The Diario reports that as a result of the strike of workers and employees of NAV SITAVA the only flight movements to be made at Madeira Airport during the day will be those safeguarded as “minimum services”, specifically

Departures

- TP1604 to Lisbon: 10.20

- S41694 to Porto Santo: 12.50

Arrivals

- S41695 Porto Santo: 13:50

- TP1627 Lisbon: 17.50

Of the remaining flights, a total of 50 (25 arrivals and 25 departures), 24 were cancelled and 26 operations rescheduled by the airlines.

According to reports from ANAM – Airports and Air Navigation Madeira – "for lack of means of assistance at Madeira Airport, “due to adhesion of human resources and Rescue Service Fire Fighting the strike called by SITAVA” up to 16.00 hours today, flights will only be guaranteed only military operations, search and rescue and emergency services as well as the “minimum services”above. "

As a result of the rescheduling of flights for tomorrow, Saturday May 19 , "it is recommended that all passengers to travel to Madeira Airport only after confirmation of your flight schedule with the airlines, their representatives and travel agents ".

A little good news – the price of all fuel falls more than two cents from midnight on Monday

The prices that will apply next week are a result of a joint order of the “Vice-Presidency of the Government and the Department of Planning and Finance” published today in the Official Journal of the Autonomous Region. The new prices are below:

Prices in effect from Monday:

Unleaded petrol IO 95 ……….. € 1.738 per litre (currently € 1.766 per litre)

Diesel.…………………………………… € 1.435 per litre (currently € 1.459 per litre)

The link to Casa Parsons is on the right, and at the bottom of the same sidebar you might notice a new link promoting the excellent work of the English Church, who are holding a Flower Festival to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee over the weekend of the 1st to the 4th of June.

The golf club replied saying “We are sorry to hear that (wrong dates published) but as it is not our responsibility unfortunately we can’t give any compensation” Actually I didn’t suggest this – I just mentioned that perhaps they could donate a free round of golf.

With this in mind I thought I would have a look at what reputable sites that should be promoting Madeira are saying about the event tonight. This is typical (no names!) but the source of the misinformation has to be the same…

And finally from Santo da Serra Golf’s own web site (although they have changed the date at the top of the same page):

What a shambles – surely tourism is struggling badly enough at the moment without somebody getting things so wrong – what a waste!! Very little TV coverage as well due to there being a major in the States at exactly the same time – the highest world-ranked entrant in the Madeira Open was No 192 with just four players ranked in the 200’s

In the intervening three years, Porto Santo Golfe on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo hosted the tournament, which was won last year by Northern Irishman Michael Hoey.

Santo da Serra, designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr in 1991, was the venue for the Madeira Islands Open for 12 seasons, from 1997 to 2008, having taken over from Campo de Golfe de Madeira, which hosted the first four editions beginning in 1993.

I could find no entry pricing, and contacted the club Pro, who quickly replied “Entry is Free all visitors are welcome and we have a free shuttle service from Funchal”

In an unusual step the tariff has already been announced and the airline claims that bookings can be made immediately. “The round-trip flights cost 136 euros, taxes included, while a single trip is priced from 61.50 euros. To celebrate the new routes from Monarch we will offer a discount of 12 euros on booking flights back and forth," the company states.

This is seriously good news – if it turns out to be true – it might reverse the recent trend in rising prices. Hopefully easyJet will adjust their accelerating charges to compete. Currently a one week return with easyJet on the 16th of October is £187.00 before you add the infamous extras (I haven’t investigated Monarch’s extras)

According to a spokesman the company feels it is "is perfectly positioned to penetrate the market of leisure Madeira. Our strategy for the company is now focused firmly on regular operations and it is with great pleasure that we add a new route from Madeira to our already extensive network of leisure destinations across Europe"

The UK in 2011 represented about 20% of traffic from the airport of Madeira, the second biggest market for passengers. The entrance of the British airline to the region “represents an additional supply of 90,480 seats per year” apparently

It is an event that satisfies ANAM, the company that manages the airports Madeira and Porto Santo, because the operation coincides with the beginning IATA winter, "thus contributing to reversing the trend of increased seasonality that has been recorded in this period," says a source.

