Madeira News Blog

Mini motor bikes

Tobi, as well as sending the photo, also sent me a link to Don’s blog, where there is a feature that tells us all the reasons why one should not come to Madeira INTERESTING READ

Everything else from Elaine :

Portugal’s analogue switch off established. Portugal’s analogue switch off is now nearer than ever. The country’s national telecommunications authority, ANACOM, has revealed its timetable for switch off – a process to be finalized on April 26 2012. According to the calendar, switch off will be accomplished in three different phases: the first forecast for January 7 2012 which includes the coastline area. The second, foreseen for March 22 2012 includes the Açores and Madeira regions. The third and final phase will take place on April 26 2012 and covers the rest of the country. LINK

European / Caribbean Cruise Blog. Madeira. And that was it, we stayed at this tiny bar the entire time, six of us in total, and there was barely enough room for any one else. But it was the perfect place to hang, no one was really there, it was local and intimate, and a round of drinks cost 6 euro…or about 8 dollars. That’s for 6 people! So apparently, all the drinks were a euro, including my house wine, which you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere in the states for about a dollar (yeah mom, I’m sure you’re jealous). LINK

Drinks: Tasting History in an 1880 Madeira. If that had been everything, it would have been a memorable dinner, especially that perfect piece of fish. But that wasn’t everything. After dinner came a Madeira, an 1880 Blandy’s Verdelho Madeira Solera to be exact….The tasting experience itself was wonderful, but what was just as interesting is what happens when a group of people taste a wine like this. We started talking about history. Here are a few things that were happening in 1880 when the wine we tasted was put in its cask: LINK 1        LINK 2

Hidden Hands Award – Women who work at the Clube Madeirense S. S. Sacramento grounds year-round. "I think that is how the Madeirans are. For example, with the mudslides you saw mud, rocks, so much to clean and then you saw pictures of these women in boots, rolling up their sleeves and cleaning. All Portuguese are this way…we are proud people," stated the women as they spoke at the same time and shared their enthusiasm.

News from Diário de Notícias and Jornal da Madeira

FRIDAY 23rd APRIL

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Compensation 18 years later. After 18 years of a legal battle, the Supreme Administrative Court ordered the Regional Health Service to pay compensation of 241,000 euros (176,000 plus interest accrued) to a family of a woman who died in childbirth. The pregnant woman had signs of sepsis which was left untreated and the foetus died before an emergency cesarean section was performed. The widowed husband says the money will help his remaining 20 year old daughter who is attending University. In the original court case for negligence, the obstetrician was acquitted as the responsibility was collective and should have been extended to all the hospital staff involved.

The future of the book under discussion in the next Book Festival. The next Book Fair, renamed Book Festival, will be held on the 20 – 30 May in Funchal. There is a new publisher exhibiting, ‘Nova Delphi’, with an emphasis on e-books. The effects of the new digital media will be discussed.

MADEIRA

Human bones in Socorridos. Two bones discovered during the search along the ribeira dos Socorridos, in between Curral das Freiras and Câmara de Lobos, may belong to Gregório Canhas, one of the victims of the storm of February 20th. Today, his mother goes to court to find out the test results, as the son is officially missing and not legally deceased, affecting her financial status. She wishes that a body could be found to allow her some emotional relief through a funeral service.

European Commission wants more Europeans to travel. Being a tourist may become a legal right under EU law. 30% of travel costs will be funded for the elderly, those aged between 18 – 25 years old, the disabled and those in financial, social or personal difficulties. The Portuguese Government supports this extension of social tourism, although details are still to be finalized. This will benefit Madeira if there is an influx of tourists but subsidies could be paid for in taxes and harm the economy. In Portugal, government subsidized senior tourism benefits 70,000 a year. This guarantees jobs and there is a return of three euros for each euro invested by the government. France, Spain and Scandinavia have supported senior tourism strongly and it has been promoted by the Spanish President of the EU, elected after the signing of the Lisbon Treaty.

ECONOMY

Pestana Group wins British Government award. Each year, UK Trade and Investment recognises significant investments in the UK by overseas companies. The British Internationalisation Award was won for the recently opened Hotel Pestana in London.

Manta Diving is chosen by the largest European magazine for divers. This diving centre was chosen by readers of the German magazine, Tauchen, as the Diving Centre of the Atlantic. The centre is owned by Galo Resort Hotels and it is the ninth time it has won this award.

