Adventurous Maite: 20-Madeira (Portugal) 7th July 2014

7th July (Monday)

A marvellous day in Pico do Arieiro and Caniçal!

Video chat through Skype. Talking to my mom and seeing my Dante!

Starts our adventure!

First stop: Terreiro Da Luta viewpoint

Lovely cats and dogs

Located in the parish of Monte, the Terreiro da Luta Viewpoint
allows you to enjoy the beautiful view over the bay of Funchal

This viewpoint is located in the parish of Monte, in the village where a monument was built and dedicated to Our Lady of Peace following a promise made by the Madeirans when the city of Funchal was attacked by German submarines in 1917

As well as the statue, there is a nice view over the bay of Funchal

From here you can see the Estádio da Madeira, informally known as Estádio da Choupana

Oh! Sweetie <3

The second stop of the route: Casa de Abrigo Do Poiso

Reference point on the island of Madeira for its location in the middle mountains (Poiso). The Casa de Abrigo do Poiso is known for its famous Poncha and Açorda from the time of our grandparents

Casa de Abrigo do Poiso is to enjoy typical dishes from the Pearl of the Atlantic

Having breakfast

Dining Room / Sala de Jantar

Driving inside the clouds...

It had begun to rain

Driving through the sky

To the highest point of the Poiso pass that is of approximately 1400 metres, one drives through a dense coniferous forest that is specially beautiful when the sun slightly gleams. Sometimes, the Needles cover a major part of the road, so that one feels like driving through a forestry road through the forest. Slowly, one gains altitude and get more and more curious what would be visible if the forest was not there. Finally, at a height of 1.500 metres, the forest thins out and is replaced by bald areas. Bracken, blueberries and different sorts of grass emboss from now on the picture. The mountain area appears to be dry and abandoned, but it's so fascinating that one repeatedly stops in order to enjoy the view, either downwards as also upwards

Totally inside of a cloud

I love to see pictures of that road

Driving up to Pico do Arieiro

Fantastic... The trip to the Pico do Arieiro from Funchal is already a big pleasure

There is an easy road access to the summit

A WALK IN THE CLOUDS - A truly memorable day

Pico do Arieiro at 1.818 m high (5965 feet), is Madeira island's third highest peak

The most spectacular mountain scenery on the island of Madeira, unparalleled panoramas, lush green valleys, majestic mountains towering above the clouds, precipitous cliff tops...

Finally, one achieves the mountain top of the Pico do Arieiro and first, one is shocked by mountains and amazing scenery; There is a huge parking place transmits the feeling that one is standing in front of a shopping centre somewhere in the city. Indeed, this parking place is always crowded, but there is a continual coming and going, as most of the visitors do not stay for a long time. Underneath the mountain top there is a mountain ressort (Pousada) with all conveniences for the tourists: restaurant, souvenir shop, little sales booths, toilets, etc.

The views all around are stunning with clouds floating over the
beautiful mountainous rock formations – it’s just impossible to describe!!!

Route map of the Vereda do Areeiro: This trail 7km lasts 3.30 hours and connects two of the highest peaks of Madeira: Pico Ruivo (1862 m) and Pico do Areeiro (1817 m)

It's a stunning walk, involves tunnels, and some steep slopes and fabulous views

When the weather permits, the south coast,
Curral das Freiras and even Porto Santo can be seen from here

Pico do Arieiro is one of the most visited places on the island, due to its easy access, extraordinary views and well known nature paths to Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo

The footpath northwards towards Pico Ruivo is an important
tourist attraction, with a daily average of 1000 tourists trekking on it

Centro Freira da Madeira Dr. Rui Silva

In 2011, an Air Defence Radar Station was built
at the top of the mountain near the tourist facilities

NATO Radar station

It was very windy!!!

Climbing the ladder

Extraordinary viewpoint above the clouds

I'll never forget these views and this amazing experience

The view was out of this world! It was an incredible walk in the clouds!

With Andreia and her mom (Carmen)

The souvenir shop

A large car park

I was fascinated by this wonderful place

Curved road to heaven

The flow of the clouds on the surrounding mountain

Immortalising the moments with my friend

Spectacular... One of the most impressive places I've ever visited

This place left me speechless!

On the way back to the Earth...

Again passing through the clouds!!!

It was raining again!

Portela, another viewpoint located between Porto da Cruz and Machico

CANIÇAL

We arrived at our second destination: Caniçal, a civil parish in the municipality of Machico

Islets on the north coast of Ponta de São Lourenço

Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço map: Along this way, you can marvel
yourself with the fabulous seascapes of the north and south of the Island

It's impossible to describe the wonderful feeling provided by the contrast
between the serenity of south sea and the rough sea of the north

In this gorgeous but windy zone you can discover and enjoy beautiful samples of unique fauna and flora species. Also there are curious rock formations, resulting of the volcanic origin of the island. Take a moment to appreciate the details

Cais do Sardinha is a tiny information centre near the end of the Ponta São Lourenço

The arm of Ponta de São Lourenço along the northern coast of Caniçal

Ponta de São Lourenço is one of the last nearly untouched places in Europe. Located in the eastern part of the island, this is the place where a fantastic combination of rocks, sea and nature created one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces

You can climb up the rocks and see very little evidence of man’s changes to the island. There are excellent views over both the northern and southern sides of the island and, when the weather conditions allow it, also on Porto Santo Island

On sunny days you can also see Porto Santo Island. The Ponta do Rosto Viewpoint, located in the northern part of the São Lourenço Peninsula, deserves special mention for its flora and fauna. From this viewpoint, it is possible to view both the northern and southern coasts of Madeira Island. On clear days Porto Santo Island may also be seen