Articles & news from Paul (Tuesday 24th) :
Worst crash in history of Portugal’s motorways. EURONEWS reports:
"catastrophic double crash on a motorway in Portugal. 200 firefighters and emergency workers rushed to the scene near the town of Aveiro to help the injured.
Many of the victims had to be cut out of their vehicles. At least five people were killed while 72 were injured.
It is thought heavy rain and fog may have led to the first collision, which happened just after three in the afternoon.
Thick smoke from that incident is thought to have blown onto the adjacent carriageway and caused the pile-up there." film and text: HERE
Bébé – or Tiago Manuel Dias Ferreira…talent mined from Portugal
‘The Telegraph’ reports:
Bébé – or Tiago Manuel Dias Ferreira to give him his full name and letter writers in United’s club shop nightmares – was virtually unknown to an English audience before Manchester United paid an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £7.4m, to sign him.
The 20-year-old forward, who can play on either flank, as a target man or support striker, thus follows a recent trend in young talent Sir Alex Ferguson has mined from Portugal after Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani took the same path." Youtube film:
One of a dying breed of ‘street footballers’. However, Bébé’s back story stands him apart from those that have gone before. Like Wayne Rooney, he is one of a dying breed of ‘street footballers’, all raw ability and unschooled promise. But unlike Rooney, coming from the street is no glib aphorism.
Raised in a youth shelter, Bébé played for a team organised by CAIS, the organisation responsible for Portugal’s Homeless World Cup Team, having spent time on the streets as a youngster. He was spotted by third division Portuguese club Estrela Amadora after impressing for amateur side Loures.
Moving through the youth ranks to the senior side there, the Cacem-born striker attracted the interest of a number of top level clubs in Portugal, as well as a host of European heavyweights including Real Madrid and United. LINK
Fulham sign ‘Nacional’ defender. Reuters reports:
Algeria defender Rafik Halliche has signed a three-year deal with Fulham, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old, who has joined the London club from Portuguese side Benfica for an undisclosed fee, played every minute of Algeria’s three matches at the World Cup finals and impressed in the 0-0 draw against England.
"I’m so happy that my transfer to Fulham has been finalised," he said on Fulham’s website (WEBSITE).
image caption: Fulham Football Club. Taken during a home match, Fulham v Newcastle
"The Premier League is the best league in the world and to be able to play alongside some wonderful players and to be given an opportunity to compete against some fantastic teams for a team like Fulham is something that I’ve always dreamed of doing."
Halliche spent most of his time at Benfica out on loan with fellow Portuguese club Nacional of Madeira. LINK
London Gatwick to Faro and Oporto with Ryanair from October 31st
2 Ryanair bases, Faro and Oporto will connect to London
Portugal News reports:
"The low-cost Irish airline announced the new routes this week, increasing its number of routes available in Portugal to 31 from Faro and 33 from Oporto.
image caption: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 (registration EI-DCK) taking off from Bristol International Airport, Bristol, England
To celebrate the new addition, Ryanair confirmed special launch prices of €19.99 from Faro and €17.99 from Oporto. Ryanair flights from Faro and Oporto to London Gatwick will commence on October 31st.
Initially, the Faro – London Gatwick flight will operate four times per week, and the Oporto route five times per week. LINK
"In the shrinking league-table of nations that still like and admire us British, Portugal easily comes top." Daily Mail reports: HERE
"You feel it there wherever you go, from Lisbon to the Algarve - that special warmth and kindness towards ‘ingleses’ which even our worst holiday hooligans cannot destroy."
Major changes are afoot in the tradition-encrusted world of port….
