of the local brew ('ginja') made from cherries?

This is where we were earlier taking our own Google maps photos!

Another beautiful church with a very ornate interior.