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Mata de Nazaire park Madeira
Jeroen and Iris at the backside of the Fortress.
Madeira Story Centre
Black Scabbard Fish
Does Funchal have beach weather late November ? We are loking for some Winter Sun, around 20th November, and would rather go further for beach weather and maybe visit Madeira late Spring 2007 if its less than sunbathing temperatures -say low to mid 20s C / low 70s F
Hi check out the following link:
http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/weather2-uk.html
My parents used to live in Madeira we visted October nad December both times lovely weather!!! Ver good climate but not as hot as Canary Islands.
We went 3 January and had lovely weather
I used to work there last winter from November till March and the weather is very strange and unpredictable in Madeira! Till Newyear the weather was extremely nice with a lot of hot days and after that their were a lot of rainy days.
So when you go there you have to be aware that there's a good chance that it's gonna rain but that's not the end of the world because Funchal is not a plastic tourist place like most places at the Canaries but a proper town with nice indoor bars, restaurants and a very big shopping mall!
But of course it can be 25 degrees and very, very hot and then you will see a totally different Madeira but be aware that there are NO beaches in Funchal but of course you can always hang out around you're swimming pool!
I would recommend you a visit to Madeira because I really loved the place!
Greets,
Vince
I went last November 4-20 and December 04- Jan 05 both times we had good weather we even went swimming both times in Calehta (not sure of spelling) in Dec it was 27 degrees there one day. It may not be beach weather every day but you have a least 2 or 3 days and all the other just jeans and T-shirt.
Traditional dress, still regularly worn by flower sellers, is smart and colourful. The women wear a red woollen skirt decorated with green, blue and yellow stripes, along with an embroidered red waistcoat over a white blouse. The men sport a baggy white shirt and knee length trousers tied with a red sash. A carapuca, like a skull cap with a stalk. and a cape thrown over the shoulder, may also be worn, along with light coloured leather boots with a red stripe
Wonderful day out in Santana just after having this picture taken we saw a local woman going down the road with a huge amount of hay on her head, we both burst out laughing as you could only see her from the waist down , it was really comical.
As everywhere, this restaurant is also famous for its fresh fish. It's a very popular restaurant located on the first floor of an old building. It has a lovely small roof patio with a beautiful view on the zona velha and the sea. Their tomato-onion soup (popular in Madeira) was excellent. So were the fish dishes. Try espada with banana or espada madeira style (with madeira wine sauce).
NOTE: there's a meat dish called "espetada" which is not to be mixed with the fish dish "espada". Espetada is a skewer with roast beef ; espada is the fish you see on the pic. It's an ugly fish but it tastes excellent.
To be honest I found the cathedral a little disappointing - its not that big and the front is not as interesting as its rear! However as it was founded in 1485 it is one of Madeira's oldest buildings which makes it worth a peep.
Before you do compare the sombre front portal with its more lavish exterior at the east end. Here the roofline is decorated with minaturre minarets and the spire is glazed with tiles - known as AZULEJOS.
When the population of Funchal expanded and trade turned the city into a busy port, it came prone to violent attacks and needed citywalls to protect itself.
Fortifications were built and still standing in Funchal are Sao Tiago in the east and Pico in the west.
Fortaleza do Pico was built between 1622-1640 and stands on the hill on the far end of a steep climb through narrow streets. (Tip: it's an 1/2 hour walk from the citycentre and you'll pass Museu F. de Freitas and Quinta das Cruzes on your way up!)
Part of it is open to the public. The entrance and the courtyard give great views over the Atlantic and over Funchal city. One space inside is used for an overview of the fortifications of Funchal. Nice spot!
(you don't need more than half an hour up here)
Opening times: daily 9.00-18.00
Entrance is free
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