"Port a name that, unlike sherry, has been fiercely protected against all foreign imitations since 1756." Daily Mail reports: HERE
William Warre
Daily Mail reports: HERE
"William Warre, who chose a military rather than port-making career and showed extraordinary heroism in Porto’s recapture from the French exactly two centuries ago. Sent with a few Portuguese civilians to deal with some alleged French ‘stragglers’, Warre found himself up against Marshal Soult’s entire army!"
image caption : A ruby and tawny port from Warres
Last volcanic activity in the Azores in the 1950′s
Hello magazine reports:
"The last activity, which took place in Faial in the Fifties, lasted for over a year and dramatically changed the landscape of the island. When it cooled, the lava spat out by the Capelinhos volcano had left the island a couple of kilometres longer, the old lighthouse was half buried, and hundreds of farmers had no choice but to emigrate after their crops were totally ruined." LINK
image caption Capelinhos Cliffs, Faial Island, Azores, Portugal
14-year-old Dutch girl sails alone: first stop Madeira! Sunday Times & Australian reports: HERE
"AFTER winning a long legal battle for the right to sail solo around the world, a 14-year-old Dutch girl set off on her voyage yesterday.
Laura Dekker began her two-year solitary journey from Gibraltar.
If she completes her endeavour, she will become the youngest person to sail around the globe alone, although it will not be a non-stop voyage.
Her first stop will be the island of Madeira, and she will sail her 11.5m boat, Guppy, to the Canary Islands before facing the challenge of an Atlantic crossing to Barbados.
She will record her trip with a camera and will be in constant radio contact with a support team and passing ships. During the monsoon season she is expected to return to school in The Netherlands."
Car hire: cheapest places: Madeira and Portugal
"The cheapest places, by far, were found to be Madeira and Portugal."
..reports: Carrentals.co.uk, the award-winning online car hire comparison website on ‘Moonews’
and ‘The Independent’ reports:
"Portugal and Madeira were by far the cheapest places surveyed, averaging only €33.40 a day" LINK
News from Martin (Monday 23rd) :
TAP offers over 10 kg of baggage free to college students. Offer valid for the month of September on the Madeira and the Azores routes.
TAP is promoting for a second year, a campaign directed at college students travelling in September. This offer translates into the possibility of carrying 10 kg of extra baggage, totally free and is available for students moving between the mainland and the islands of Madeira and the Azores, and vice versa, or Erasmus students, studying in any European city. The campaign is valid during the month of September for any flight operated by TAP, departing from any airport in Portugal.
To benefit from this campaign, students can carry a total of 30 kg in economy class or business class 40 kg (tap | executive), whatever the fare paid.
To enjoy the promotion, a student may make a reservation by any means (TAP www.flytap.com, call centre 707 205 700, stores TAP) or your travel agent. At check-in they will only have to present a student card or a letter proving that they are 1st year students and have no university card, simply the proof that they are registered or entered in a particular university. This is an initiative of TAP and ESN (International Exchange Erasmus Student Network).
And Sue :
Falling palm tree kills woman in Porto Santo
A lady of 61 years died yesterday, following the crash of a palm tree in downtown Vila Baleira. Two other people were also evacuated to Funchal, given the severity of injuries. The accident occurred during a PSD rally, which was subsequently cancelled.
The fall of a large palm tree at Largo das Palmeiras, in the city center Baleira Vila, Porto Santo, last night caused the death of a lady of 61 years and wounded two others. The accident was happened during the PSD/Madeira rally which was attended by thousands of people to attend and happened around 22:45. The President of the PSD/Madeira took the decision to cancel the celebrations.
The injured were immediately assisted on site by an orthopedist Marcelino Andrade, accompanied by some nurses, including Manuela Machado, and, once stabilized in the area were eventually transported by volunteer firefighters from Porto Santo to the Health Centre site and subsequently evacuated to Funchal – Aviocar in the Air Force – in an operation coordinated by Almada Cardoso, President of the Board of the Regional Health Service of Madeira (SESARAM).
Update on above
The lady killed in the accident was Maria Judith Rodrigues Pascoal de Nobrega, 61, a resident of Levada de Santa Luzia. The seriously injured were Maria do Ceu Baptista Nunes, 54, and son, David Manuel Baptista Alves, 24.
Michael Foster , clinical director of the hospital, said this morning at a press conference outside the hospital, the two wounded, from Amadora , are in a serious condition the mother was operated on overnight team of orthopedic surgeons and is at present is in the recovering of the operating room, from where she will be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit . The son, 24, has a slightly worse prognosis than the mother and was also operated upon during the night and now in intensive care. They are young people but you have to take into account the extended trauma: thoracic, pelvic and lower limbs, during the coming days they would be in a better position to give some certainty in terms of prognosis.
homicide suspect found in a pit
The suspected murderer of a woman, 39, on Fifth Great Path Aviceiro in the early hours of Saturday, was yesterday found dead in a pit inside the house.