The same source confirms that the entry of the Monarch at Madeira airport is the result of an intense negotiating effort, due to the strategy that has developed in order to "consolidate the UK market and offer passengers a differentiated offering."

A few Monarch “extras” are mentioned – you can ensure that families and groups to stay together through the payment of a fee of 6 euros per outbound flight, and for customers who want additional comfort seats are available with six inches of extra legroom from 12 euros.

At the same time you have to wonder how long before “Health and Safety” sees these and other tress in Funchal being removed and the cobbles replaced  with perfectly level pavements in order that nobody makes a claim after a fall!

According to the Diario an ocean sunfish was found this morning at Praia Formosa. The newspaper claims that this unusual but others disagree – pointing out that they are common in the temperate waters around Madeira and in particular the North Atlantic Gulf Stream.

The sunfish is the largest bony fish in the world, reaching more than 3 meters in length, and a weight of over two tons. Obviously this one is a “tiddler”!

Wikipedia explains:

The ” Cutty Sark was destined for the tea trade, then an intensely competitive race across the globe from China to London, with a substantial bonus to the ship which arrived with the first tea of the year. Her first round trip voyage under captain George Moodie began 16 February 1870 from London with a cargo of wine, spirits and beer bound for Shanghai. The return journey with 1450 tons of tea from Shanghai began 25 June, arriving 13 October in London via the Cape of Good Hope. The ship completed eight round trip annual journeys, but the Suez Canal had opened to shipping in 1869 just as Cutty Sark was being launched. In the end, of course, clippers lost out to steamships, which could use the shorter route through the Canal and deliver goods more reliably, if not quite so quickly, which proved to be better business.

SAILING UNDER THE PORTUGUESE FLAG 1895 – 1922:

Eventually steamships began to dominate the wool trade too and it ceased to be profitable for a sailing ship. In 1895 Jock Willis sold Cutty Sark to the Portuguese firm Ferreira for £2,100 and she was renamed Ferreira after the firm. Her crews referred to her as Pequena Camisola ("little shirt", a straight translation of the Scots "cutty sark").

The ship traded various cargoes between Portugal, Rio, New Orleans, Mozambique, Angola, and Britain. In May 1916 she was dismasted off the Cape of Good Hope because of the rolling of the ship in bad weather and had to be towed into Table Bay off Cape Town. The war meant that it was impossible to obtain suitable materials to replace the masts so she was re-rigged over 18 months to a barquentine sail arrangement.

In 1922 Ferreira was the last clipper operating anywhere in the world. Caught in a storm in the English channel she put into Falmouth harbour where she was spotted by retired windjammer captain Wilfred Dowman, of Trevissome House, Flushing, Cornwall, who was then operating the training ship Lady of Avenel. The ship returned to Lisbon, where she was sold to new owners and renamed Maria do Amparo. However, Dowman persevered in his determination to buy the ship, which he did for £3,750 and she was returned to Falmouth harbour.

I am therefore investigating a Bulletin Board/Forum to run alongside the blog, which will preserve useful threads (there was another developed recently on gardening for instance) – which can be developed and remain available as a reference library for those seeking advice and up-to-date information.

Does anybody have any strong thoughts – I am leaving this post short to keep the conversation in the previous post accessible on the first page. Thanks in advance.

Full story from winemag.com at http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2012/Fun-with-Fortified-Wines/

Messi is like Kryponite to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Superman: The story behind soccer’s greatest modern rivalry

Goal.com is publishing exclusive extracts from Luca Caioli’s new book, “Ronaldo: The Obsession for Perfection” which charts the Portuguese forward’s spectacular rise from a poor childhood in Madeira to superstardom with Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United and Real Madrid This fifth excerpt looks at his rivalry with Barca’s Argentine star:

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/88/spain/2012/04/20/3048314/messi-is-like-kryponite-to-cristiano-ronaldos-superman-the-story-

Sunvil Holidays has acquired wedding and luxury specialists Planet Holidays.