Christie’s Great Estates opens office in Funchal. The International Reality Group is a representative of Christie’s Real Estate which sells luxury properties. The office is located on the Avenida Arriaga.

POLITICS

Government owes Santa Cruz Council 4.7 million euros. This is for contracts drawn up by these two entities and fulfilled, but only a third of the finance has been transferred to the council. The council has to pay interest on the debt and in 2008, it paid one million euros for debts to banks and suppliers. The Government of the Republic has not transferred one million euros in IRS that it owes this council. The other major debt Santa Cruz has inherited is for the construction of housing in Salão. The Institute for Housing and Urban Renewal should have paid 1.8 million euros. This is at a time when council revenue has fallen.

Confusion over landfill in Juncos in São Vicente. The material removed during the construction of the new São Vicente to Santana road is deposited on the coast near the surfing and hotel area in Juncos. The mayor insists the deposits will remain whereas the opposition Socialist Party has suspicions that the site is to be used for an industrial crushing unit. The Regional Government says that authorization has been granted for temporary industrial activity, a mobile crushing unit in relation to the ER 101 road construction.

SATURDAY 24th APRIL

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Complaints and petitions in the high areas. Three petitions for the Public Prosecutor are circulating around residents in Lombos, Corujeira and Tornos, high areas in the parish of Monte. The complaints are based on reconstruction work and clearing the bed of the Ribeiro da Cal after the February 20th storm. In Lombos, families have been affected by blockage of the water course by the deposition of inerts. Residents also criticise the construction of the bridge on the Caminho da Levada dos Tornos and an unsafe wooden bridge access to homes in Beco das Eiras. Some land has previously been under threat of compulsory purchase and this may occur again. A temporary public transport service is needed in Lombos as bus access is impossible during the road works, although the Mayor of Funchal has recently said that a temporary service would be provided using vans.

MADEIRA

Botanical Garden celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Jardim Botânico da Madeira – Engenheiro Rui Vieira will be 50 years old on April 30th, founded on April 30th 1960. A program of events to celebrate has been running since April 5th and will finish at the end of the month. This includes exhibitions in the park, guided tours, themed tours, a seminar on April 29th and an official ceremony in the Botanical Garden on April 30th. On the anniversary day, a book will be launched detailing the fifty years of the institute, a special postage stamp issued and a cultural event staged in the amphitheatre. The seminar on the 29th, from 14.00 – 17.15 in the Museu – Casa da Luz, involves two international speakers: Peter Jackson from the National Botanical Gardens of Ireland; Juli Caujapé Castells from the Canary Islands, and Luísa Gouveia will close the seminar with a talk entitled, ‘ 50 Years of the Botanical Garden of Madeira’. The themed tours from next Monday, the 26th, cover the Seed Bank, Herbarium and Culture Laboratories, bookable beforehand.

Private support needed for afforestation of the Ecological Park. EU aid will support 75% of the cost of afforestation of 250 hectares of land. The remaining 25% has to be found from private sources as Funchal Council does not have enough funds. The total cost is two million euros.

ECONOMY

Volcanic cloud cuts tourism in the north. Tourism in São Vicente, Santana and Porto Moniz has been badly affected by the storm of February 20th and the disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano. During last week, 80 – 90% of hotel reservations were cancelled and rural tourism also suffered. The shutdown of airports precluded the entry of tourists from France, Britain and Germany. Catering establishments suffered in February when the road to Serra de Água was damaged.

CULTURE

Flash mob in Funchal attempts a national record. The first flash mob event in Funchal will be at 1.10 hours on the 14th May in front of the Sé. The organizers, + Comércio, want more than a thousand people to join in. The theme is ‘Introrquestra Limelon’ by Andre Pollux with easy to follow choreography. The song lasts six and a half minutes but the event should take 10 – 15 minutes. The promotional video will be posted later on YouTube and madeira-tv.com. TAP repeated the successful Lisbon Airport flash mob at Rio de Janeiro Airport:

SUNDAY 25th APRIL

New April New Revolution. Diário de Notícias is a special edition today celebrating the 36th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution (April 25th, 1974). The overthrow of Salazar’s dictatorship led to the formation of the Portuguese Constitution. Proposals for an official solemn ceremony have been rejected by Jardim’s PSD-Madeira party, but it is still commemorated by the Socialist, Communist and left-wing opposition parties throughout Portugal.