Everything points to a case of suicide after the man, aged 45, had killed a neighbour using an ax. The body was discovered inside a pit, about two meters deep in the garage, in the course of investigations conducted by the Judicial Police. The collection of documents and a cell phone belonging to the person together with him in the tank. The tank was eventually emptied by the series in order to extract the corpse. In the tank a bottle containing poison was found showing that the individual has ingested poison before falling into well.
Gas explosion at Porto da Cruz
An explosion of two gas cylinders destroyed a store yesterday and caused some cracks in residence at the site of nearby houses, Porto da Cruz, but no injuries. The event happened at 7:00 pm, a group of ten men and four vehicles of firefighters from Machico were at the site, as well as a brigade officer. It is anticipated that the explosion of the cylinders was caused by overheating, since, according to data collected on site, the brazier made the day before has not been completely erased. This had not been noticed as it was located below the house and the road is not easily seen by local residents due its difficult access (narrow road and steep slope) however, the roar of the explosions came to the attention of most residents in that quiet area
Some articles from Paul :
The last fisherwomen!
“…women with blood in their gills like the fish…..”
An excellent ‘Expresso’ fotogallery. We presume it’s a gallery of fishing professionals in the Nazare area. Link:
Image caption: Women in typical dress and headscarf; Nazaré, Portugal
Jackie Evancho. Expresso reports: Jackie, 10 a mini Susan Boyle? (com vídeo)
youtube video:
Portuguese Miguel Fernandes wins Triathlon gold in youth olympics
Triathlon.competitor.com reports: "Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist Alois Knabl (AUT) edged out the Youth Games champion Aaron Barclay (NZL) in a thrilling finish, claiming the YOG Team Triathlon gold medal for Team Europe 1.
Knabl’s European squad, which included Eszter Dudas (HUN), Miguel Valente Fernandes (POR) and Fanny Beisaron (ISR), clocked the total time of 1:19:51.42, finishing less than four seconds ahead of the Oceania Team, anchored by Barclay." link
Bottlenose dolphins and Bryde’s whales off Calheta coast.
Whale/dolphin-watching boats operating from Calheta marina are spotting Bottlenose dolphins and Bryde’s whales in August 2010
image caption : Bryde’s whale
Second Festa do Marisco, Calheta Town ocean front: 1-5 September
5 nights of entertainment accompanied by local and mainland Portuguese seafood specialists. Be there! Report and overview of 5 night programme:
image caption: Calheta marina from Calheta beach hotel
Thursday’s news stories from Sue :
Plan to organize and manage Garajau’s Nature Reserve
The Special Plan for Land Use and Management of Natural Reserve Partial Tern is already in place but was approved by the Regional Government, in Parliament, in the last five days and has set up a system safeguard natural resources and values and also a management system compatible with the sustainability and use of the territory.
The plan focuses on the nature reserve at Garajau, which has a total area of 376 hectares and a coastline of about eleven miles. In the resolution, published in JORAM, states that ‘the interest in the protection, conservation and management of nature reserve at Garajau, is recognised as an area of interest regionally, nationally and internationally determines the need for a Special Plan in order to establish a system of safeguarding natural resources and values and also a management system compatible with sustainable use of the territory.
The law establishes procedures for safeguarding natural resources and values and actions and to promote activities in its area of intervention, to ensure the conservation of nature and biodiversity as well as maintenance and enhancement of natural characteristic of the landscape. Its objectives are to continue to monitor and protect marine biodiversity, especially species that have high conservation value, continue to improve the scientific understanding of marine areas, to further promote the implementation of research programs in marine habitats and species and develop mechanisms to share information and promote coordination among researchers.