In the deal, Planet will continue to trade under its current name and has seen Sunvil tap into the growing market for weddings overseas with specialist knowledge. In addition, Planet will be able to increase its destinations and expertise into Sunvil’s specialist areas including the Azores and Madeira. "Planet was the first tour operator to recognise the potential of this (wedding) market and still remains one of the true specialists in this field. The two companies are, I believe, a perfect match" said Noel Josephides, managing director of Sunvil

A quick “Google” revealed a fascinating web site http://www.cork.pt/cork-industry-in-portugal.html 

Apparently Portugal accounts for 50% of the world’s total cork production and about 720,000 hectares of land are dedicated to the cultivation of cork oak trees on the mainland . I had no idea how many different kinds of cork stoppers there are – from “multi-piece” to “colmated”, “agglomerated” and “capsulated”

With Thomson soon to begin its second season of weekly direct flights from Gatwick direct to Porto Santo on 7th May, this review in the Independent is very positive. Always seems to me that people apologise for there being nothing to do on Porto Santo – but surely that’s the idea of a “beach holiday”

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/porto-santo-madeiras-sandy-little-sister-7640800.html

BBC News Jersey reports that St Helier will officially seal its relationship with Funchal with a twinning agreement. The first part of the agreement was signed four years ago but the floods in Madeira in 2010 caused delay in completing the agreement:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-17662941

To much more important matters, and I’m afraid more bad news. This morning we were amazed to find that our usual Chinesa plus Garoto at a modest cafe in the Lido area had moved overnight from 90 + 60 cents to 1.20 plus 1.00. Upon quizzing the owner we were told that this was due to the increase in “IVA” at the start of the month. I might not be the worlds greatest mathematician but this is nearly a 50% price hike, of which perhaps 6% might be attributable to the VAT rise! Or maybe we had just been moved from local prices to tourist prices? I remember Der highlighting this discrepancy on the blog two or three years ago – I have come across it again a few times again recently.

“Tucked beneath towering cliffs on Madeira’s storm-battered west Atlantic coast, the €50 million Marina do Lugar de Baixo aimed to provide the perfect welcome for super-luxury yachts.

Unfortunately, thanks to the huge waves that have fractured the harbour wall three times since it was built in 2005, not even the more adventurous yachtsmen have often been tempted, never mind passing billionaires in floating palaces.

Today it lies abandoned, a chain blocking the road where an Oleg Deripaska or Roman Abramovic might have strode ashore, the white clubhouse empty as the Marie Celeste.

Just as spectacular as the ocean breakers off Lugar de Baixo, however, are the waves of European Union cash that have been splashed around Madeira, a Portuguese-owned island better known for sweet wine and winter sun.

While the marina was financed mainly by the semi-independent Madeiran local government, €3.5 million came from Brussels, which, like the other backers, did not heed warnings that a stretch of coast popular with hard-core surfers might be less ideal for yachters

Similarly, at the nearby promenade and restaurant complex at Frente Mar Madalena, where a rusting plaque marks a €1.2 million EU grant, developers overlooked the risk of rockfalls from the cliffs. Until, that is, a boulder tore a hole through the restaurant’s roof two years ago, since when it too has been empty.

The real big hole though, is the one that such rampant, publicly-backed development has torn in the island’s finances, as it has transformed itself into a resort similar to the Canary Islands further south.

For Madeira is now swimming in debt as deep as the Atlantic waters around it, thanks to a government-backed building spree fuelled in part, critics say, by over-generous Brussels grants. Today, despite a population of just 250,000, the local administration owes some €6 billion, nearly double the per capita public debt of mainland Portugal.

The financial crisis, which only came to light last autumn, is hugely embarrassing for Lisbon’s leaders, who have already had to negotiate an €78 billion bail-out themselves from Brussels and the IMF. The island is now seen as Portugal’s own little answer to Greece, widely considered the most feckless of the southern European debtor club.

"Madeira is like Greece in the Atlantic," said Gil Cana, a councillor in Madeira’s opposition New Democracy Party, which blames years of unhealthily cosy relations between island politicians, developers and Brussels grant-makers.