In Jornal da Madeira there are only two reports on the Carnation Revolution. One is based on the Portuguese veterans who fought in the war in Guinea. The other details the celebrations in Lisbon. Cavaco Silva is giving his last Presidential speech, focusing on the present economic crisis and civic participation. "Many Portuguese have wondered if this is the country that we dreamed of in April 1974." Last year he spoke of the "notorious dissatisfaction" of the Portuguese with the functioning of democracy. There is criticism that young people do not understand the significance of the revolution (anti-fascist resistance) and are complacent as they have always lived in a democracy.

Many thanks to Tobi (photo) and Elaine for sending in contributions for this blog.

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If you can, please contribute something Madeira related. A funny story or good or bad experience, a news item, or a story from a Madeira newspaper, a teaser, news of a bargain flight or item in a supermarket. Please help keep this blog going … without user contributions it won’t survive. Please only send in ‘exceptional’ or very topical photos by email attachment, as they take quite some time to process. Links to photos that are already online take much less time. Anything submitted for inclusion will be ‘cut and pasted’  to the blog very likely unchecked and unaltered, so please check anything through before sending it in, especially ‘automatic translations’, to avoid any ‘afterthoughts’. Blogs will be published when there is sufficient material to make one worthwhile. I can’t always respond to emails, so please accept my thanks in advance, and the attribution on the blog itself. Der.

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any articles etc., but to save time and delays, please use the comments for minor contributions and to ask any questions. Please don’t send in copyrighted / restricted material.

Madeira News Blog © 2007 – 2010 All Rights Reserved

4 contributions from Paul : 

Doze pontos! – “Há dias assim" – There are days like these

Que nos deixam sós – That leave us alone

A alma vazia – With an empty soul

A mágoa na voz – With a voice full of sorrow

Já não há palavras – There are no words

Foi de tanto as calarmos” – We both shut up

The lyrics of Portugal’s entry ‘Há dias assim’. Its a classic ballad. Through the dramatic lyrics of the song, the singer mourns the emotional separation from her lover.

This year’s 55^th Eurovision Song Contest is from Oslo, Norway on 25, 27 and 29 May 2010.

Image caption: Eurovision Song Contest 2008, 1st semifinal

Russia: Dima Bilan (with Edvin Marton and Evgeni Plushenko) – Believe

The singer

Filipa Azevedo from Porto became famous, when she competed in and won the televised talent search Família superstar in 2007.

After her victory, she moved to London, where she has been attending a music school since. In 2009, her debut album was released. The CD did not match the expected success and therefore, the singer turned to another record label. In 2010, she entered the Portuguese national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. With her song Há dias assim, she won the grand final.

The Madeiran Vânia Fernandes managed to finish second in the second semi final in 2008 and brought the country for the first time to the Eurovision final since 2003.

Image caption: Vânia Fernandes representing Portugal performing in the 2nd semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia, May 22, 2008

“Portugal took part in the Eurovision Song Contest the first time in 1964 and immediately finished last with nil points. It later indeed turned out to be a bad omen as Portugal is one of the least successful countries to date never having finished in the top five of a Eurovision final. However, Vânia Fernandes managed to finish second in the second semi final in 2008 and brought the country for the first time to the final since 2003. Last year, Flor-de-Lies also made it to the final. The highest placing in a final came in 1996, when Lúcia Moniz finished sixth with O meu coração não tem cor.”

Link to official Eurovision site:

Golf in Madeira region. "I had a fantastic time in Madeira," said the 2004 English Under-14 golf champion Jonathan Bell. The 2009 Faldo Series Europe champion lived up to his growing reputation when he made the cut on his first European Tour start at the Madeira Island Open BPI – Portugal at Porto Santo Golf.

With rounds of 70, 73, 73, 74, the English amateur international from the Royal Blackheath Golf Club near London, finished in a tie for 66th.

"I set out with the intention of making the cut so I was delighted with my opening rounds of 70 and 73 but I would have to admit I didn’t play quite as well as I would have liked over the weekend."

Image caption: Golf in Madeira the Palheiro course in Madeira

Bell’s place in the field was part of his reward for winning last year’s Faldo Series Europe Grand Final in Rio de Janeiro, and he got to play with 2009 South African Open champion, Richie Ramsay.

Sir Nick Faldo created the Faldo Series back in 1996 to develop new generations of young champions and in 2006 the concept was expanded to include a Faldo Series Asia.

This year, the Faldo Series Europe and the Faldo Series Asia will attract over 5,000 boys and girls aged between 12 and 21 and will comprise more than 30 events in 25 countries.