The strategy will include the protection and enhancement of Natural Heritage Reserve and Cultural Heritage Reservation, by promoting the conservation of nature and the planning of recreation and leisure activities. The only activities that will be allowed in the area are those concerned with nature conservation and biodiversity and enhancement of the specimens, with disclosure and environmental awareness related to research and scientific work.
Prohibited are : harvesting , cutting, capture, killing or possession of copies of living beings and the destruction of their natural habitats , the introduction and stocking of any species not indigenous to the marine flora and fauna ; change the edges of the shoreline ( including landfills ), geological exploration , throwing garbage , or the drainage of domestically used water, noise , over flight of aircraft below 200 meters , installing fish farms , fishing, spear-fishing , use of gill nets , fencing or dragging.
Controlled fires
Fires, yesterday morning, in Barossa, Monte, Funchal, Ribeiro Frio and in Santana, were given at the end of the day as being under control by the corporations of the Municipal Fire Departments of Funchal and Santana. Moreover, by the evening, firefighters from several corporations stated that those fires that had reignited in Santa Cruz (Águas Mansas), Funchal and in Santana (Ribeiro Frio and Achada do Teixeira) were all under control. In Funchal, prevention is being guaranteed by the Municipal Fire of Funchal, with several teams and some twenty elements on permanent patrol activities in upland areas of the city. During the morning, the BMF fought rekindled fires in scattered areas in Babosas, Lajinhas (Monte) e Galeão (São Roque), maintaining personal at the sites as a precaution.
Likewise, teams fought re-ignition of this corporation in the Curral dos Romeiros e no Caminho do Meio, near a sports complex. The fire flared up again yesterday morning in the woods at Ribeiro Frio at 11 hours a team of volunteer firefighters from Santana were mobilised, aided by a self support and an emergency services. In Achada do Teixeira, prevention was in the care of the Forestry Police as well as another fire recorded in the area of Pico Canário, in a location away from the road.
University of Madeira opens two more technological specialization courses
The University of Madeira announced today that it will open two new Technology Specialisation Courses in the areas of organic farming and environmental management. In a note released today in Funchal, the University reports that the course in Organic Farming will have a training plan for three semesters and include on the job training in the School of Agriculture of St. Vincent. As for the Environmental Management will be taught for four semesters after working hours. Those interested should take a course of secondary education or equivalent. They may also apply for or hold a professional qualification level of a technological specialisation diploma or a degree or diploma of higher education and persons aged over 23 years professional experience .
Many thanks to Sue and Paul for sending in contributions for this blog.
One of yesterday’s front page stories in the Diário was about a young man ‘Navarro’ who fell off a wall and broke his back. He only has movement from the neck upwards, and since the accident has spent the last 29 months in hospital, because of his lack of mobility. He is due to be moved to a care home for old people, but even then he will still be ‘housebound’. He needs desperately an electric wheelchair to give him some mobility. An account in the Bank Montepio has been opened in the hope that the 9 thousand Euros needed to buy the wheelchair can be raised, and the publicity from the Diário will hopefully get this underway. If any readers can help the account (NIB) number is 003601589910006658455. FULL ARTICLE HERE
Whilst I am surprised that the electric wheelchair will cost so much, as a quick look on the internet reveals there are many that cost far far less, it’s no surprise that Navarro has spent so long without a wheelchair, and possibly without peoples generosity will never get one. It happens a lot, and there are many similar stories that have appeared throughout the years. Personally, I think that it’s a disgrace that the state doesn’t help in these cases where people are born with a disability, or have an accident or illness that leaves them with a serious disability. But it’s a fact. If someone needs such a wheelchair, then they have to come up with the money themselves. Der
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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 dermadeira-blog@yahoo.co.uk 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 / madeira4u © 2007 – 2010 All Rights Reserved
spain cracks down on speeding foreign drivers …from euronews
http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/19/spain-cracks-down-on-speeding-foreign-drivers/
bull jumps at spanish arena 40 hurt….from euronews
http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/19/bull-jumps-into-crowd-at-spanish-arena-40-hurt/
117 strategies for 2010. re the USA but maybe for u too if u have spare dime
He admits some mixed results, but he’s “sticking with them for the second half” and on into the coming dark days of 2011. I’m sticking with Julia:
1. Buy Treasury Bonds: Stay with this big winner. Stockholders hate them, but this is a safe haven in the coming deflation storm on into 2011. Long maturities. Zero-coupons. Lower commissions. That’s “Insight.” Now imagine Eat-Pray-Love’s Julia’s voiceover: “There’s no trouble in this world so serious that it can’t be cured with a hot bath, a glass of whiskey and the Book of Common Prayer.” Okay, guys would prefer an NFL game with his buddies and a Bud. Winners all around.
