Madeira News Blog

Today’s photo – Many thanks to Elaine (West) … A rainbow at Paul da Serra

"The fireworks was indeed the  best I have ever seen. Most were launched from the waterfront, east from the harbour, but there was also a number of other sites (I counted to more than 10, but people say 40 sites). The rockets were synchronised, so the same type/colour came from many sites at the same time – amazing! 17 tons of fireworks are rumoured to have been used… Many boats went out to see it from the water, but that looked dangerous (dark, many boats, acohol, attention on fireworks, etc.), so I stayed in the harbour". PRIVATE BLOG WITH PHOTOS

São Martinho Church – Funchal by Sonia von Walter.

"FUNCHAL – Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has bought his native island of Madeira and indicated that he plans to turn it into a theme park focusing on his career. Ronaldo, 24, already owns the world’s largest collection of mirrors". From the Los Angeles Times From Lisbon to L.A., some stories we’d like to read in 2010

"Three people from the Madeira archipelago have returned home for Christmas holiday after working in the Central African country of Equatorial Guinea are hospitalized due to infections of falciparum malaria. One of the workers is in intensive care while the other two are in the hospital but stabile. The Madeira archipelago is one of the autonomous regions of Portugal in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. It does have a sub tropical humid climate which is conducive to many emerging diseases found in the tropics. But according to experts, the weather in December is too cold for local transmission". MORE FROM THE NATIONAL EXAMINER

Nacional fought a brave fight away at Benfica in the Carlsberg Cup last night, losing only in the last few minutes by a single goal.

Many thanks to Elaine once again for yesterday’s top news stories :

Bad weather returns and causes more damage. Madeira is on orange alert, the second highest on a scale of four. This is due to heavy rain and strong winds forecasted with gusts up to 110 km/hour in the mountains. Sea condition forecasts are for 4 metre waves and 55 km/hour winds. The conditions are expected to remain until tomorrow. The Porto Santo ferry managed the link yesterday but docking at Porto Santo was hampered by strong waves. The ferry also sailed today but there are uncertainties about tomorrow’s journey. A landslide in Ponta do Sol yesterday threw more than a ton of rocks and earth into the stream. It occurred near the Giga Park when people were about to attend the circus at 15.30, causing more alarm than damage. The leader of the PS in São Vicente is concerned that the stones carried down by rain to Ribeira Grande are being moved to land fill sites above Ginjas. Gouveia questions the safety of this operation in case they are washed down from this new site. He has already alerted São Vicente Council to the matter and will inform the Public Prosecutor. The PS Francisco Dias of Porto Moniz Council accuses the PSD of halting and preventing the local authority from planning a Risk Charter for the county (disapproved in the last Council meeting in December). This would mean a revision of the Municipal Plan and would help defend the coastline, streams, industrial parks, forests and population. This afternoon, a wall collapsed onto a section of the expressway in Madalena do Mar and the police closed the road as it is partly blocked and the remaining wall unstable. The damage will be assessed tomorrow morning.

Cantares de Reis in Ponta do Sol on January 5. The Grupo de Folclore da Ponta do Sol are marking the Dia de Reis with a show in the village centre (next to the auditorium of the Centro Cultural John dos Passos) from 21.30. This initiative started seven years ago due to the wealth and diversity of regional cantares de reis (songs of the kings). There are many different groups participating. This tradition is still alive in Ponta do Sol and throughout Madeira and in recent years, there have been more groups formed. They visit, from the 5 – 6 January, homes of friends, relatives and neighbours and travel to different sites. The festivities usually continue until Santo Amaro. Visitors are rewarded by the householders with food and drink typical of the festive season (liqueurs, homemade bread with meat in wine and garlic, various sweets, bolo de noiva, torresmos and sometimes soup).

Cantar os Reis in Funchal. In the auditorium of Funchal Municipal Garden on Tuesday 5 January at 21.30. The event is organized by the Cultural Association Encontros da Eira and is part of the tourist calendar for Christmas and New Year festivities. Various groups will be performing songs and plays with religious themes, reviving the traditions of cantares de reis from various parts of the region. Inherent to the show, there will be distribution of specialities of this season to the public and entertainment on the streets by the group Gaitulia. Local men bring regional instruments and women regional food. That afternoon the group Encontros da Eira will perform at the Congress Centre (Casino) in a show which is the responsibility of the orchestra (OCM).

Valter will not give money to the Parish Councils. The ex-president of the Parish Council of Seixal, who is now the Mayor of the County Council of Porto Moniz, will not transfer any funds to the four Parish Councils; Seixal, Ribeira da Janela, Porto Moniz and Acadas da Cruz. This is the same situation as during the past eight years when the previous mayor was Gabriel de Farinha. Two Parish Councils are PSD controlled (Seixal and Ribeira da Janela) and the other two are Socialist. The two Socialist Parish Council presidents are more critical of the Mayor of Porto Moniz (PSD) than their counterparts in PSD run Councils. Valter Correia explains that he would like to transfer funds to the parishes but the budget is tight and instead, they will be given materialistic help. In São Vicente, the budget is also tight but Jorge Romeira (PSD) has a different attitude and gives 204,000 euros to the three Parish Councils. São Vicente and Ponta Delgada receive 65,000 euros and Boaventura over 74,000 euros. He said the Councils require the money for their valuable work for the residents, "Clearing footpaths and improvements cost money." In Calheta, the CDS Manuel Baeta wants to know why there are a million euros of the Council budget allocated for ‘Other’. He thinks this is not transparent and it is more than the total budget of the eight Parish Councils in Calheta.

