One Woman so many blogs
  • Home
  • Animals
    • Animals Matter
  • Christmas
    • Get set for Christmas
    • Advent calendar of giving
  • Cookery
    • Cookery Matters
  • Gardening
    • Garden Matters
  • Events
    • Events and festivals
  • Health Matters
    • Good Health
  • How Tos
    • How do you do that
  • News
    • News and views
  • This and That
    • Bits and Bobs
  • Travel
    • Travel Matters 1
    • Travel Matters 2
  • About
  • Contact
  • Cookie policy
Visiting Gibraltar
Ferens art gallery Hull
York
Jewish trail York

Floating garden Madeira

25/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Even now I am not as well travelled as many people my age but I have been lucky enough to visit a fair few places I guess. As with most things in life it is all relative.

There are still so many places that I would love to visit and any of these could become a favourite but one that provides very fond memories is the Portuguese Island of Madeira which I was lucky enough to visit in 2006.

I love Madeira because:
  • The people are lovely and friendly. They are rather reserved and very polite but if you are respectful you will soon fall in love with them.
  • The temperature is around a constant 74 degrees Fahrenheit day or night, spring or summer. Madeira has its own sub tropical climate and is always pleasantly warm.
  • If you pick the time of year to visit accordingly you will not experience too much rain, if any.
  • British Tourists tend to be a little older, as in aged over 50.
  • But that usually means you will not find your hotel swamped by young children or classic lager louts.
  • Families visiting though are always welcomed with open arms. It is just that the average age of visitors is 50 plus.
  • The island is so beautiful. The climate ensures that flowers grow larger than elsewhere and grow anywhere and everywhere.
  • The interior of the island is volcanic and has a plains area, huge mountains, hills, remote villages and a non-commercial feel.
  • Flying time from the UK is relatively short and flights are available from most International UK airports.
  • The Madeiran people have invested time and money constructing modern roads. Getting around the Island is easy.
  • Restaurants and cafes are clean and serve delicious meals for a good price. They are also very clean.
  • Accomodation. as via a package holiday can be costly.
  • Locals speak Portuguese but most speak some English. Use a few Portuguese words if you are able. Obrigado, thank-you, always goes down a treat.
  • The island has many interesting places to visit. There are splendid churches, the usual shops, small villages, larger towns and a wealth of history.
  • Traditional local dance troupes and Fado music.
  • The Island's capital, Funchal which has everything you could possibly want.
  • As a volcanic island there are no natural sandy beaches but a few man-made ones.

The nearby island of Porto Santo is a beach lover's paradise.

Our vacation also included good company. We were lucky to meet up with a lovely couple from Yorkshire and enjoyed each other's company.

All in all a wonderful holiday and a place I would love to experience again.

Is there any wonder it is often called "A floating Garden"

Tourism Madeira
0 Comments

Gardens of Monte Palace Madeira

6/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Madeira
The islands of Madeira are situated of the North West Coast of Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean and are Portuguese. They lie above the Canary Islands but below the Azores. Traditionally these are a holiday destination for older holidaymakers. Typically the age of those holidaying on Madeira is fifty plus. When we visited a couple of years ago we were just the right age but that was not why we chose to visit.

WHY MADEIRA?
Madeira is known as a floating garden. This is because of its sub-tropical climate. We had read that it was beautiful Island, had little if any trouble, would not be overrun with screaming children and was a great place to visit. Holidaying on Madeira is not the cheapest vacation you can take but it can represent good value.

CANICO
We stayed a little way outside the Island's capital Funchal in a small resort called Canico De Baixo. Our accommodation was four star and a little more expensive than we would normally pay but it was worth it. Having had some holiday accommodation that left a lot to be desired the Oasis Atlantic was sheer heaven for us.

We visited Funchal on the local bus and found that the cable cars for Monte were just next to the bus station. Perfect. Our more recent holidays, such as this one, see us carrying a digital camera and so we were able to take some really good photographs.

THE CABLE CARS
You can pay for a single or return ticket on the cable cars. Many people choose to return via the traditional sleds which are pulled along the steep streets by local men. We watched these from the gardens and decided to give it a miss. If you choose this toboggan remember that you do not have to accept and pay for the photograph unless you really want it. Do not let yourself be pushed into buying. Similarly as you embark onto the cable cars you will be snapped, like it or not. This image is then flashed to the top via computer link ready for you to purchase as you disembark. Again say no if you do not want it.

The Cable cars were fun and do give you some spectacular views over Funchal and its bay. They are never extremely high as the earth rises from Funchal up to Monte. However I guess they are not for those with a fear of heights.

MONTE
The small village of Monte has a few gardens open for you to wander around, for a fee of course. You can stroll around the village though and take in the lovely clean air and scenery. There is another Tropical Garden which we did not visit which is accessed via further cable cars from Monte.

We just visited the Tropical Gardens of Monte but oh what a visit.

Our visit to Monte Palace and gardens

Monte has a beautiful church or two, cafes and more. When we arrived at Monte village we just seemed to end up in front of the Monte Palace Gardens. It looked a good place to visit and while away an hour or so, and in we went. Included in the price of your entrance fee is a leaflet which has a map of the Gardens.

There are buildings which hold displays and these were  interesting. When we visited, one had African art, another precious minerals of South America and another a Japanese display. These buildings were lovely and cool compared to the daytime heat and humidity. There could have been more but I cannot recall.

There were some toilets here and my advice is use them. You never know how long it may be before you find any more.

Near here there was a Japanese garden which was lovely and calm.

As you wander around the gardens you will come across all sorts of peculiarities, strange plants and flowers and different garden layouts. On we trekked like the explorers that we felt.