2. Buy Income-Producing Securities: Still viable. Stock market’s gone nowhere for 12 years, says Shilling. Pick selective income-producers: utilities, drugs, telecoms, hi-grade munis, preferreds, etc. Buy direct or ETFs. Then Julia reminds us: “God never slams a door in your face without opening a box of Girl Scout cookies.”
3. Buy Consumer Staples and Foods: Less volatility than S&P 500. Hey, you gotta eat, brush teeth, wash your clothes. Good bet in good and bad times. Julia agrees: “In a world of disorder and disaster and fraud, sometimes … the meal is the only currency that is real.”
4. Buy Small Luxuries: Stay aboard. Yes, discounts, house brands, frugality’s in. But still, we all want the best of the little things, “cheap chic,” say Gary and Fred. Not Julia’s Girl-Scout cookies, treat yourself with favorite chocolates, wine, cigars.
5. Buy The Dollar: Should continue to rise. Bet on futures, puts, ETFs on the dollar index. Julia is patriotic and spiritual: “Faith is belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch. Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark.”
6. Buy Eurodollar Futures: Unbelievable winner, and more to go. And if you’re traveling, Julia tempts with this mouth-waterer: “Please go to this pizzeria. Order the margherita pizza with double mozzarella. If you do not eat this pizza when you are in Naples, please lie to me and tell me that you did.” Yes, it’s all in your head.
Okay folks, that’s it, only six Insight “buys.” Here’s what our Eat-Pray-Love guru might add when you buy-sell-hope: “You have every right to cherry-pick when it comes to moving your spirit and finding peace in God. You take whatever works from wherever you can find it, and you keep moving toward the light.” Yes, even with these 11 “sells.”
7. Sell U.S. Stocks in General: Declines likely to continue. In May, Insight warned the recovery was “Four Cylinders, One Firing.” Only inventory was firing. Missing? Jobs. Consumers. Housing. Slow growth. All in “secular bear that started in 2000 and has years to run.” Yes, years. Can you still be happy? Yes, says Julia’s guru: “People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you’re fortunate enough. But that’s not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it.” Harder in a recession, but you just do it.
8. Sell Homebuilder & Selected Related Stocks: More weakness ahead. And it will get worse. Millions mortgage-holders under water, can’t sell, can’t refi. Families in stress. Solution: Eat-Pray-Love and listen: “Real, sane, mature love–the kind that pays the mortgage year after year and picks up the kids after school–is not based on infatuation but on affection and respect.”
9. Sell Selected Big-Ticket Consumer Discretionary Equities: Still vulnerable: Autos, appliances, hospitality. Rebates gone. Postponing purchases. Save, get frugal, flow with reality. Julia: “Every day a person is presented with not two or even three but dozens of choices … our modern world has become a neurosis-generating machine of the highest order.” Stop, make time to eat, to pray, to love.
10. Sell Banks and Other Financial Institutions: Remain vulnerable. Including Fannie, Freddie, regionals, small banks. More regulations. By 2014 bank portfolios have $800 billion mortgages coming due, two-thirds underwater. Huge impact on capital. Sell. What would Julia say: Eat in moderation, love, pray a lot.
11. Sell Consumer Lenders’ Stocks: More declines in credit cards, etc. Americans save more, cut their borrow’n'spend binge. Reduce stress says Julia: “The only thing the mind hears all day is clanging bells and noise and argument, and all it wants is quietude. The only place the mind will ever find peace is inside the silence of the heart. That’s where you need to go.” You too.
