Entry for November 24, 2007
Just reading a travel bulletin board where someone wrote in complaining about the pesky timeshare people in Funchal, and the amount of times they got stopped whilst here on holiday.
Having lived here for 4 years, I can honestly say I have never been stopped once, let alone been hassled by anyone. In fact the last time I remember ever being stopped was on the Canary Islands, many years ago, and although I wasn’t rude to the guy (I just said I was too busy and not interested) he then proceeded to follow me through town and try and tell me that the scratch card he was holding was a guaranteed winner for a video camera. Eventually he lost interest … that is until the next day when he saw me again.
I am not keen on this sort of hassle, especially when on holiday, so I can sympathise a bit with the people who complained.
Now I hear you ask … how have I managed to go 4 years without ever being stopped. The answer is easy … I just don’t into Funchal. I have a close friend who works in time share, so I hear a lot about what goes on, and it sounds a fascinating world, with a sprinkling of alcoholics and drug addicts, where everyone knows each others business, and where after work meet-ups with a few beers are used to analyse the days events and soothe the stresses.
I hear times are hard at the moment, and that success and failure are seasonal beasts, yet I also hear of new ventures and shake-ups in the timeshare world that would indicate the industry is alive and well.
You guys have a tough job, and I admire you for your courage in doing something I could never do … and it just remains to say that with a bit of politeness and mutual respect from both sides, I don’t see why anyone should have cause to complain.
