Christmas lights & New Year, Hotel occupation down, Via Rapida skater, & other snippets
TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Jon & Deb … “A few pics of the Christmas lights etc. for your perusal and blog submission….taken after “switch on” on Friday 28th ….. not all in focus, well it was cold! Just a point re beer/coffee costs at this end of the island …. a large beer never costs as much as two euro and coffee is the same price (Garroto, Chinesa = 60/80 euro) morning, noon and night – sometimes with a free brandy – we have NEVER been ripped of in any of our local restaurants! Totally agree with your comments re Funchal Fruit Market – we warn our guests …….. Info re dodgy tourist board bed allocation and the ability to actually fight illegal building works in the wings ….. New Year stuff! ” John & Deb are in Gaula (Santa Cruz) if anyone wants to try the local hostelries there.
Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 29/11/2008
With the rest of the Xmas lights in Funchal switched on Friday night, all that remains is to know the programme for the rest of the festive season. More than half the €4.6 million budget has been spent on the lighting, which has involved nearly 2,500 people. The street entertainment starts on Saturday 6th December (music and whatever else is normally done), with Friday 12th being a climax when street bands and folk groups join in.
New Year will be highlighted by the firework display provided by ‘Macedos Pirotecnia’, and will last 8 minutes on the theme ‘Alchemy of the Color’. 39 launch posts are being established (24 in Funchal, 8 coastline, 6 on the sea, and 1 in Porto Santo).
We seem to have a diminished Christmas lighting display in Rib. Bra. (not yet switched on). The odd thing is that this year the câmara (council) has completely lit up the municipal gardens with tens of thousands of LED lights. It looks very nice, but is a little odd, because most of the lights are at the back and cannot be seen by people in the town after the gates are locked before nightfall. I can see them as I am higher up, and so can the ducks and peacocks that live there, but that’s about it.
Hotel occupation rates are low at 51% for most of December as usual (58% in 2007), and new year is at 81% (95% in 2007). The secretary for tourism reckons that it is still early days and further bookings can be expected. I expect that observation covers Funchal, whilst elsewhere hotel occupation rates are expected to be at the same levels as last year, approximately 0%.
‘Madeira condemned by EU’. Madeira has to return €2.5 million because of a breach of law in funding obtained for the creation of public networks for information and learning in health, education and public administration. The breach has occurred because suppliers were used that did not properly qualify in the selection (tendering) process. The problem applies to Portugal as a whole, and not just Madeira.
The fifth fashion gala of Madeira commenced on Friday, with plenty of contributions from local designers, but also criticism due to the lack of heating and attendance by local dignitaries.
The other two front page stories were about football and politics and didn’t look too interesting so I gave them a miss.
Other news :
The sea lion that came ashore for medical treatment has been confirmed as having gastroenteritis, with problems in her liver and pancreas. She is reacting well to treatment, but her condition is “worrying”. The condition is thought to be as a result of injuries sustained two years ago that left her immune system vulnerable.
25 years ago Madeira became a pioneer in Portugal for the implementation and use of photovoltaic cells for generating energy from the suns rays, leading to a growing enthusiasm for renewable energy solutions of all types. With around 3,000 sunshine hours a year (and that’s official) what better place could there be!
Since the year 2000, Madeira has managed to reduce the number of annual workplace fatalities by 40%.
A young man of 20 years who took to the via rápida on roller skates has been identified by police. A 3 minute video of the event posted on the internet was used to identify the idiot, along with footage from the police security cameras. He now faces a fine of up to €600.
Portugal has produced has a list of the one thousand biggest companies, with just 13 Madeiran companies mentioned. The biggest is ELCA Cosmetics, (53rd), followed by Galp Madeira (187th) and Electricidade da Madeira (188th). The bus company ‘Horários do Funchal’ just sneaks in at 956th.
Only one of 15 amendments to the 2009 state budget submitted by the social democrat government of Madeira were accepted by the socialist government in the Assembly of the Republic. The overall state budget was approved in Portugal last week, with all the opposition parties voting against the socialist majority. The fight goes on then, and we can not only look forward to further divisions between Madeira and Portugal next year, but another fighting performance (and hopefully top entertainment too) from President Bertie.
Aside from your valued blog responses (you can reply direct using the form at the bottom of each blog comments page), please send any unreported Madeira news, topical photos, events information, or snippets for the madeira4u blog to blog@madeira4u.com – anyone can join in! Thank you!
Anyone home?
It must be chock-a-block with tourists in Funchal today. The newspaper says there are 3 cruise ships in with 7,300 tourists.
1–Der
I must admit to once walking along the via rapida from Assomada, accross the bridge, and up to Gaula. I think it was because it was a ferias and there was minimal public transport on offer that day. It was also during the construction of the Via Rapida as we know it today so was a little different. It was a silly thing to do I know but I enjoyed the views from the bridge at Porto Novo.
These days it's dangerous to drive let alone walk (which is prohibited) on the Rapida.
I wish there were more spot checks on speeding, vehicle conditions, and abnormal loads. It can be quite intimidating but if you keep yourself to yourself, go steady and keep calm you should be OK.
