Ferry subsidy approved, Hard times in the Fruit Market, Free Portuguese lessons, … etc.
TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Eiryl … some pretty pink flowers. I have no idea what it is called, but I bet it has ‘umbrella’ somewhere in the name.
Front Page News : source Diário de Notícias 27/11/2008
At long last the EU has approved the ‘subsidy of mobility’ for the ferry service between Madeira and Portimão in Portugal. It seems that Portugal forgot to submit a formal request to the EU for the subsidy, and hence the delay. It just remains now for the EU to formally notify the decision, before residents rebates can be processed. The article doesn’t make it clear, but it seems that the subsidy of €30 each way that one can presently enjoy for air travel will also apply to ferry journeys. That will bring the price of the cheapest ticket to €45 each way.
The Mercado dos Lavradores, perhaps better known as Funchal Fruit Market, is going through hard times with the “salespersons of the market agonizing with the crisis”. Plenty of tourists still going there, keen to taste the produce and take photos, but no one is buying. In terms of local customers it is mainly older Madeirans that still use the market on a regular basis, with the youngsters going for the ‘washed’ products in the supermarkets, where they can buy everything in one visit, and park the car without problems. “The economic crisis that hits the pockets of the citizens is going to reduce purchases. However, does not it explain everything.” Sometimes it seems that I see a totally different picture than the Diário, as the fruit market has such a bad reputation for overcharging foreigners, word must get around. It’s a ‘must see’ attraction for Madeira, but when you can type a few words in Google and get a whole list of complaints, how is it that locally it is still such a well kept secret? Even tourists that do not know of the problem and buy there will only get stung the one time, and that’s if the sellers get away with it the first time.
Something happened on Wednesday, something that has never been seen by man in the history of Madeira. An adult sea lion spotted by fishermen caught and ate an octopus, and then took a snooze on the varadouro* of São Lázaro, Funchal, between the parked boats that were out of the water. It even stayed put and posed for the Diário photographer. (* varadouro – does not exist in the 3 dictionaries I possess, but judging by the photographs it was on a concrete quayside).
The last article is about a young local lady who is excelling in the sport of andebol (handball) and is seen to be going places internationally.
Other news :
Machico council (câmara) is working with emergency services and other organisations to produce an ‘emergency plan’, to be ready in 2009, 7 years after it was started. This will then fulfil legal requirements which affect the whole of Portugal. Machico had a particularly difficult job, as apart from overcoming political obstacles, it has factories in the Zona Franca, the premises of Shell, and an industrial park. I wonder if it covers things like giant tidal waves, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and collapsing mountainsides, as a little island like this must be in more danger from nature than it is from anything man made.
Low temperatures over the last few days have caused the deposit of some snow on Madeira’s highest peaks.
Ths shop-workers trade union that a few days ago lost it’s fight with Funchal council to reduce the Christmas period working hours, has now turned to the Regional Inspectorate for the workplace and asked it to carry out inspections to ensure it’s members aren’t working over and above what is legally or contractually permitted.
European football : Sporting and Porto both made it through to the last 16 of the champions league, but Benfica took a bit of a hiding in the EUFA cup last night, and Braga lost as well.
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If anyone is interested in free Portuguese lessons for foreigners, from January these can be found in Ribeira Brava, in the secondary school of Padre Manuel Álvares. The course, which already has 12 people signed up, will be two afternoons a week (3 hours each), until June. The 150 hour course will comprise 3 x 50 hour blocks, depending on the starter level of the individual. You will need to go to the school to register before starting (taking all the usual ID documents), and just to say that the course is almost certainly going ahead, but requires a final sign-off by the education authorities. Be warned that I will be one of the students!
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!
Hi all. Well we may be jumping the gun but this weekend we are constructing our presépio. Well actually my wife is. It’s a real art form I think and she takes it very seriously. I keep out of the way. I will just be hanging my baubles on the tree! We do get some funny looks from the neighbours when we start bringing in bits of moss and old branches.
Being this early she will need to refresh it in a few weeks but I am sure it will look spectacular.
Hey Der you gave me an idea yesterday. Maybe we could get AJJ to open our presepio for us. Would that make the front page? And Der I didn’t think he had a brain to donate?? And before anyone asks no I won’t stick AJJ on top of the tree. It’s only a standard one, not some super reinforced model. I only got it the other day and I need it to last a few years yet. LOL
But I digress. I think the best presepio we ever saw was in a church in Porto da Cruz. It really was a masterpiece.
Today Der: I wonder if it covers things like giant tidal waves, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and collapsing mountainsides, as a little island like this must be in more danger from nature than it is from anything man made.
I totally disagree. Surely AJJ is more dangerous!
Andrew and Der on your last comments yesterday. I would have to agree with most of what you are saying. Complacency does set in like we have seen with the British and American governments over the past few years. People astonishingly continued to vote for Labour and for the Republicans even after all the mess both parties made of their policies. Thankfully Bush is going and now we just need to kick Brown and his useless cronies out too. AJJ will leave eventually ready for someone to step in with new and fresh ideas.