For further information see nickfaldo.com                Link to full article:

Portugal is not Greece. ‘The Economist’ writes: “Portugal’s biggest problem is not primarily fiscal. It concerns growth—or the lack of it.

Portugal has become a European leader in renewable energy. Mr Sócrates sees himself as the modern face of a country in transition from low-cost manufacturing to knowledge-based industries. In five years, he claims, Portugal has become a European leader in renewable energy. It has also cut civil-service jobs from 747,000 to 675,000. It sends some 35% of its young people to university. It is investing over 1.5% of GDP in research, much more than Spain. At the same time, however, Portugal is losing some of its EU structural funds to the club’s newer, poorer members from eastern Europe.

IMAGE CAPTION : Rogel windfarm, Portugal

A slow-moving bureaucracy, inefficient courts, poor schools and state-supported pockets of the economy protected from competition combine to hold Portugal back. Businessmen moan about rigid labour laws, which there is little political will to reform. Portugal has one of Europe’s toughest employee-protection regimes.

In short, Portugal is indeed different from Greece. But if the markets decided to put this to the test, chronic low growth, a drastic loss of competitiveness and high public and private indebtedness are all weaknesses which could swiftly undermine the protection that being different is meant to bring.” Link to full article:

Art Deco exhibition in Calheta, Madeira. From 18 June – March, April 2011 up to 300 pieces of ‘the Colecção de Arte Déco da Fundação Joe Berardo’ will be on display at ‘Casa das Mudas’ art centre in Calheta.

Image caption : Spectacular views from the Art Centre’s restaurant & café:

This impressive collection comprises more than 300 pieces of furniture, paintings, statues, ceramics, glass and silverware and other decorative objects from some of the most famous Art Deco decorators like Lalique, Brandt, Perzel, Leleu, Porteneuve and Ruhlmann. The last being creator of the dining room in the Casa de Serralves in Porto, one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in Portugal where, in 2006, a part of this collection was presented in the exhibition Art Déco, Colecção Berardo. Presently this Collection is on show at the Sintra Museum – The Berardo Collection.

Image caption : one of the 300 pieces of ‘the Colecção de Arte Déco da Fundação Joe Berardo’

Art Déco was a popular design movement originally from 1910 until 1939 and took it’s name from the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris, in 1925. While revealing influences from several previous schools, Art Déco portrayed itself essentially as a modern decorative style, which combined rationality, functionality and formal simplicity. Nevertheless, many of the Art Déco designers rejected traditional materials for their work and chose instead more unusual, luxurious materials like ebony, steel, marble, lacquer and rare and expensive types of wood.

Link to video on the collection:

The whole art deco collection can be viewed : HERE

Link to Casa das Mudas website: HERE

Vanessa Swesnik is back, so these are a complete article translations :

“The schools don’t have money for anything.” The head of the PS in Madeira’s Legislative Assembly said yesterday that the Autonomous Region’s learning institutions are “begging for money to meet their educational objectives.”

According to Andre Escórcio, many schools rely on outside contributions to safeguard their operations; reason enough for the Socialist to accuse the Regional Government of irresponsibility in matters of education policy.

“In contrast, 31 million Euros have been allocated to build another football stadium,” said Andre’ Escórcio. “It’s not just an inversion of priorities that’s in question. Above all, it’s a blow to the right of all children, young people, and adults to a quality education – upon which depends the future well-being of all Madeirans.” ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Madeira Airports Gradually Normalizing Operations – Only two flights cancelled today (Wednesday).

Madeira Airport just announced that following a reduction in European airport restraints, “activity in the Madeira Airport will gradually return to normal, with the connecting flights scheduled for today to Bournemouth, Jersey, Vienna, London, Gatwick, Amsterdam, Brussels, Aarhus, Oslo, and Helsinki having been made.”

By the end of the day, they assure, scheduled connecting flights to Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Paris will be provided. “Today there were only two cancellations.”

The statement adds further that, “for passenger protection, some companies added extra flights to Denmark, Austria, and Finland.” ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Finally, some snippets and the latest news stories from Elaine.

