Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Josie … the military parade at the weekend marking the Funchal 500 celebrations.

Source : Diário de Notícias 28/5/2008

After the mention of the Ilhas Desertas (Deserted Islands) in yesterday’s blog, the headline story is about a fourth endemic species of bird found there. The marine bird ‘Freira do Bugio’ or ‘Pterodoma feae’ has been found to be exclusive to the region. There are similar birds in the island group of Cabo Verde, but genetic blood testing has shown that they are sufficiently different to be counted separately.

In a ‘survey’ carried out Tuesday in Funchal, to mark European Day of Neighbours, most Madeiran people considered that they have good neighbours. They could could turn to their neighbours for help in difficult moments, ask them to keep an eye on their home when absent, ask for ingredients they lacked when cooking, or just have a friendly chat when the opportunity arises.

Some of the strawberries being sold on Madeira have been tested and found to contain pesticides. Unfortunately it is not clear where they are from or where they are being sold.

Travellers from Funchal to Câmara de Lobos should find an easier journey starting from the end of this summer, when the first phase of a new €18 million road will be opened. Most of the 1.2km new stretch is through tunnels. Later phases will make Câmara de Lobos more easily accessible from other directions.

Following the part in yesterdays blog about energy savings, and how not to make them, an online-survey underway shows what people here are doing to cut energy bills.

Little or nothing  16% 

Taking cold baths  2% 

and I bet if it wasn’t for the special deal on energy efficient light bulbs at EEM, then that wouldn’t be the top response!

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Anyone use Skype to make their calls, through the internet? They have introduced special subscription packages to allow unlimited ‘free calls’ within Europe and worldwide. In a special promotion that finishes the end of this month, you can have your own telephone number in the country of your choice (limited) so people can phone you, and free calls to that same country for a year. I paid just under €20 for that deal for a year.  Also there is a new version of Skype software available that cuts down on the amount of connection time, and promises to improve on the situation with ‘dropped calls’ (and with 2 calls received by me in the last 24 hours, so far it seems to be working).

www.madeira4u.com

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