12. Sell Low & Old Tech Capital Equipment Producers: Falling trend. Mega excess capacity. Capital spending dropping says Insight. Julia worries that you’re holding onto the past: “You must find another reason to work, other than the desire for success or recognition.” Your passion “must come from another place.”
13. If You Plan to Sell Your House, Second Home or Investment Houses Any Time Soon, Do So Yesterday: Too much inventory, and fear. Warning: Down another 20%. Julia says you will survive because “somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” That’s your true home.
14. Sell Junk Bonds: Rally’s overdone, warns Gary. Slow growth recovery, deflation fears, “lethal for many junk bonds.” The “New Normal” cuts returns in half. We chase junk. Bigger risks. Julia: “That’s your problem. You’re wishing too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughta be.” Accept the New Normal. Stop chasing deals like a teenager in heat.
15. Sell Commercial Real Estate: Got ahead of itself. Hotel occupancies down. Office vacancies up. Refinancing trouble looms. Maybe short REITs and ETFs. Julia knows our “world is so corrupted, misspoken, unstable, exaggerated and unfair, one should trust only what one can experience with one’s own senses.” Are you trusting Wall Street? Or your own life experiences?
16. Sell Most Commodities: Soft economy, soft commodities. Insight warns of “unattractive investments in coming years of weak demand, excessive capacity and soft prices.” China’s a big importer, aggressively tying up global supplies. Risky bets. So imagine you’re lost and listen to your Eat-Pray-Love guru: “When you’re lost in those woods, it sometimes takes you a while to realize that you are lost. For the longest time, you can convince yourself that you’ve just wandered a few feet off the path … Then night falls again … you still have no idea where you are … you have bewildered yourself so far off the path that you don’t even know from which direction the sun rises anymore.” Are commodities taking you off your path?
17. Sell Developing Country Stocks, Bonds: They depend on exports, are vulnerable to global weakness. China overheating. Risks in India, Brazil, Vietnam, etc. Wall Street pushes overseas investing, they love the commissions. Warning, go slow cautions Julia: “Time, when pursued like a bandit, will behave like one; always remaining one country or one room ahead of you, changing its name and hair color to elude you, slipping out the back door of the motel just as you’re banging through the lobby with your newest search warrant, leaving only a burning cigarette in the ashtray to taunt you.” The only real winner investing overseas is your Wall Street broker collecting all commissions you pay.
What a combo: Warnings from Gary Shilling’s “Buy-Sell-Hope” Insights newsletter. Plus Girl Scout Cookie advice from our Eat-Pray-Love guru, with “Pretty Woman” Julia Roberts’ voice-over. Let’s top it off with one more of her jewels: “The Bhagavad Gita, that ancient Indian Yogic text, says that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection. So now I have started living my own life. Imperfect and clumsy as it may look, it is resembling me now, thoroughly.” Get it? The market, the economy, the whole world may crash … but will you crash with it? Or will you still be the “best you?” Will you fulfill your destiny?
2Lets hope they start clearing up Garajau soon, the dissused land by the carpark looks a total mess, and so much rubbish , im there with the dog in the mornings and i pick up a lot of rubbish and put it in the nearby bins, which there are plenty of, i need one of them rubbish grabbers anyone know where i can get one, i would be happy to clear some of the rubbish each morning while im out with the dog , but cant keep bending down to pick it up.
The area has looked a mess for a long time now, all new plants planted and then never looked after, wind and rain has done its damage as well, the disused pool there is such a sight the council should fine the people that own it for leaving in in such a bad state….
Ok thats my rant… nite.
3Totally agree Tobi …. will look for a pooper scooper when in UK!
4Not a pooper scoop, i want a rubbish picker like this….
http://www.betterlifehealthcare.com/view_product.php?prodID=473
5Tobi, as you know, Garajau was done (along with many other false facade fronts) for Berties gains = looks good before the election but then it falls into the neglected non funded and not high enough profile category to not matter anymore …. ‘excuse me, but wot about the tourist’s who are the life blood of Madeira?!? Wake up Bertie – Oh, sorry, you are in Porto Santo watching the smoke rising from your burning Island as we speak (Nero) — have another beer and Cuban Cigar Sir! Just leave it to us to host, educate, elucidate and encourage visitors to “your” Island. In the meantime, perhaps you’d like to think about the effects that the recent devastating floods and fires (and frankly your totally inept tourist board and their pathetic reaction to same) have had on “your” worldwide image – not good sir ….. sorry, did I disturb your drink? Did I dare to tell the truth? No matter, some of us are working on your behalf for the benefit of Madeira……and we don’t have Aunts and Uncles etc. in the construction (destruction) industry…………
6Does anyone know anything about portuguese language courses offered at the university?