Two hours later we appeared to be in the depths of god knows where.

Looking around all we could see were trees and plants, but at least we had the map, I hear you say.

Well hubby is a lovely guy and not very bad tempered but when he blows he blows.

As the heat got to him, and I guess a feeling of desperation, we tried in vain to get to grips with the map. Too late. It was crushed into a tiny ball and pitched as far as he could throw it and I did not even dare to laugh out loud.

Of course we did later.

We found a lake, a waterfall and Monte Palace, which was not open to visitors but you could peek through the windows.

Another hour or two later we came across a restaurant. Hallelujah. As I hastily headed for the toilets Hubby got the sustenance ordered. When I returned he had also acquired another map as the restaurant had a ready supply on the counter.

A kindly waitress showed us just where we were and how to make our escape.

Don't get me wrong it was a lovely place and I would visit again but next time I would be prepared.

We just had not realised how big a place the gardens were.

Essential requirements
  • THE MAP
  • PLENTY OF BOTTLED DRINKING WATER OR THE LIKE
  • A SNACK IN CASE YOU GET LOST
  • LOTS OF TIME TO FULLY EXPLORE
  • PERHAPS EVEN A PICNIC LUNCH
  • SUNSCREEN
  • A LIGHT COVER UP. ALTHOUGH PARTS ARE SHADY YOU COULD GET CAUGHT OUT WITH THE SUN OR THEN AGAIN YOU MAY FEEL COOL IN THE SHADE
I guess the gardens were not that massive but we were still a little tired having only just arrived on the island of Madeira a day or so earlier and we had not allowed enough time for our visit.

Worth a visit?
Yes Monte and the gardens are definitely worth a visit. Monte sits high over Funchal and on a clear day the views are really special. The cable cars and toboggan rides add to the fun.

The toboggan though only takes you back part of the way into Funchal town and you will either have to walk the rest of the way or take a bus or taxi.

The cable cars take you back to near the bus station and the coastline of Funchal.

Set aside a whole day or decide to visit Monte more than once in order to give all of its attractions the attention they deserve. Remember tourist trinkets will be more expensive at places such as Monte. Shop in Funchal instead.

Even if you do not take a toboggan ride watch those that do for a great laugh.


More:
Gardens of Monte Madeira
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Where in the world do you want to go today? One Woman uses personal experiences to show you some of the best places to visit in the United Kingdom and beyond. Enjoy!

    Archives

    March 2020
    May 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All
    After Sun
    Albufeira
    Algarve
    Attractions
    Austria
    Benito Mussolini
    Beverley
    Beverley Minster
    Binebecca
    Binebecca Beach
    Bridlington
    Cancel A Vacation
    Carbis Bay
    Cayton Bay
    City Of Culture 2017
    Ciutadella Market
    Clifford Tower
    Comino
    Cornish
    Cornish Riviera
    Cornwall
    Coronavirus Pandemic
    Crete
    Cyprus
    Day Trip
    English Heritage
    Exiled Homosexuals
    Ferens Art Gallery Hull
    Funchal
    Gardens Of Monte Palace
    Gibraltar
    Gibraltar Apes
    Goathland
    Godshill
    Godshill Isle Of Wight
    Godshill Model Village
    Gozo
    Greece
    Greek Islands
    Heartbeat Country
    Historic City Of York
    Hogmanay
    Hull
    Hull Museums
    Isle Of Wight
    Italy
    Jewish Trail York
    Kingston Upon Hull
    Leith Docks
    Madeira
    Mahon
    Mahon Market
    Mahon Organ Recitals
    Malta
    Marazion
    Maritime Museum Hull
    Marmaris Turkey
    Menorca
    Menorca Markets
    Menorca Rain
    Menorca Weather
    Menorca Windmills
    Model Village
    Monte Madeira
    North Yorkshire
    Open Exhibition
    Paphos
    Popeye Village
    Portugal
    Robin Hoods Bay
    Royal Yacht Britannia
    Santa Maria Mahon
    Santana
    Santana Houses
    Santana Madeira
    Scarborough
    Scarborough Castle
    Scotland
    Sicily
    Sicily Day Trip
    Sound Of Music Country
    Spain
    St Ives
    St Michaels Mount
    Street Life
    Summer Holidays
    Sun Creams
    Sun Lotions
    The Rock
    The Shambles York
    The Shambles Yotk
    Tourism Cornwall
    Travel Diary
    Travel Diary Cornwall
    Travel Plans
    Visit Beverley
    Visit Cyprus
    Visit Gozo
    Visiting Crete
    Visiting Turkey
    Visit Madeira
    Visit Malta
    Whitby
    Wilberforce House
    York
    York Minster
    Yorkshire
    Yorkshire Dales
    Yorkshire Museum

Picture
                  

British Pancake Day and recipe
How to care for a dying dog
Varifocal specs
PAT dogs

Featured:
​102 minutes that changed America
Kingston Upon Hull City of Culture 2017
Travel - Mahon the capital of Menorca
(C) 2020All Rights Reserved

NewTekWorld News Here

  • Home
  • Animals
    • Animals Matter
  • Christmas
    • Get set for Christmas
    • Advent calendar of giving
  • Cookery
    • Cookery Matters
  • Gardening
    • Garden Matters
  • Events
    • Events and festivals
  • Health Matters
    • Good Health
  • How Tos
    • How do you do that
  • News
    • News and views
  • This and That
    • Bits and Bobs
  • Travel
    • Travel Matters 1
    • Travel Matters 2
  • About
  • Contact
  • Cookie policy