"The European Union has given money too easily, and the government has borrowed far too much from banks. We are a tiny island, you can hardly see us on any map. To have a debt with so many zeros is crazy."

Sipping coffee in a square in Funchal, Madeira’s balmy capital, Mr Cana looks as relaxed as the elderly British and German tourists wandering past, who like the island’s quiet, yob-free reputation.

Yet in his pocket he has a can of pepper-spray, and when out at night, he takes a Browning 0.25 pistol, both of which he is licensed to carry for personal protection. For within Madeira’s small community of long-term residents, being politically outspoken can have consequences. Mr Cana has been beaten up twice, had his own bar burned down, and had his family’s cars vandalised.

"As a councillor I’ve complained about corruption in building projects, and got a few stopped," he said. "So they use terror against me."

He points the finger at supporters of the island’s president, Alberto João Jardim, 69, who has ruled here ever since 1978, making him one of Europe’s longest-serving elected leaders.

A firebrand throwback to the days of Portugal’s Salazar dictatorship, for which he once wrote propaganda, his popularity has been cemented – quite literally – by the billions he has spent developing the island, which, prior to the end of Portugal’s dictatorship in 1974, was a poverty-stricken backwater.

Today, a 120-mile road and tunnel network links Madeira’s previously isolated mountain communities, cutting journeys around its steep volcanic contours from four hours to just one.

But much of the money came from the €2bn in EU grants handed out over the last 25 years, and when that started to dry up a decade ago, Mr Jardim began borrowing on the open market instead, via publicly-backed development firms.

Thus did construction continue, to the point where today, even small villages boast lavish civic centres, swimming pools, and football pitches.

As the government-owned newspaper, the Jornal, dutifully reports, the president cuts the ribbons at up to 450 opening ceremonies a year, using them for political rallies where he denounces his enemies in lengthy speeches. Spain’s El Mundo newspaper calls him "El Maestro del Insulto" – the master of insults.

"He has accused me of being a Communist, a Marxist, and a member of Opus Dei, among other things," sighed Michael Blandy, chair of the Blandy Group, part of a powerful English business community that settled on the island 200 years ago, when Madeira’s position on the trade winds routes made it a pitstop for both the Old and New Worlds.

Today, as well as making Madeira wine, Mr Blandy owns the island’s main independent newspaper, drawing further barbs from Mr Jardim that he is a "colonialist".

"President Jardim is quite a reasonable character in person, and did a lot of good development work in the old days," added Mr Blandy, who complains that the Jornal – which gets €3 million a year in public funds – is unfair competition.

"Unfortunately, there has been too much chasing of EU subsidies, which have been dished out like no tomorrow, and to which the island got addicted like a drug.

"Then, around 2000, when money from Brussels become more restricted, we saw the start of more creative accounting, when Mr Jardim set up firms borrowing money to build yet more roads and golf courses. The whole thing is out of control."

Indeed, many claim that Madeira has lurched from underdevelopment to overdevelopment. In some areas, the expressways, tunnels and flyovers look more like a suburb of Los Angeles. And white elephant projects abound.

Industrial parks accessible only by steep mountain roads stand largely empty. A helicopter landing terminal has never been used. In Machico village, population 10,000, the seafront is dominated by a vast municipal hall more suited to a large London borough, its theatre and twin cinema screens open only a few nights a year, its two restaurants unused.

"It was built using calculations done on a napkin," said Joseph Freitas, a local hotel waiter. "Jardim is good at standing up for Madeirans’ rights, but he could use his resources better."

While much of the public cash for such projects has come from the Portuguese government, Lisbon claims the EU’s past willingness to offer matching funding encouraged over-building. "The whole country has too much construction, not just Madeira," insists the prime minister Passos Coelho, whose centrist Social Democratic Party Mr Jardim also belongs to.

However, while a spokesman for the European Commission insisted that there were "many good projects co-financed by the EU in Madeira," the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, recently singled the island as an example of how not to spend EU regional development funds.

"There are many beautiful tunnels and highways," she said in February. "But this did not contribute to competitiveness."