For me I was lucky. But I certainly won't be walking, let alone skating along the Via Rapida again.
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Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.
–Carlos
2Hi lots of good points today as I have said before can't they see it takes years to get a good reputation and thay are loosing it fast I am coming this christmas but I won't be staying in Funchal after last time. Funchal please wakeup before its too late, the tourist board should be working for you and telling the market and businesses how they are KILLING trade. And your elected bodies what are they thinking of cutting the budgets for christmas light's and fireworks that's what they are coming for at xmas-new year, it seems to be the same all over when we put then in office they must have there brains removed, I'am still coming this year but I'll have to think about next.
3–Alan
Having purchased an Apartment in Funchal we were looking forward to cheap and easy flight access. This year we want to spend Christmas with family in the UK, and visit Madeira between the 28th and 4th December. The only flight that we can find to accomodate our tight schedule, due to work commitments, is Easyjet. Cheap and cheerful? not likely, the cost is over £600 per person plus an overnight stay in a UK hotel, due to the early departure of the flight. We did consider whether it would be cheaper for us to visit our Apartment by Cruise Ship this year. Perhaps flight costs are a contributary factor to the hotel occupancy levels. Let's hope we go home happy!
4Hi, We had a great time in Funchal last New-year, good value for money at the Hotel Oquidea. We watched the fireworks from the hotel roof, right in the center of the city. The hotel is NOT in the hotel sector of Funchal (I hate all the concrete)
5The Market has taken a little stick the last few days and I think that part of the problem is that most markets have always used the haggle system. No one should be put off visiting this fantastic market, just remember that you can argue the price, in-fact you should argue the price.
Cheers
AlanF
A good thread tonight.
To the first Alan. We always tell anyone visiting Madeira for the first time to come over Christmas and New Year because of the Wow! factor.
However if the budget is continually cut for the festivities Madeira will still look nice at Christmas but I think the ‘Wowness’ will be lost. And for the people who come year after year they will see the holes beginning to appear and may feel short changed somehow.
I guess the cutbacks are because the government simply cannot afford it or are spending the money on other more worthwhile causes. (I hope this is the case. I am sure Der can help me out here).
But whichever government Madeira has they need to realise that Tourism is an absolutely vital part of Madeira and should do everything possible to protect and promote this industry. Without it Madeira would be in big trouble.
About the Easyjet flights.
I was tracking the prices on Easyjet when some of the new fares came out for next summer. To my amazement within hours the price had gone up 15 – 20%.
Of course Christmas and New Year is always a busy time as it is peak season in Madeira. I always look out for when the airlines release their new schedules and make sure I am one of the first to book to get the best deal.
Easyjet will be releasing their summer fares any day now so watch out!
A very good tip from Alan F there for anyone visiting the farmers Market in Funchal. Most Brits are uncomfortable with haggling because we are not used to it. However it can be fun trying to negotiate a good deal with the sellers. And if you are ever in any doubt just walk away. Also it’s a good idea to try and choose your own fruit or veg as leaving that decision to the vendor may result in him rummaging to the bottom of the pile to give you last weeks stock.
And even if you don’t intend to buy anything it’s still well worth a visit for the sights, sound and smells.
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Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.
–Carlos
6Easyjet will be releasing their summer fares FROM GATWICK any day now so watch out!
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7Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.
–Carlos
Im amazed the the prices have gone up so much with Easy Jet, as i was looking at flights towards the end of November, to the beginning of Dec, and i could get a flight for my mum for 6 nights, from gatwick, for just under 63 Euros RETURN, i think the price increases are stupid , and as soon as you know what dates you can come its best to book straight away, cause i dont think there is any such thing now as last minute deals, the more booked up a flight gets the higher the price goes, and with alot less flights coming to Madeira now from when they first started, im sure they will keep the cost of flights higher.
–Tobi
8Oh yes, the Easyjet honeymoon is well over. Like Tobi said get in as soon as the flights are published, as that is how their pricing system works.
As for haggling in the fruit market, that is a good point especially if you can overcome the language barrier, but the problem arises with fruit and veg with prices already on (that obviously one is prepared to pay), but as a tourist that is where the rip-off starts as some of the sellers then pile on the €uros for something you haven't got.
9–Der
Definately the farmers markets dotted around in various parts of Madeira such as Calhetta & Canhas are generally very good value. But it is the Funchal fruit, flower and vegetable market that is a rip off and lets face it that is the one that most tourists visit. We bought just 6 bulbs from there a couple of months ago, they were priced at 50 centimos each a total of 3 euros but unfortunately we only had a 10 euro note, the lady gave us 5 euros back and was extremely put out that we insisted she give us the other 2 euros.
10Unfortunately, whether we actually live on the island or just visit, the locals are under the false impression that all foreigners are well off and try to charge them accordingly.
We have got to the stage now where we just won't accept the "rip off" any more when we go somewhere we are not known and ask for the complaints books, invaribly we then get the extra money given back to us. OK so it's easier to just pay up and then go somewhere else but why should we, more people need to make a stand!
–Elaine