Madeira News Blog

Today’s photo – Many thanks to Elaine from the West … Municipal gardens Funchal

Good morning!

I am back in business, for now at least.

If you missed the blog during the last week, please consider joining me and the other regular contributors to keep it going.

I have nothing to report / publish yet today, but hopefully something will come in, and then maybe normality will return tomorrow.

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… and sure enough along came Elaine, the first to try and breathe some life back into the blog … many thanks.

"Der, welcome back, you have been missed. Might have more helpers after starving them into submission. Martin was asking for this translation and received a couple of replies through the comments section. I thought it would be of interest". Let’s hope so Elaine, although of course the starvation was rather forced on me …

Madeira Wine embarks on a journey of circumnavigation on board the ‘Sagres’. 55 litre pipa will recreate the epic ‘Vinho da Roda’. Date: 22/01/2010. A pipa (traditional Portuguese barrel / cask with tapering ends used to transport / age wine) with 55 litres of Madeira Wine was taken on board the Portuguese training ship, the ‘Sagres’, this Friday to make a third circumnavigation trip and recreate the epic wine named the ‘Vinho da Roda’. The ‘Sagres’ anchored this morning off the bay of Funchal, a brief stop in the first leg of the journey that will last 11 months, to receive the pipa which was carried in a traditional Madeiran rowing boat. The ship’s captain, Proença Mendes said, "The Navy provided the ship for a mission to represent the State (Portugal) at several stops," planned for its presence in the Sails Regatta of South America, commemorating 200 years of independence of Argentina and Chile, the Shanghai Expo 2010, the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce between Portugal and Japan and the celebrations of 500 years of Portuguese expansion in the Far East." According to the official, the ‘Sagres’ usually receives an average of 15 thousand visitors per day in each port, and at Funchal where it frequently attends. The training ship is "also the country’s cultural diplomacy" and receptions on board will disclose its genuine Portuguese products, so taken on this trip are "good Portuguese bacalhau (about 2,200 kilos dried cod), Madeira Wine and several table wines that will be served to make an even better representation of the country."

Casco "back and forth". Regarding the pipa of Madeira Wine on board, he stressed that this is a casco (cask) of 55 litres, which unfortunately has to come back," recalling that "for 500 years it has been known that the wines fortify; when they return back after being on board, they are more rich and flavoursome." "Let’s do this experiment: take a casco duly sealed, back and forth, which is then compared with those here, to see if it is worth continuing with this ‘travel turned’ wine," he said. The ‘Sagres’ also takes 30 bottles of Madeira Wine offered by IVBAM to be used in tastings at different ports visited. Proença Mendes also said that this third circumnavigation trip "is sponsored by external support, and the Instituto do Vinho da Madeira saw an opportunity to join this mission, and by promoting genuine Portuguese products fulfil our mission of economic diplomacy." Meanwhile, the president of the Wine, Embroidery and Handicrafts Institute (IVBAM), Paula Cabaço explained that traders realized that during the double passage of Madeira Wine through the tropics, the heat and motion "gave it very good properties, aging it prematurely and this wine was much appreciated." "The ‘Vinho da Roda’ is worth twice the price of wine that is not on this circuit," he said, asserting that this initiative was formed to "recreate this epic". He said it also has a promotional and experimental aspect for Madeira Wine, "because the lot embarked on the ‘Sagres’ is then compared to an identical lot in the cellars of the Institute in terms of chemicals and organoleptics (give sensory properties – flavour, colour, aroma)." He mentioned that the pipa contains wine from the caste Malvasia, "chosen because it was the one that gave the fame and name of Madeira Wine in the world and its symbolism, since it was D. Henrique, figurehead of the ship, who ordered its introduction and planting on the island." Paula Cabaço guaranteed that this pipa of wine "will not be sold and will be bottled on return, for the Institute to offer on symbolic occasions." After receiving the casco of Madeira Wine, the ‘Sagres’ left the bay of Funchal towards Brazil.

Jornal da Madeira addition (23/01/2010). Wine returns to Madeira in December 2010. The pipa contains Malvasia 2000 and will be tied to one of the masts. The journey from Lisbon to Salvador da Bahia in Brazil would not normally include a stop at Funchal but this was solely to include the shipment of wine. It will take 23 days to reach the South American continent. It was in the eighteenth century when the ships went to India and back, when it was realised that the passage through the tropics prematurely aged the wine. This was called East India Madeira Wine. Infante (Prince) Dom Henrique introduced the Malvasia caste of grape to Madeira from Crete.

and also competing to be amongst the first back is Vanessa Swesnik … many thanks.

GERMOBANCO’S WORK TO CONTINUE – Partners in the European project, AGRICOMAC, met in Funchal. SOURCE ARTICLE ON NETMADEIRA 

Project AGRICOMAC’s technical committee gathered at the headquarters of Madeira’s Association of Farmers yesterday morning, the day after its first annual meeting. The project is taking the place of Germobanco.

17 board members from entities in the European agricultural sector, the University of Madeira, Association of Agriculturists, and representative institutions from the Azores and Canary Islands all gathered.

The project’s objective is to propagate high quality seeds to be supplied to farmers for agricultural purposes and there were various important issues on the table having to do with its initial phase. In practice, AGRICOMAC aims to bring technology to Macaronesia’s agricultural sector.

Of importance is the fact that ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, an organization within the Centre for Macaronesian Studies at the University of Madrid (UMa), contains close to two thousand, mostly regional, seed specimen. Legumes constitute 36% of the collection, grains 32%, vegetables 22% and the other 5% are wild plants.