Mr Jardim has responded in typically combative style to criticisms of his financial management, describing Mrs Merkel as "ignorant", and the island’s debts as a mere "drop in the ocean".

When the credit agency Moody’s downgraded Madeira’s debt last summer, he even declared that Moody’s inspectors were banned from the island.

Such populist rhetoric goes down well with the Madeiran public, which voted him back in for another four year term last October, albeit with just 48 per cent of the vote, his worst result in 33 years. However, Eduardo Walsh, whose blog is Madeira’s answer to Private Eye, argues that Portugal’s national leaders should have reined him in years ago.

"Jardim is a real dictator," he said. "But nothing has been done at national level to stop him, because they are scared of him agitating for Madeira to become independent."

Like other government critics, Mr Walsh has suffered for his beliefs. The government has brought dozens of libel lawsuits against him, including an ongoing one for a cartoon comparing Mr Jardim to Hitler, in which Mr Walsh was acquitted. The president has now appealed

Mr Waslsh and fellow activists also claim to have been roughed up by Mr Jardim’s bodyguards and supporters while heckling at public openings, which they attend in a hearse with the slogan "bury the corrupt". The one benefit of the debt crisis, he says, is that it brings international scrutiny to Madeira’s problems.

Perhaps with that in mind, the president’s office has been declined recent interview requests from foreign journalists.

However, a man who attends as many public functions as Mr Jardim is not hard to track down, and The Sunday Telegraph caught up with him as he sat down to an anniversary dinner for a local carnival group. Far from summoning his minders, he proved charming – if defiant.

"Madeira was very poor before, and the only way forward was increasing the public debt," he said. "If I hadn’t done that, we’d still be saddled with the rest of Portugal’s debts today anyway."

What about the claims of intimidation? Nonsense, he smiled, the work of "fascists" in the opposition and "cowardly bloggers" like Mr Walsh.

And the white elephants, such as the wave-damaged Marina do Lugar?

"I am not like your British empire, I cannot rule the waves. There has been some structural damage, yes, but we are repairing it."

With that, he turned back to entertaining his dining companions – but just how much longer he will be the toast of Madeira’s grand opening nights is another matter.

Like his mainland counterparts, Mr Jardim has had no choice but to sign up to unpopular austerity measures that will involve slashing public spending by a third and raising local taxes, heralding tough years ahead for residents.

Last Thursday, in a sign of unprecedented dissent in the local party, the mayor of Funchal, Miguel Albuquerque, also declared he would run against Mr Jardim for the SDP leadership.

"Jardim could have been a great national politician, but he just wanted to be Mr Big here," said Mr Walsh.

"Now even that is coming to an end."

Reproduced from the reporting of Colin Freeman in the Daily Telegraph.

Madeira’s Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way as Real Madrid book date with Bayern Munich

From The Daily Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/9186160/Cristiano-Ronaldo-leads-the-way-against-APOEL-as-goal-hungry-Real-Madrid-book-date-with-Bayern-Munich.html

“Three up from the first leg, the nine-times champions started brightly but had to wait until the 26th minute to open the scoring as Cristiano Ronaldo tapped home Marcelo’s cross.
Kaka doubled Real’s lead with a stunning effort from outside the area eight minutes before half-time, but the best goal was scored by Gustavo Manduca as he pulled one back for the visitors after a flowing team move midway through the second half.

Ronaldo soon restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage and substitutes Jose Maria Callejon and Angel Di Maria added further goals either side of Esteban Solari’s 82nd-minute penalty for the visitors.
Jose Mourinho rested some of his established stars as Xabi Alonso, Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema started on the Real bench.

But one who did play was Ronaldo, who bagged his 48th goal of the season when he bundled the ball home

Kaka scored the second with a brilliant curling effort…”

Full article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/9186160/Cristiano-Ronaldo-leads-the-way-against-APOEL-as-goal-hungry-Real-Madrid-book-date-with-Bayern-Munich.html

Reids Auto Classic Show: April 21st

From the official pages of Madeira Tourism:

“On April 21st the Reids Palace hotel will be hosting the FIRST EDITION of “ Reids Auto Classic Show”, an annual event which aims to promote the best and most elegant classic cars made until 1980. These vehicles will be exhibited on Estrada Monumental from Villa Cipriani Restaurant till Largo da Paz.