Appeal raises £100,000 for Madeira. £100,000 is going to help victims of the Madeira flooding disaster – thanks to the generosity of islanders in Jersey. There was a massive response to a public appeal organised by Jersey Side by Side. Individuals, businesses, schools and other organisations around the island got on board and now a sub committee’s been formed to decide how the money should be spent. Although the appeal is now being wound down, donations are still being accepted and the final total could be even greater. ARTICLE

They say “If it’s happening in Madeira – it’s on Acontece Madeira“.  Acontece Madeira is the events portal for Madeira island and Porto Santo that has information on everything that is going on. Cinema, events, exhibitions, music, theatre, conferences, nightlife, kids events, concerts and much more! Acontece Madeira was born out of the simple fact that it wasn’t possible to find information in one place easily and quickly. In collaboration in with all the councils on the island and many other institutes, groups and clubs – Acontece Madeira supplies current information for the whole island of Madeira and Porto Santo.

More from Madeira. A few more photographs from Madeira. The first two are just street shots from the capital, Funchal. The third is a wicker craftsman at work in Camacha. The fourth is outside Monte Palace in the Monte Tropical Gardens. I liked this as I felt there was something sinister about the statue of the girl skipping. And I came across the old guy in the fifth one by the old fort in Funchal. Madeira has a bit of an ageing population problem and a lot of its younger inhabitants leave for Lisbon on the mainland or even further afield in Europe, hence the amount of older citizens in the photographs. Well, that and the fact I just find them more interesting as subject matter. It has been put to me that I’m a geriophile, but I strongly deny the accusation!  HERE

News from Diário de Notícias and Jornal da Madeira

WEDNESDAY 21st APRIL

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Seven exceptional political retirement schemes. Alberto João Jardim, Santos Costa and the deputies Miguel Mendonça, Gabriel Drumond, Carmo Almeida, Ivo Nunes and André Escórcio benefit from an exceptional regime that only applies to politicians in Madeira. They are the only ones retired in the country who are allowed to receive both a pension and politician’s salary at the same time. At national level, including the Azores, accumulation of full pension and salary is not allowed. Politicians who are still in office but are of retirement age, have to choose to receive a full portion of either the pension or salary and a third of the other one. This saves 117,000 euros per month (75 politicians). Opposition parties have suggested the removal of this special regime but the PSD has been reluctant to amend the law. In Portugal, to escape the impending implementation of financial penalties for early retirement, the number of civil servants applying in the first quarter of this year, 15,806, is three times the average number. This will have a devastating impact on the health service as many family doctors have applied for early retirement. In Madeira, this new ruling has not been implemented and there is the normal number of applicants, 158.

Funchal Jazz 2010 has ‘giant’ Kenny Barron. The opening night on July 8th will host Kenny Barron and trio with the saxophonist David Sanchez. Regarded as one of the heavyweights of world jazz, Kenny Barron has played alongside the saxophonist Stan Getz and  trumpet player Miles Davis. Kenny Barron composes pieces of great quality and is a pioneer of free jazz, known for his improvisation. David Sanchez is from Puerto Rico and has been influenced by Cuban and Brazilian music. The opening concert will be a tribute to the Madeiran jazz drummer João Sousa who died in 2008.

Island Escape cruise cancelled. A group of at least 19 Madeirenses were left without a holiday when Thomson Cruises cancelled the Island Escape cruise that should have departed on Monday afternoon, to take home 300 stranded UK tourists. APAVT advise the stranded cruise ship passengers to contact the Ombudsman for a legal decision on the situation and compensation. Since April 15th, due to the Icelandic volcano, there have been 63 departures and 60 arrivals at Madeira Airport cancelled, affecting 17,500 passengers.

MADEIRA

Weather radar fund raising campaign. If Madeira had had a weather radar, there would have been a two hour warning of the serious situation on February 20th. It is with this conviction that the Sociedade Portuguesa de Simulação Ambiental e Avaliação de Riscos (SOPSAR) is raising 3 million euros for a new weather radar and warning system. Such a radar has been wanted since 1988/1989 but budget constraints have delayed the issue. It will be situated at either Porto Santo, Paul da Serra or Areeiro.

ECONOMY

Luxury sailing yacht in port. From Monday until 10 am today, the luxury yacht Destination Fox Harb’s moored for a change of crew during a repositioning cruise from the Caribbean (St. Marteen) to the Mediterranean (Gibraltar). The 41 metre long yacht was built in New Zealand in 2002 and currently belongs to a Canadian millionaire. The hull and superstructures are made from aluminium and it has a 800 horsepower engine for days of little wind. There is a crew of six and it can accommodate eight guests.

