Floating garden Madeira

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