This exhibition sums a total of with 300 cars and 60 motorcycles and will include several entertainment activities such a carsrestorations project show, and an automobile fair, amongst others.

This event was promoted in collaboration with three of the local classic and vintage vehicles enthusiasts such as , João Mendes de Almeida, Francisco Urbino Rebelo and Eduardo Jesus, in addition to other activities that will take place during the Flower Festival celebrations on the island.”

More details here: http://www.facebook.com/ReidsPalaceClassicAutoShow

All images from the Diario Newspaper or Facebook official pages unless otherwise stated

Madeira: heavy rain forecast Wednesday morning

Both on the north and south coasts of Madeira Island. To keep up to date with the weather see The Instituto de Meteorologia site:

http://www.meteo.pt/en/index.html

Rainy Easter in Portugal?

From the Instituto de Meteorologia site:

“Portugal mainland is under the influence of a depression that will condition the weather during the Easter holidays, causing atmospheric instability throughout the mainland, accompanied by a drop in temperatures.

According to the forecasting Center of IM, we will have showers on Wednesday and the possibility of thunderstorms, most likely in the interior regions north and center during the afternoon and may be snow in the Serra da Estrela by the end of the day.

For Thursday, 5, it is expected a worsening of conditions of instability, with the occurrence of showers, sometimes heavy and accompanied by hail and thunderstorms in northern and central interior regions. We could have snow above the 1000 meters. It is also forecasted a slight decrease in air temperature.

On Friday it is expected a gradual decrease of the conditions of instability, although it still provides the possibility of showers in the whole country, more frequent in the south. Above 1000 meters it will be snow showers and the cota will be climbing for 1300/1500 meters along the day.

For Saturday and Sunday IM continues to predict the possibility of showers, although less frequent and less intense.

IM suggests the monitoring of this information through its web page” see above

Google Art Project includes works of art depicting Madeira

The Island Of Madeira (1831-39) John Glover in the National Gallery of Australia Canberra

Watch this amazing film which shows the potential of the Art Project!

“The Art Project is a collaboration between Google and 151 acclaimed art partners from across 40 countries. Using a combination of various Google technologies and expert information provided by our museum partners, we have created a unique online art experience. Users can explore a wide range of artworks at brushstroke level detail, take a virtual tour of a museum and even build their own collections to share. With a team of Googlers working across many product areas we are able to harness the best of Google to power the Art Project experience. Few people will ever be lucky enough to be able to visit every museum or see every work of art they’re interested in but now many more can enjoy over 30 000 works of art from sculpture to architecture and drawings and explore over 150 collections from 40 countries, all in one place. We’re also lucky at Google to have the technology to make this kind of project a reality.”

link: http://www.googleartproject.com/collection/national-gallery-of-australia-canberra/artwork/the-island-of-madeira-john-glover/715294/

All images from the Diario Newspaper or Facebook official pages unless otherwise stated

Madeira’s WHITE GOLD

The Madeira Islands became a major producer and supplier of sugar what was historically known as the ‘white gold’.

Its lands were very difficult to cultivate and slaves were brought in from Africa to work in the sugar cane farms and mills. In the 15th and 16th centuries sugar was considered a luxury and as plantations expanded this industry became very important to the local economy.

Madeira Sugar was known all over Europe and attracted many traders and merchants who settled in Funchal and its surroundings, spreading as far as Ponta do Sol, Calheta, Ribeira Brava; all areas becoming big producers of sugar cane.

Funchal port being a busy sugar trading centre was frequently visited by merchants who would trade various products such as tools, cloth, clay, iron, meat, salt and olive oil all in exchange for sugar. Another very important trade was with Flanders.

Madeira’s sugar was traded for unique works of art
Sugar was traded for unique works of art like the Sé Cathedral Altar Painting and the artistic wooden ceiling, the Flemish collection is still found today at the sacred art museum.