THURSDAY 22nd APRIL

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Unemployment increased by 33.8%. The number of registered unemployed last March, compared to March 2009, increased 18.1% nationally, 33.8% in Madeira (15,332 registered) and 35.8% in the Algarve. There was a slowdown in unemployment: 714 more unemployed from December to January; 552 more from January to February and 348 more from February to March.

MADEIRA

84,766 visited the Flower Exhibition. This exhibition, part of the Flower Festival, received a record number of visitors, 30,766 more than last year. The Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources suggests a permanent flower exhibition. Madeira annually produces 5 million flowers generating a revenue of 2.5 million euros. In 2009, exports (605,000) exceeded imports (600,000).

ECONOMY

Prince Albert II visits the port for the first time. This small luxurious liner, owned by Silversea Cruises, brought 50 tourists for a five hour stay. The cruise ship travelled from Arrecife and sails for Casablanca. It was built in 1989 in Finnish shipyards, is 108.1 metres long and 15.6 metres in width and can accommodate 158 tourists and 111 crew. The Canadian frigate HMCS Frederiction arrived yesterday and will leave tomorrow.

Experts visit the region to test 200 year old Madeira Wines. Two Belgians, Bert Jarius and Ludovic Beun, owners of the Madas wine importation company, have challenged three Madeira Wine producers to have their wines judged by three renown wine experts who write Internet blogs. These experts, Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Neal Martin will attend the promotional event at the Villa Cipriani restaurant in Reid’s Palace Hotel on the 27th April. 43 wines of Blandy’s, Cossart Gordon, Vinhos Barbeito and D’Oliveira will be divided into four categories depending on their age. The oldest wines will include: Terrantez da Casa Barbeito de 1795 and a Malvasia da Blandy’s de 1880.

POLITICS

EU may give more than 75 million euros. When the European Commissioner visited the region following the February 20th disaster, Johannes Hahn indicated that aid from the Solidarity Fund would be around 50 million euros. A Portuguese MEP expects that aid could reach the maximum limit of 75 million euros, 0.6% RNB (Gross National Income). The value depends on the accounts presented and political decisions. The Madeiran MEP, Nuno Teixeira and Socialist Party MEP, Edite Estrela want a reprogramming of funds allocated to the region, as this is an extraordinary situation. Other MEPs emphasized the human side of the tragedy and the damage to the region’s economy and that aid should not be just for rebuilding public infrastructure. The MEPs of the Budget Committee will visit Madeira in May to study the situation.

Many thanks to Tobi (photo) Vanessa and Paul for sending in a contribution(s) for this blog.

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If you can, please contribute something Madeira related. A funny story or good or bad experience, a news item, or a story from a Madeira newspaper, a teaser, news of a bargain flight or item in a supermarket. Please help keep this blog going … without user contributions it won’t survive. Please only send in ‘exceptional’ or very topical photos by email attachment, as they take quite some time to process. Links to photos that are already online take much less time. Anything submitted for inclusion will be ‘cut and pasted’  to the blog very likely unchecked and unaltered, so please check anything through before sending it in, especially ‘automatic translations’, to avoid any ‘afterthoughts’. Blogs will be published when there is sufficient material to make one worthwhile. I can’t always respond to emails, so please accept my thanks in advance, and the attribution on the blog itself. Der.

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any articles etc., but to save time and delays, please use the comments for minor contributions and to ask any questions. Please don’t send in copyrighted / restricted material.

Madeira News Blog © 2007 – 2010 All Rights Reserved

"The government will help Madeira and the regional government and, together, we will reconstruct whatever needs reconstruction" says Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates. Link to full article from ‘People’s Daily Online’:

“Reconstruction works on the Portuguese island of Madeira, which was hit by a devastating storm in February, will cost 1.08-billion euros, Prime Minister Jose Socrates said Monday. The Portuguese state, which is struggling to cut its budget deficit, will shoulder €740 million of the cost of reconstruction, which will run until 2013, Socrates said.

Image caption : Funchal city view

The regional government will stump up 309 million while 31 million will come from the European Union’s Solidarity Fund, which helps member countries pick up the cost of rebuilding after natural disasters.

The overall sum falls short of the 1.4-billion that Madeira’s regional government had initially estimated to be necessary for reconstruction after the storm triggered devastating flash floods that killed at least 41 people and left 600 homeless.