For the English speakers who now live full time in Madeira how did you learn to speak the language?
Unfortunately I have to speak to my madeiran family and others in spanish or english as I have virtually no portuguese.
Suggestions welcomed.
7There are one to one/or couples courses at The English Centre in Funchal, 35 EUR per hour for a couple (cannot remember how much for one), the courses restart on 1 September.
8‘morning…..please excuse my earlier rant – I was tired and emotional!
Re learning to speak portuguese, we were fortunate enough to be introduced to a lovely lady teacher who took us through the basics sat supping coffee in cafes various in Funchal – very civilised and we became “street wise” suprisingly quickly!
We started at street level (sic) with naming objects around us and then placed them in conversational sentences, adding comments on the weather, household rooms and items in the house etc – O.K. so whilst my grammar is not perfect (English also) we certainly have learnt to communicate in spoken Portuguese and our neighbours are still “fine tuning” us – especially over a beer or two, good fun!
Contact details if required……good luck Wendy.
9Jon I agree with you, particularly about the Tourist Board.
10It certainly won’t be much help to your excellent B&B.
The shop operatives in Ave. Arriega. are bored and disinterested.
The head office monthly mail outs vis email to which I subscribe give little detailed information and ignore whole regions of the Island.
They know little about the smaller forthcoming events especially local festas and the info on larger ones lacks depth.
The whole organisation needs a “freshen up” like that which occurs in private trading companies every so often.
It should be run by a firm for a fee (not Madeiran to avoid conflict of interests) and it could supplement its paid staff with volunteers as happens successfully elsewhere. regional branches in the sea side towns could be expnded.
My young niece, who is anxious to join the travel industry, did her work experience in St Edmundsbury tourist office last summer and her day was so interesting.
Not only do foreigh tourists require info on accomodation, restaurants, events, and so on but she found many visitors needed genealogy information.
This is because so many Americans trace their roots back to East Anglia.
So the Tourist office has branched out in this regard.
Surely Madeira’s Tourist Office could be revitalised and expand its activities beyond tired leaflets and staff, give more info on the regions and become excited about their role.
Madeira needs help to improve the lot of its hard working hourly paid resident people. The big controlling companies are already expanding their activities to places like Brazil so they don’t need support.
Martin how the apartment going ?
11Agree about the Tourist Office. The atmosphere in there is unfriendly and formal.The surroundings stark compared to what I think of as a tourist office, few leaflets, publications etc. They do not give much guidance as to how to get to places. Posters on display are for the regular concerts etc. We have found all sorts of interesting places ‘by accident’. A few years ago we called into the Tourist Office in Porto Moniz near the harbour. We were welcomed, there was lots of literature around and advice given.. The office at Ribeira Brava is better than the Funchal one too with friendlier staff.
12We had a great two weeks on Madeira end of July beginning of August totally agree about the Tourist Office in Funchial. We walked in and out pretty quickly. We have found the office in Machico very welcoming and informative.
13Thanks for the UTube and that wonderful voice – it gives me goose pimples and I have listened more than once.
Did not do any news today – decided it was booring – all political and my interpretation might not have been very accurate!!
The tourist office in Funchal is worse than useless, we could do better ourselves, may be we should think about setting up an office??? They used to be better and had all the leaflets out and about and now it is like a secret cache and you need to know the key to enter the Christel Dome!
14Martin When you was on about pensioners going back to work. I can see them losing heating allowence and free bus travel. On the basis why should they get heating and bus travel, and receive these benifits as well, when you earning money.
