Adventurous Maite: 28-Madeira (Portugal): 16th July 2014

16th July (Wednesday)

My last Wednesday in Madeira. We took a stroll along the Marina Funchal and in the afternoond we visited Boca dos Namorados (Miradouro) and the Jardim Público da Ajuda

Picture from the car

In Pingo Doce I found Valencian potato chips from Papas Vicente Vidal (only 0'59 cents!)

Drinking a cup of coffee in the coffee bar of the Anadia Shopping Centre

Marina do Funchal

Boats in the harbour in Funchal

Purchasing two tickets for the Santa Maria de Colombo (I went with my friend André Silva who was working everyday except Sundays, so I bought also his ticket)

More pictures at the Funchal Marina next to the watercraft

Awarded the European Blue Flag, the Marina of Funchal is an appropriate infrastructure for the support and development of water activities, sports or leisure. Located in the Bay of Funchal, is an integral part of the Port with the same name. The location of this marina, which is physically connected will the noble city of Funchal, provides its users an open door to a city that has an outstanding environmental quality, aesthetics and a mild climate

Mar Azul Restaurant in the harbour of Funchal

Taste of Madeira - Wine and gift shop

One day cruise to Porto Santo less than 60 euros

In the vicinity of the marina there are several services, such as

public transport, taxis, banks, supermarkets, bars, restaurants and more

Avenida do Mar. A visit to Funchal isn't complete without a walk along this Avenida

Madeira's flag

Advertising poster of the CR7 Museum

The rear of the Casino

Molhe Fort (Fortaleza do Ilhéu de Nossa Senhora da Conceição) totally embedded into the port's infrastructure. It's small, but heavy fortification, today part of the port of Funchal. The fortress was build on an islet not linked to the land, but was later connected by a concrete road and walls. This fort is often unnoticed by visitors because it blends in with the pier

Departure point at the Funchal port - Nau Santa Maria de Colombo

Harbour ticket office and meeting point for all Santa Maria do Colombo trips

Cannon sculpture overlooking the harbour

The meeting point for the Santa Maria Pirate boat trip is in front of

their main ticket office at the harbour, where the boat departs from

Fishing vessels

Forte de São José (The Fort of Saint José) which is in Molhe da Pontinha

(Cruise Ship Terminal). There is a restaurant called O Molhe :)

The Santa Maria ship at the port

Avenida Arriaga, next to the Ritz Madeira, one of the oldest cafes and restaurants in Funchal, located on the main street opposite the beautiful municipal gardens

Palácio da Justiça do Funchal (Courthouse) - Stone fountain

In the afternoon, going to the civil parish of Jardim da Serra

One of the most important spotlights of Jardim da Serra

is definetely the Boca dos Namorados viewing point

This amazing viewing point offers visitors a fantastic

view over Curral ads Freiras and Funchal Bay

Boca dos Namorados (Valentine's Viewpoint), is together with the Boca da Corrida, the Quinta Jardim da Serra, Pico da Torre and the Cape Girão one of the most important tourist landmarks of the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, this of course not to mention Eira do Serrado that although not part of the county owes its importance to the beautiful landscape of the Curral das Freiras (Nun's Valley), which you can enjoy from it...

Although now relegated to the abandonment, Boca dos Namorados lived heydays and was once a mandatory point of visit for the tourists. Every day tourists would arrive to Estreito Câmara de Lobos and would admire the Cordilleras of the tallest and grandest mountains, going and returning by foot or being transported in a net carried by two men

Boca dos Namorados was for many years a crossing point for those who wanted to move down to Nun's Valley, due to the pedestrian path that connects these two points. At a time when cars have not yet reached the Nun's Valley, people from all over the county joined in Boca dos Namorados waiting for the pilgrims who returned from the feasts in Nun's Valley. There they would gather next to improvised stands with food and drink, feasting and singing...

Enjoying our visit to this beautiful and magic place with hills and valleys

With the three lovely sisters

Having fun together

Balancing act

Enjoying ourselves!

Going to São Martinho

Jardim Público da Ajuda: beautifully maintained gardens

Jardim Público da Ajuda is a garden located in main tourist area with lots of green spaces, a children’s playground and a variety of plants and flowers native to Madeira

Playful dogs ^_^

Green bananas

One of the most emblematic areas is the garden’s 6 species of Dragon trees “Dragoeiro” and the pre-existence of banana plantations in full production. Here visitors may also enjoy a classic game of “Petanca” lawn bowls with two practice fields

Beautiful aparments with swimming pool and really nice gardens

This is a great place to relax and having a beautiful walk

There is a recreational area (restrooms, drinking water, benches and tables, sport fields, ping pong tables, etc.) where people can also have a good time practising sports