Socrates told a news conference with Madeiran regional president Alberto Jose Jardim

"We have put a scheme in financing in place to rapidly respond to what is a priority for the whole country," Link to full article:

Cruise lines take some extraordinary measures to get British passengers back to the UK

Image caption : ‘Island Escape’

“The continued grounding of flights across Europe this week is forcing cruise lines operating in the region to take some extraordinary measures to get passengers to and from ships.

UK-based Thomson Cruises today announced the 1,606-passenger Island Escape, which just finished a cruise in Funchal, Madeira, will sail three days out of its way to ferry the more than a thousand British passengers on the ship back to the UK. The passengers originally had been scheduled to fly back from Madeira — a Portuguese archipelago off the coast of North Africa.” Link to full article:

Portuguese wine: America imports more!

“Wine professionals around the globe say that Portugal is making some of the finest wine in its long history and north Americans are taking notice. Wine import info shows that in the last half a year of 2009, the quantity of wine imported by the US has reached virtually the same numbers as all of 2008.

This info reflects American’s steady expansion in interest in Portugal’s wide selection of wine. Since 2007, sales of Portuguese table wine jumped by forty percent in the U. S. and Portuguese red wine sales have increase 125 %. Last year, Portugal landed in the U.S. Customs’ list of top ten wine exporters to the U.S. More than $56 million in wine to America In the 1st ten months of 2008 Portugal exported, making it the ninth biggest exporter and thrashing out 10th place South Africa.

Portugal is making some of the finest wine in its long history and north Americans are taking notice

The elevated interest and urgent acclaim for Portuguese wine is essentially credited to Portugal’s steady investment in its winemaking industry in the last twenty years. By adding modern hardware, refining cultivation practices and improving strategies, Portuguese wines have gotten more preferred in America and round the world.

Image caption : ‘Trituradora de uvas’ – a machine used to separate wine grapes from their stems at a Portuguese winery

Whether shoppers are on the lookout for a light, crisp white or a bold and tough red, Portuguese winemakers can deliver toothsome flavour at a fair price.

Portuguese wines are versatile and with a good spread of flavours, there’s a wine to pair with just about each dish. The reds are well-matched with lamb, steaks and pork, but are not too heavy to pair with birds dishes. Crisp and refreshing, the whites go well with grilled fish, salads and other summery foods, as well as steaky fish like swordfish or tuna. Link to full article:

Sócrates elogia Madeira após jogging matinal (vídeo). from ‘Expresso’ website: VIDEO AT BOTTOM OF THIS WEB PAGE (Prime Minister Sócrates praises Madeira after his morning Jog).

Everything else is from Elaine :

Is Jardim praying to Sócrates?  LINK

Iceland volcano. Thomson and First Choice are using coaches and cruise ships to bring back British holidaymakers who are stranded abroad. Customers in Alicante and Malaga will travel via coach to northern France, before catching ferries to Britain and being transported to their respective domestic airports. The operator, which has 40,000 British customers stranded aboard, is also using its cruise ships, Island Escape and Thomson Dream, to bring back passengers. Island Escape, which is currently in Madeira, will bring its passengers home by sea instead of by air. It is also picking up 300 non-cruise passengers from Madeira whose flights have cancelled. Thomson Dream will also be used to ferry passengers from Majorca to Barcelona, where further transport has been organised. SOURCE

News from Diário de Notícias and Jornal da Madeira

MONDAY 19th APRIL

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Flowers launch hope. Tourists attending the Flower Festival Parade yesterday, proof of the renewal of hope, indirectly helped the recovery of the island from the devastating February storms. Alberto Jardim and José Sócrates watched together, the latter saying, "All Portuguese look at Madeira this day with the lump in the throat on one who is enthusiastic to see the return to optimism and remember what was and what is now Funchal." The Prime Minister praised the "courage of the Madeirense" and said he was "proud" of what had been done. The quality of the parade was "very rich and diverse" and with others, he was presented with a garland of flowers and a straw hat. José Sócrates was surrounded by a strong security apparatus and was well received, presented with flowers and lots of applause, kind words and kisses. He was warmly welcomed by Jardim at Quinta Vigia for a well prepared evening dinner. To return to Madeira from Brussels, Jardim had a thirteen hour journey by car to Barcelona to catch a flight, not arriving until 20.30 on Saturday evening.  SLIDESHOW           VIDEO

MADEIRA

José Manuel Coelho stopped from presenting carnations to the Prime Minister. The deputy of the Nova Democracia Party, José Manuel Coelho, was stopped by two policemen from presenting the flower of April, the red carnation, to the Prime Minister during the Flower Festival Parade. It was intended to highlight the lack of democracy, which was won on April 25th. "Of all the flowers represented in the Flower Festival, there are fewer carnations because I know that dr. Alberto João Jardim hates carnations."