15Terrible about the accident in Porto Santo, and if thats the tree in the pic that fell then it should have been dealt with long ago…
Here is a video of when the tree fell…
http://tv2.rtp.pt/noticias/?t=Palmeira-tinha-raizes-podres-e-perito-aponta-negligencia.rtp&article=369649&visual=3&layout=20&tm=8
16Looking at today’s photos in the local papers it looks as though that was the tree! should have been felled months if not years ago!
Great inputs today – does anyone know if the young sailor will stop at Madeira? in the UK press it said either Madeira or Canaries but no dates. Also it said that she was supposed to have left from Portugal but rumour has it she left from Gibraltar.
17Hello Sue
Yes Laura will stop at Madeira before she goes to the Canaries. It is in Dutch but this is her route.
http://www.lauradekker.nl/lauradekker/download/2Laura_Dekker_De_Passaat_Route.pdf
The whole year she was big news in Holland. Because of her age many people had something to say about her. Many times she had to go to the court and her parents had lost custody over Laura. In the beginning of august they got it back and Laura could leave. She left to Portimao with her Father. They had to do some testing on the boat at sea.The plan was to start there. But she was not aloud to leave there on her own, because of her age. Then she went to Gibraltar. After a visit on land she left alone without her father. She is on her way to The Canaries. But I understood from her blog. She is first stopping in Madeira.
http://www.lauradekker.nl/Basis.aspx?Tid=2&Lid=12&Lit=VIEW
The blog is in Dutch. The English translation is not up to date.
I don’t know when she will arrive at Madeira.
The plan of Laura is to do this trip in 2 years time. She will stay on the Canaries until the season of the tornadoes are over maybe until December After that she will go on.
The time she is not on the sea will do her schoolwork on the internet on the World school. She is not coming back for that to Holland. This is what I now about her.
If you want to know more let me know. Der has my emailadres.
18Yes it was the Tree Sue, and been showing signs of not being in good heath since 2001.
I saw the accident in Portugal on the news this morning, very bad , the weather was bad as well, 46 cars and lorry’s were involved and as of this morning 6 had died, 4 adults and 2 children.
Also did anyone see the story of a lady driving in Funchal i think Sao Roque area , knocking down 6 people and just carried on driving, dont know how bad people were injured…
19UPDATE ON NAVARRO – The lad who needed an electric wheelchair, as reported on the bottom of this blog, now has enough money to buy what he needs. The bank account quoted has now been closed, the target having been reached, and the organisers thank everyone who helped. That was really quick to have raised €9,000+, less than 7 days!
Re the palm tree collapse on Porto Santo, the council had already identified it as a problem, and had planned to deal with it after the Summer, as the rotten roots were not visible. An investigation has already been started, and could result in someone up in court. The council has insurance for such matters.
20Laura Dekker (14) is today arrived on the Canaries. So I think she will not visit Madeira after all. She is doing well and had a good trip on sea.
21Thanks for all the infor Anneke – husband is Belgian and I lived in Tongeren for 11 years in the 70′s so my Dutch is very very rusty but his is still good.
22euro zone lending picks up,,,from euro news
http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/26/euro-zone-lending-picks-up/
23Anyone know for how long the road works on the via rapida will be there? I was driving to pick up friends at the airport and got caught in an 18km traffic jam and it’s on both sides of the motorway fortunately had a shorter wait on my return trip ….what joy!!!
24Just glad I wasn’t catching a plane!
Hallo Sue
I live in Tilburg only 10 kilometers from the border with Belgium.
25I really like to have some personnel contact with people on the island.
Can I write to you personelly?
Thanks.
Tongeren is a beautifull old town. I like Belgium but I don’t come there so often anymore, although I live so close by.
farming blue fin tuna….from euro news
http://www.euronews.net/2010/07/23/farming-bluefin-tuna/
26The road works last time were ‘estimated for three days” and lasted 5-6 if I remember correctly. The same estimate was made this time, so give it a week.
Anneke – love to hear from you – Der has my email address – dermadeira-blog@yahoo.co.uk – Sue
27Thanks Sue
28I won’t hold my breath then
Road works already into the second week if not 3rd on the motorway so sure they will be finishing soon.
29