FUNCHAL TOUR #1
The tour begins in the island's main city of Funchal. It's
a city for walkers and comfortable shoes are a must as the
sidewalks are constructed of beautiful black and white mosaic
tiles. There is a lot to see in the downtown area, but the yellow
city buses offer convenient access to the outlying areas such as
Monte and the Botanical Gardens.
Standing on the wharf across the harbor, it looks as if you
are facing an amphitheater. The land rises gradually from the
shore up to the mountain peaks. At night the sounds of traffic
and barking dogs bounce around the "bowl."
Walking from the shore area up to the center, you pass a
variety of sidewalk cafes. Near the center of the city is the Sé
Cathedral. Standing in the front entrance of the Cathedral you
look out down the Avenida Arriaga, Funchal's "main street," with a
canopy formed by jacaranda trees. By this time you would have
noticed the sidewalks with their patterns formed by the black and
white mosaic tiles.
Along the sidewalk next to the Sé Cathedral you will find
the flower vendors. Ladies dressed in the traditional Madeiran
folk costume sell a wide variety of beautiful flowers grown on the
island.
A short walk from the downtown area will take you to the
Farmers' Market. By mid-week the market is crowded with vendors
selling their fresh fruits and vegetables. At the far end of the
open air market is the fish market. At its busiest in the early
morning, the smell of the fish still lingers long into the
afternoon!
It's time to stop for a break- lunch or dinner at a
sidewalk cafe, or perhaps a cup of coffee. We'll save the glass
of Madeira wine for the second half of our tour of Funchal-
something to look forward to after the sled ride from the village
of Monte, down the mountain into the city.