Câmara de Lobos will have bust of Simón Bolívar. This statue of ‘The Liberator’ of South America is a gift from the ‘Associação dos Filhos de Câmara de Lobos na Venezuela’. On April 28th, the bicentenary of the independence of Venezuela, the bust will be unveiled in the garden at the entrance to Avenida da Nova Cidade.

Braving the danger. Every day, hundreds of motorists circumvent a collapsed area of road on the small bridge, ‘ponte do Caminho do Olival’, in São Roque in Penteada. The bridge was closed to transit after two craters appeared, but the materials used to cordon off the bridge have been thrown into one of the holes. Drivers are taking a risk by using a dangerously unstable piece of road.

CULTURE

Festa do Pão in Machico. 23 to 25 April. Music on these three days: Vânia Fernandes (Friday, 21:00), Cristina Barbosa (Sunday, 21.00), Madeira Light Orchestra (Saturday, 21:00), Banda d’Além (Sunday 19:00) and Cubanito (Saturday 19:00). Regional Bread Contest (sweet potato bread) held on Saturday, involving bakeries in the region.

TUESDAY 20th APRIL

FRONT PAGE NEWS

Half of the money is for repairing the ribeiras.  The State assumes 70% (740 million euros) of the 1,080 million euros needed for the reconstruction after the storms of February 20th. This will be through transfers from the State Budget over the next four years, a loan from the European Investment Bank and a regional redistribution of funds from the Cohesion Fund and PIDDAC. It is hoped that the EU Solidarity Fund will finance 3% of costs, 31 million euros, the request signed yesterday in Brussels. The remaining 309 million euros are the responsibility of the Regional Government, insurance firms and private donors. The insurance firms estimate they will pay 150 million euros and donations raised 10 million euros. The Executive of Alberto Jardim will have to review the investment program to release 150 million euros. Almost half of the cost is for works associated with damaged water courses. The remaining cost is distributed between: coastal roadworks, companies, housing, water and sewerage networks, electricity and public buildings. José Sócrates hopes that, "the work of reconstruction becomes a symbol of what unites us, that is the feeling of love of our country (Pátria)."

Origin of the money
Transfer from State Budget: 200
Reallocation of the Cohesion Fund: 265
EIB loan: 250
Reallocation of PIDDAC (OE): 25
EU Solidarity Fund: 31
Reorientation of funds from RAM, insurance and private donations: 309
TOTAL € 1, 080 million
Distribution of funds for type of investment
Hydrology – Ribeiras: € 488m Economic activities: € 122m
Housing: € 36m
Ports and Coastal: € 127m
Roads: € 236m
Networks of water supply, sanitation and electricity; Buildings and public facilities and civil protection / rescue: € 71m
TOTAL: 1.080

ECONOMY

Tourists come to Madeira for the scenery. Portugal is known for its hospitality, good climate, gastronomy, contrasting landscapes and security. Surveys carried out at Madeira Airport determined that tourists aged between 25 and 64 years old visit Madeira for the beautiful landscape. This holiday destination is rarely chosen through travel agents but through recommendations by friends and families. The UK remains the leading source of tourists, followed by Portugal and Germany. Many tourists are loyal, averaging three trips. The end of the year brings most visitors, the second most important event is the Flower Festival. Visitors are mostly women, well educated, travel with families for holidays and book into hotels. (The Diário website has an Adobe file in Portuguese with more information on this subject.)

Illegal wind turbine on Ponta do Sol pier. APRAM, the Administrators of the Ports of Madeira, guarantee that the twelve metre high wind turbine has been illegally erected in the Public Maritime Domain. The owner of the catering establishment who erected the turbine challenges this ruling, saying it is on his property and has been approved. The property deeds state that the land belongs to the restaurant, as outlined in the Caderneta Predial Urbana in 1937. The wind turbine is capable of generating enough energy to sell 3.5kW per hour to the electricity company EEM, the reason for the investment of 26,000 euros.

Symbol for the new Gare Marítima do Funchal online competition. Competition open until May 18th with prize money of 750 euros. Internet site: APRAM.

Many thanks to Tobi (photo), Paul and Elaine for sending in a contribution(s) for this blog.

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