In the year 1500 Madeira Island was the largest sugar exporter in the world

..but, by the end of the century the sugarcane production fell due to over-production and a cane disease that destroyed most of the fields.

Today three sugar cane processing factories still exist and in early April their machines process the raw constituents of honey (cane syrup) molasses and rum. These factories can be visited at Ribeiro Sêco in Funchal, Calheta and Porto da Cruz. But, it’s best to contact the owners before arrival.

Calheta’s Engenhos

Film of Calheta’s Engenhos on the hill before Calheta Town’s white sand beaches

Calheta’s white sand beaches

What’s happening this weekend? includes:

7th Sugar Cane Agricultural Fair in Canhas, region of Ponta do Sol on the hottest, sunniest south-west coast of Madeira

Quorum Ballet, Funchal 31 de Março

21H30, Auditório do Centro de Congressos do Casino da Madeira será title of performance “Correr o Fado”:

Hugo Camara FILM

Another impressive film from Madeiran photographer/artist Hugo Camara. Thanks Hugo.

Music
Dishwalla – Angels or Devils ( acoustic )

Equipment
Canon 5D2
Canon 17-40
Stage Zero Dolly

More great entertainment in Madeira in March, April includes:

3 WAYS TO INCREASE ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY OF PORTUGAL’S PORTS
From: The Economist

Charting a new course

Other countries’ experience suggest three ways to bolster Portugal’s seaport performance.

First, more competition is needed at the ports: contracts should be extended only after transparent retendering, with new competitors invited to bid. This can reap real benefits: in the Netherlands service costs dropped by a quarter after a new tugboat operator entered.

Second, the unions must be tackled. Encouraging more firms to provide services would again improve things: in Hong Kong seven companies provide loading services and six offer ship repairs.

Finally, Portugal should reconsider its role as a port landlord. Selling up has worked in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Private owners would be better at taking on vested interests.

A sale could raise around €1 billion for the cash-strapped exchequer

And since efficient ports often lead to a strong export sector, according to the United Nations, it could have wider benefits, too…

Full article: http://www.economist.com/node/21551072

Portugal produced best government bond returns in developed world so far this year!

From the FINANCIAL TIMES

“Portugal, the eurozone country many investors believe will be next to suffer a debt restructuring after Greece, has produced the best government bond returns in the developed world so far this year..”

link to full article: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8ccfcba-798f-11e1-b87e-00144feab49a.html#axzz1qWyASsad

All images from the Diario Newspaper or Facebook official pages unless otherwise stated

Scuba-diving in Madeira

Scuba-diving centres in Madeira include:

Anthia Diving Center. Their latest film:

All images from the Diario or Facebook official pages unless otherwise stated

Portugal best value for money for eating and drinking out

From Portugal Daily View.com:

“Portugal has overthrown Spain as the cheapest place to eat and drink out, according to the Post Office Holiday Barometer survey quoted by the British newspaper Daily Mirror on Monday, 26 March. (Read PDV article – Crisis: eat well for little money in Lisbon)

Three course meal for a family of four with coffee, beer and Coca-Cola: 52.8 euros!

Portugal’s cheap eating and drinking topped the survey which compared the cost of a “three course meal for a family of four with coffee, beer and Coca-Cola“. The study found that Portugal was the frontrunner in the list of cheapest places with a €52.8 bill, while the same meal in Spain would come to €63.96. In Greece, on the other hand, the final amount would be €66.21, and in France, €82.58.

Madeira: eating and drinking out

Cost of living in Portugal is still quite cheap

The cost of living in Portugal is still quite cheap compared to most European countries, adding to its touristic appeal – with the majority of prices coming well under those practiced in Britain. Compare the cost of the following:

- Espresso coffee – €0.65

- Draft beer – €0.80/ €1.20 in Lisbon’s bars

- Coca-Cola – €1.30

- Pastel de Nata (custard tart) – €1.05

- Big Mac menu – €4.75

- Meal at one of Lisbon’s finest restaurants “Restaurante Olivier” – €40 (including dessert; excluding wine)