The problem is politicians from all parties and all countries are all the same. Yes Obama is on the crest of the wave right now but he will have his scandals, corruptions and conspiracies in the years to come. Likewise a new British or Madeiran leadership will be the same.
To be honest I am not fanatical about AJJ. I wouldn’t loose any sleep if he left tomorrow or if the PS came to power. They are all power hungry, egotistic buffoons in the end. I just do it for a bit of friendly banter and to wind Der up!
I do believe, however, that the buffoon in charge of Madeira at the moment has, on the whole, done a very good job for the island. My wife and her family and friends have noted major improvements in the islands infrastructure and their own personal living standards.
As they have lived through the entire 30+ years of the AJJ regime and even prior to him being elected I reckon the ordinary Madeiran people are the only ones who can truly judge his long term achievements. And for whatever reason they have always voted him back in. You or I are late comers to his achievements and are seeing someone who needs to start drawing on his sizeable pension sooner rather than later , to put it nicely.
As our very own Charles keeps reminding his mother Elizabeth, “Don’t overstay your welcome”.
Democracy really is a double edged sword I guess.
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1Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.
–Carlos
Hi Carlos, I think you are mellowing, and your views certainly don't wind me up … you must try harder as I do love a good cut 'n' thrust debate!
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Gordon Brown ~ not Democratically elected by the good people of Britain for the past 17 months.
–Der
2I will cover on tomorrows blog, but the british 16 year old who is trying to break the world record for the youngester round the world by boat is due to make an unscheduled stop in Funchal tonight
3–Der
Just another thought Carlos, as many readers won't know what a presépio is, perhaps you could send in a photo when you have finished. If you wish to pose amongst the cows and sheep in the presépio and any little Carlos's too, that is optional, and I presume you will have a minature Bertie there also wearing a halo?
4–Der
Hi,
5Would like to say that I was one of the tourists who has been ripped off at the fruit market in Funchal. It was 2 years ago and I have not been back since even though I come here every year. Do they not learn?
david
I honestly don't reckon they know they have been sussed out David, and the thing is the rip-offs are often huge. I recall one couple who said they came out with a supermarket bag of fruit and no change out of €20, for nothing special or exotic. I wrote to the regional secretary for tourism in September on the matter as a more general issue, but never got a reply. That to me makes it state sponsored!
6–Der
So in theory, it will cost less to go on the boat to Portugal, than it does to Porto Santo.
7I think if i ever fly , or take the boat myself, it sounds to complecated to get your €30 back , why cant they make this refund more simple????
–Tobi
probably to stop people fiddling Tobi?
8–Der
Hi All,
We were invited to view a "presépio" for the first time last year and found it to be a more than acceptable local tradition, where people "build" a nativity scene involving a whole village (usually depicting there own) which any visitors are free to request to view and also partake of the hosts hospitality in any food or drink on offer. We were privileged to view such an event last year in Campanario and found it difficult to leave because, both food and drink were in abundance as well as the compelling display as more and more people arrived to enjoy the spectacle.
We havev been assured that the viewing of "presépio's" is a normal and much enjoyed tradition of Madeira@
9–Elaine
Elaine: It certainly is. Local people take a lot of pride from their Presepio creations. And are usually more than willing to show them off. You will also find them in churches and many shops, in the streets, just about anywhere really. I think in Machico they usually have a big one in the street with live animals.
As you rightly say it is a form of nativity scene which is open to the interpretation of each individual creator. They come in all shapes and sizes. You can use any materials that come to hand and you just need to mix this with your imagination to create a miniature 3D landscape with ‘fields’, animals, flowers, lights, water etc. So it’s more than just the traditional nativity scene. They are usually found taking centre stage in the front room of the creator
For us the best time to view these presepios is on the 5/6 January – the night of the kings where we will go around the village at night singing and stopping off at all of our friends houses to admire their nativity scene and of course to have the customary wine and nibbles. I believe they have to be dismantled by the 15th January. But by then they will be looking a bit old and tired anyway,
I will try and get a photo of ours this year for Der to put on the blog. I mentioned this to my wife and it has certainly put added pressure on her to create something really special!
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Alberto João Jardim ~ Democratically elected by the good people of Madeira for the past 30 years.
–Carlos
10Hi, folks,"BAD NEWS" the new sport of Kite-surfing is about to be banned by AJ on health and safety grounds. These politicians just worry too much.Take a look.
11http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F21G3LjoYPs&feature=related
Cheers
Alan
Nice one Alan , that AJJ is such a spoil sport.
12or even a sport spoiler?
I have been sent a presépio photo for tomorrow's blog … thanks for all the input on that, especially from Carlos, who I think is competing with me for the most words on a day's blog (but that's OK Carlos, keep it up).
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Gordon Brown ~ not Democratically elected by the good people of Britain for the past 17 months.
–Der
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