For today's excursion we wanted to drive on the mountain roads in the West of Madeira. About the motorway it went to Funchal and then right through a steep valley into the mountains.

Somewhat laborious our little Nissan Juke tormented up the sometimes very steep roads. But compared with the rental car, with whom we were on the mainland road, it was still quite sporty ahead. Bald hatten wir die Abzweigung zur Passstraße erreicht und standen kurze Zeit später vor einer Straßensperre 🙁 So ein Ärger. Since the selection of roads on Madeira but is quite low, we beat back the already successfully tested route along the north coast a.

In Sao Vicente we decided spontaneously, pay the volcanic caves to visit. When we reached the visitor parking lot, We were very relieved. No coaches awaited us, obwohl in Funchal gerade wieder vier neue Kreuzfahrtschiffe angekommen waren 🙂 So lernten wir in den nächsten eineinhalb Stunden eine Menge über die Entstehung der Inseln in dem kleinen Museum, which was located right next to the entrance to the caves. The half-hour walk through the Gotten itself was nice, aber nicht besonders spektakulär 🙂

Passing Porto Moniz we were driving on a small road along the west coast. Quite accidentally we discovered a really incredible vantage point. Before us, the coast was almost 600 Meter ab! From the top of the houses and gardens in the valley looked like miniature toys. With a small cable car (made in Germany :-)) could go down at an angle of 170 ° to the sea. Alone at the sight turned my stomach to. Keine zehn Pferde würde mich in diese winzige Gondel bringen 🙂 So tranken wir lieber einen entspannten Kaffee direkt am Abgrund und überließen das Gondelfahren den anderen.

The West of Madeira is traffic-technically not yet well connected to the rest of the island. On top of the ridge we found in the villages many empty houses, which would probably urgently want a skilled and motivated craftsmen. In part, it looked here but kind of bleak. This impression was unfortunately additionally reinforced by the gathering clouds.

We reached the port before the rain. According to the weather forecast it would probably also the next days are uncomfortable. Let's see, what will really happen. Wettervorhersagen sind ja bekanntlich ähnlich zuverlässig wie „Kaffeesatz lesen“ 🙂

Already on Wednesday afternoon we did with the first car a little exploring. First we went to the East Madeira. But after half a mile listen here to the civilization. The road ended at a large parking lot. Further explorations were only possible on foot. But after the morning dive we lacked the necessary motivation and purpose as well as the right footwear. The roads were definitely not suitable for "flip-flops". So we still enjoyed a bit of the view, before we opened us in the direction of the island's capital, Funchal.

The Way Funchal was also easy to find without sat nav. For a Navi in ​​addition to rent car, hätte den Mietpreis fast verdoppelt 🙂 Ähnlich ist es auch mit einem Kindersitz. The pricing of car rental companies in this respect is something borderline.

Even just 30 Minutes later we were there. Now we had to get rid of only the car. That was then, in turn, no longer as simple J But eventually we had a confidence inspiring car park found. We wanted to be sure, the car later there still to be found. As so often, we made our first on the way to the port. Maybe we wanted to move our SUMMER later but to Funchal? But after a short tour was clear to us, wir bleiben in Quinta do Lorde. On this day there were three Crusaders before cuiser terminal and it was accordingly fully. The personnel of the many restaurants tried more or less intrusive to win us as new guests at the marina. In addition, the entire waterfront was a huge construction site. The small marina is currently being converted into a large marina for us is a possible berth clearly felt uneasy at all with respect to.

After an onset because of the twilight pretty little old town round and a rather mediocre dinner, it went again back to the port. For tomorrow, we wanted the island exploration program but expand significantly.

We started quite early and had selected the North Coast to explore for the day. Somewhere you had to start somewhere. In addition, we hoped to impressive waves, which had been caused by the north by withdrawing depression. The narrow road snaked very picturesque and partly also breathtakingly close to the steep coast. In the small villages we saw the typical Madeira, thatched houses.

During our first coffee break, I also discovered the first wild poinsettia. I had known it, with great strides went on to Christmas. Good, dass wir schon einen Stollen gebunkert haben 🙂

So we dawdled along the coastal road with many breaks for exploration and discovery in the late afternoon until we "Port Moniz" reached. At the northeastern tip of the island rolled up big Atlantic waves, the spectacular breaking on the rocky coast. From land, we enjoyed the spectacle and were looking forward, that we knew our SUMMER securely moored in the harbor.

The return trip took us across the island by a wonderful green valley, the nick deep between the volcanic mountains. Anywhere on the mountain slopes saw terraces, where wine, Bananas or other things were added. Definitely a tedious job, because for large, technical aids was definitely not a place.

When we reached the port, it had already become dark. After dinner we sat for an hour on the JOY OF LIFE and could end this great day with a glass of white wine.