Back in Funchal, Madeira

One of the Canary Islands, Madeira, Portugal is the last bit of land before sailing off across the Atlantic to America.  Funchal, the largest city on the island, is a popular cruise port.  We’ve been here a couple times, but there is always something new for us to see.  Click 2013 and 2016 to see pictures from prior visits.

This visit, we took a bus up the hill above Funchal to the village of Monte, which is 1800 feet above sea level.  This is the old train station where the bus dropped us off.

A popular touristy thing to do up here is ride a toboggan, on the road, down part of the hill back toward Funchal – controlled by two guys with a rope.  We did not do this.  But I took pictures of the crazy people who did….

   

This looks like an accident waiting to happen to me!  This is the first turn, then they wind back and forth down the hill – on the street – with cars around.  Will remembers doing this when he was a kid on a visit with his parents.  (They were returning to the states after his father’s army posting in Italy in the 50s.)

Our Lady of Monte is a church on the hilltop with great views.

 

You can see our ship, the Prinsendam, in the harbor.

A chapel from 1489 stood on this hill.  It was rebuilt in 1741 and again in 1818 after an earthquake.  Charles I of Hapsburg, the last emperor of Austria, died here in 1922 and is buried at this church.

   

We wandered through this pretty little park.

   

 

We took a cable car from Monte down to the waterfront. 

Looking back up the hill.

   

Time for a snack!

 

As a result of a flood in 2010, some engineering work uncovered remains of old stone-built structures, along with the stone pavement of the original Customs Square.  It was also known to be the location of the Pillory from 1486. 

Ribeira de Santa Luzia

Funchal Cathedral

And back to the port.

Sailing away from Funchal, on our way across the Atlantic and home.

This was a great trip!