President of the Association of Farmers, João Ferreira, explained that with “corn, wheat, onion, and bean seeds, these works we’ve been doing,” Madeira will continue  what was started in the last community network. The purpose is to bring these community networks to an end so that the Association and UMa (Madeira University), proprietors of the Germplasm Bank of Madeira, proceed with the propagation of seeds and plants to be subsequently supplied to farmers and at a later stage to become certified for consumption- either fresh or in a processed products. “We’re talking about a rejuvenation of agricultural production, with old products that have been culled and not genetically modified, about launching products on the market that the oldest will remember from taste, but that had gone out of style.”

The idea that João Ferreira is betting on is the quality of the products for sale in a specialized, or gourmet, market, “directed toward the public that wants to consume a new product not available anywhere else in the world, but that is also capable of paying two or three times the price. Only then can we add value to the product and only then can the small farmer see his/her work financially compensated,” he explained.

João Ferreira hopes that if all goes well, farmers will have their first direct experiences with the wheat seeds at the end of this year, “bringing to fruition all we have said and done over the years.”

The representatives from the various Macaronesian entities visited Germobanco at the University of Madeira yesterday afternoon.

Jon has already mentioned (under Comments) the need to find a home for this little dog, which Derek and I rescued from under a parked car last week-end. This is an update and a renewed plea for help from your contributors. Derek and I are not allowed to keep animals in our flat. Thanks for whatever you can do – she really is a sweet-natured little dog. Sheila.

She might not win any prizes at Crufts but this small, 12-month-old female has many winning attributes. She is healthy, friendly, inquisitive, playful and all-round adorable. She likes people, cats and other dogs. She has not had a good start in life. In fact, so eager was she to escape from the owners who kept her tied up that she chewed right through a thick cord, in order to make her get-away. She is at present in the care of SPAD (the local Society for the Protection of  Domestic Animals). In a few weeks, she will be ready to go to a new home, after she has been spayed and has had all the necessary vaccinations. She will make someone a loyal and trusting pet. Could you be the one to offer her a secure home? Please e-mail blog@madeira4u.com if you are interested, and I will pass it on to Sheila. Der.

More from Elaine … a summary of some of last week’s news items.

Cultural Events : Festa do Compadres in Santana, 6-7 February. Cortejo folião on Saturday 6th at 17.00 and main procession on Sunday 7th at 16.00. (Photo from last year’s procession). Circus Dallas until 31 January. The circus has already been seen by 20,000 spectators this Christmas season. At Madeira Technopolo, Thursday to Sunday performances at 13.00, 18.00 and 21.00 hours. Second charter flight to Barcelona this summer. Costas Galicia will fly between July and October. Levada Nova (Fanal – Curral Falso) reopened and a new path from Paul de Serra to Ribeira da Janela. Funchal buses route changes. Routes changed for Horários do Funchal buses 2, 3, 4, 6 and 43 to west Funchal, to reduce city pollution / congestion along Avenida do Mar and Estrada Monumental and create new direct links.

Max Römer Exhibition. Mouraria Art Gallery, Rua da Mouraria No 38, Funchal, Tuesday 26 January until 20 February. Exhibition of copies of 30 Max Römer’s postcards and paintings from private collections. This German artist resided in the region for 38 years and painted landscapes and the daily life of Madeirans. He was born in Hamburg in 1878 and died there at the age of 81. Last year, as part of the 500 Years of Funchal celebrations, a book about his work was released, edited by Rui Camacho, ‘O Funchal na Obra de Max Römer’.

IRS (Income Tax) returns. Paper returns: 1 February – 15 March, categories A and H (dependent and pensioners); 16 March – 30 April, all other categories (B, E, G). Internet returns: 10 March – 15 April, A and H; 16 April – 25 May, all other categories.

New hospital 2010 – 2013. In the RAM Great Options Plan 2010 – 2013. The Government also intends to reorganize health centres/primary care, improve drug abuse prevention / rehabilitation, construct and improve social housing, construct temporary / permanent housing for older people, temporary shelters for victims of domestic abuse and more support for disabled people.

Chinese shop opens in Calheta: the ‘Espelho da Sorte’ already ‘reflects bad luck’ for shopkeepers. The other shopkeepers claim unfair competition as they cannot compete with the low prices. They cannot understand how the Chinese owners are exempt from paying taxes for five years. The shop opened in the Estrela da Calheta on Wednesday and was so well attended that the police had to control the traffic and local ATM withdrawals quadrupled. The owner said they had closed the Machico store to open the Calheta shop and have an opening in the west of the island. A petition had been previously submitted to the council when it was known that the shop was being licensed as traders were worried about the closure of other stores with resulting redundancies.

New tourist attraction. Since Friday, Funchal has a new tourist attraction : a traditional Madeiran method of transport for short journeys through the Avenida do Mar and Avenida Arriaga. This method of transport is still used in Curral das Freiras for people who are ill. The ‘rede’ was made by a craftsman in Santana, is as authentic as possible and is carried by two men, one in front and one behind. They hope to arouse the curiosity of tourists, especially from the cruise ships. The initial circuits will be made between the Marina do Funchal and the Teleférico da Madeira (cable car) and between Sé (Cathedral area) and the Jardim Municipal. Promoted on the streets and through the Lokoloko website.

BTW : I could do with some more ‘readers photos’, but please just trickle them in, otherwise I won’t have time to do any news stories. Thanks. Der

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