Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Sarah … from the gardens at Quinta Splendida, Caniço.

An interesting article here on Winston Churchill’s visits to Madeira many years ago: WINSTON CHURCHILL

Marítimo play Caniçal in the final of the Madeira Cup tonight. I can’t imagine who could possibly win that.

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‘Fátima Continues To Attract Pilgrims – More than 200 Madeirans made the trip to the shrine. Through this many keep their faith alight’. Faith still speaks louder than the crisis, and despite the shortage of money two hundred faithfuls managed to make the journey to the Fátima shrine in Portugal. The shrine continues to focus crowds around the world, and this year is the 92nd anniversary since the three children of shepherds saw the apparition. The tour operator ‘Intertours’ reported double the number of bookings compared to last year, some people even making a bit of a holiday of the event with a mini cruise at €565 per person. Bravatour on the other hand had a 20% drop in business. There were lots of late bookings. I don’t like to dabble in other peoples religious beliefs so this is not about Fátima in particular, but doesn’t the Diário realise that many people are better off now than they have ever been, as the crisis and shortage of money hits the unemployed. Those who still have good jobs are paying massively less on their mortgages, and have never had it so good … it’s just getting them to spend it, but they won’t because they fear for the future. I am just making the point that day after day we hear that everyone is skint, but it is just not true.

A 36 year old man died in Funchal central Hospital, after being hit by a Eucalyptus tree. He was out cutting trees with 3 colleagues in São Jorge, when a falling tree hit him, injuring him so badly that he later lost his life.

‘Twenty Cultural Institutions Left Without Support’. Twenty two applicants for funding support were considered by the regional government, but only one was approved in full, with another suffering a 70% cut in funding. Porta 33 and the Experimental Theatre of Funchal (both who make the news now and again) did get funding. Those turned down included a choir, an ethnographic and folklore group, a theatre association, and an archeology study centre. Tight finances are blamed. It’s a shame that Uncle Bertie blew that half million € on his secret trips, because that would have funded most of these applications.