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Funchal - Madeira
The square inside the Collegio Church
view of funchal from the cable car point in monte
O Abade
Hi all, This is a strange but urgent question.... my uncle had a heart attack while on a cruise ship, i have been informed it docks in madeira tomorrow (dont know time) i have searched the internet and found only funchal as port for cruise ships (hope i am right!) but i would like to know what hospital is he likely to be transferred to? All i know it has a cardiac unit!!
Really hope someone can help.. in any way possible even docking times!! any info grateful.
Thanks so much, very grateful for future replies x
It’s pretty sure to be Funchal, there are 2 hospitals in Funchal, but only Hospital Cruz de Carvalho has an emergency service (tel. 291/70-56-00). Your consulate may already have been informed:
http://www.madeirahelp.com/consulates
It's most likely Funchal. Keep in contact with the cruise ship personnel to find out what's happening. Docking times are usually in the morning, but you don't say what cruise or ship he's on. All good cruise ships have physicians on board, although you certainly want to see your uncle in a cardiac unit ashore for more specialized treatment. Good luck and best wishes!
If it makes you feel any better, we were in Funchal two years ago and it is not a "back water" location. I am sure they will have the best medical care available.
I agree with James. Madeira is a Portuguese island, so I would guess that most of the physicians and medical personnel have been trained in Europe.
Thank you guys for all your answers. it is very much appreciated. cheers
hope he has a speedy recovery.warm regards, laney
The harbour in Funchal is a bustling place with numerous watercraft waiting to take tourists on trips along the coast or on fishing trips. Many cruise ships dock here too - a favourite pastime seems to watch them enter and leave the harbour.
Madeira's almost five century old capital is said to have been named "Funchal" because of the abundance of fennel (funcho) that was growing here. We visited the city of Funchal a couple of times and by simply walking over the streets of Funchal we found and saw frequent examples of the wonderful artistic and architectural heritage of the city. Beyond the limits of the city, the roads way up the hills or the small rural towns give evidence of a way of life which is now rare and which has its expressions in the small isolated chapel, in the large manor house, in the fortresses and in the very typical rustic construction.
We found out that the the entire city can be easily explored by foot and no matter where you start you will find no difficulty in walking into the main city to delight at its sights and sounds. Just by doing this we reach Fortaleza do Pico, also known as Forte de São João Baptista. We must be honest by saying that it's very difficult to miss the Fortaleza do Pico, because this fortress is situated at a mountain that towers about 110 metres above the city. Of course this used to be an excellent point of defence against possible enemies. For us it meant that we had to take a strenuous walk to reach the fortress via the road Calcado do Pico. But it was definately worth it.
Address:
Calcado do Pico, Funchal.
Directions:
The fortess is visible and reachable from Quinta das Cruzes.
Are you nervous about taking your baby or child on a plane trip? You aren't alone, most parents are nervous about it. We have moved with Iris to Madeira by plane this holiday and drove some distances by car on the island itself and we learned a few things that hopefully will help you.
General:
Bring books, old favourite toys and new surprise toys. Do remember that balls are not a good idea as they can end up anywhere! Our best buys were definitely books, especially sticker books are great! They can peel the stickers off, are glossy, have thick pages to turn easy, have bright colours and come in endless subjects. They're a nice break from the other books your child might be tired of, too. Put aside fears of setting poor eating habits, and bring on the snacks! We told Iris: “Welcome to the world of boredom eating."
Plane:
If your child is big ask for earplugs as soon as you board the aircraft. Make use of them for take-off then save them for landing as the crew may not have any fresh ones left by then. Also let them eat candies, this helps the kids tremendously if they don't know how to pop their ears.
Car:
Toy bars meant for stroller use are a big help in the car, as they often feature toys plus a snack cup, and are big and easy for you to grab from the front seat for refills. During the car trip it’s always a good idea to play a game and sing some songs. It sounds rather easy, but it does work!
Finally:
We only have one last statement! Just do it! Don’t be afraid that it might go wrong. We have learned this, because we have been travelling with Iris from the beginning. She was only 6 weeks young when we had our first short vacation and stayed in a hotel. Iris has been used to it rather fast and (maybe because of it) has always been an easy kid to get along with.
This company had 2 lines, the yellow and the blue one and you can try both with the same ticket (within 24 hours). The blue line does a piece of city centre and then goes to Camara do Lobos, while the yellow line goes only around the city centre showing some more interesting streets.
As all the sightseeing buses they also have audio guides on board in many languages (Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, German and Italian)
You can purchase tickets in the kiosk at the seaside (Avenida do Mar) and probably on board as well.
When you walk from Funchal's hotel zone to the city centre, you come accross two beautiful smaller parks: the Jardim de Santa Catarina built on two different levels and the Jardim de São Francisco. Both are free entry and it's a very nice connection between the hotel zone and the city.
More pictures in my Jardim de Santa Catarina travelogue.
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