Cavaco receives more criticism than praise. The New Year’s message from Cavaco Silva, the President of Portugal, did not please the majority of political parties in Madeira. The exception was the PP leader José Rodrigues. The PSD thought it was a message of a country without hope. Miguel de Sousa stated, "My generation has lived since 1974 hearing this speech that we must sacrifice, we need to unify, we need judgement. It is always repetitive."  He said Portugal needs a new system as the current one is not working and that change is the responsibility of all: President, Prime Minister, members of the opposition parties and other political players. The PS agree that the country needs those who will propose a new system and the message shows conflict between the President and the Government. Rodrigues of the PP said that Cavaco supported the Government as he said in his speech that the PS and the Government have all the conditions to govern. Cavaco said in his speech that the country’s foreign debt and the imbalance of public accounts are enhancers of an ‘explosive’ situation in Portugal. He stated that the political parties must maintain political stability in the country.

Madeira Island Tourism increases its investment in a promotion on the Continent. In Lisbon, there will be an Industrial Fair from the 13 – 19 January. The regional authorities who are promoting tourism to Madeira will use the themes activities and sports to engage the interest of tourists from Portugal. In recent months, there has been a remarkable growth in the number of Portuguese staying at hotels on the island, partly due to the increase in availability of air transport and campaigns launched by the Regional Tourism department. They ran direct advertising campaigns through the Internet and indirectly through sponsorship of regional events and TV productions on national television. In the first 10 months of last year, the hotels recorded 809,165 overnight stays, which exceeded the total for 2008.  The final total should be a record number for the Portuguese market in the last decade. There will be an area to promote Porto Santo and one for the Wine, Embroidery and Crafts Institute. During the days open only to professionals, Madeiran barmen will demonstrate the making of cocktails. The Regional Director of Tourism will be there on the first two days and at a dinner held in central Lisbon for those working for national airlines, tourist agents and tour operators.

Hundreds followed the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fátima to the Church of Carmo this afternoon. After a well attended Mass, the statue was taken from the College Church to the Church of Carmo in Funchal. There was also good attendance at the Peace March which started at this church and ended at the Se Cathedral at 18.30. The Pilgrim Statue remains at the Church of Carmo until next Sunday. The Bishop of Funchal would not comment on the controversial statements by the President for European Anti-Poverty about the transfer of Canon Manuel Martins to Machico Parish.

Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :

MP : Court of Santa Cruz is in chaos. This is an interview with the man whose job title translates roughly as something like ‘state prosecutor coordinator of the Public Prosecutor’s office (MP) on Madeira’. Just picking out a couple of points he made : "There is a big gap between what those elites in power think, and the feelings of the people". On Santa Cruz court : it is an example of how a court should not function, reaching an almost chaotic situation – with the delays of a accumulation of cases, and the inability to respond. The backlog will take years to clear.

Claim of Naviera Armas against the ports – The ferry operator respects the new unloading rules, but the action against APRAM [Port Authority] goes forward on the 18th.

Only 54 created their own employment. The restaurant trade was the favoured area for those who took the initiative, but all in all only 54 took advantage of support offered by the Regional Government, and it is clear that Madeira lacks more entrepreneurs. There are several ‘packages’ to encourage people into self-employment, but being your own boss it seems doesn’t appeal to many, and in particular the 13,500 unemployed. The 54 who have gone down that road have so far created just 66 jobs, with proposals for another 80.

Today’s main news headline : PSD Social Democrats clear out committees where it lost in the elections – The ‘orange’ political committees of São Jorge, Gaula, Achada da Cruz,  Água da Pena, and Porto Moniz, where the defeats occurred in the local elections last October, are on the way out. Soon there will be elections. And the reshaping will not end there. Party elections will be held to appoint new political committees in these 5 non-PSD parishes, but the clear-out might well be extended to other councils. The new elections will see new names, but existing names will be able to stand again [yeah right!]. Drastic, but not a great surprise. Of course it is already well known that president Jardim is punishing those parish councils where the voters didn’t elect his Social Democrats, by pulling out projects. Great tactics from our leader, as by pulling the key projects and strangling the finances, those voters who strayed from the ‘Uncle Bertie way’, will feel let down and disappointed by their current non-PSD parish council, so what will they do next time … return to the Bertie fold [maybe?]. Maybe it’s time for a new year revolution resolution.

Hundreds follow the pilgrim image to the church of Carmo – The Bishop of Funchal asked the youngsters to guide themselves by the principles of peace.  Yesterday afternoon the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fátima was moved from the Igreja do Colégio to the Igreja do Carmo, where it will stay until Sunday, accompanied by hundreds of faithful followers. A peace march also took place with dozens of youngsters walking the streets of downtown Funchal, that finished at Sé Cathedral in Funchal.

Today’s sport / football headlines : Treacherous defeat in the Estádio da Luz [Stadium of Light, Benfica's ground] – National lost the first group game of the League Cup, but can complain about the refereeing (Rodrigo goal wrongly ruled out) and about themselves also. Benfica 1 Nacional 0.

In Division II, União widen the leadership. União 1 Amadora 0, in the second division south league.

Ribeira Brava lead Série Madeira [Madeira football league]. Ribeira Brava actually scored two goals in the 0 – 2 away win at Canicense, and that’s a rarity.

Sue very kindly provided these stories … many thanks.

Parish of Mount Carmo – Bishop says "a profound cultural renewal" is needed.

Not the same numbers that gathered in the square of the College on the day the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima came to Madeira, thousands of people attended did yesterday’s mass in the Church College and followed the procession to the parish of Mount Carmo. The bishop of the Diocese of Funchal addressed a few words to the young people at the church who followed later in March for Peace through Rua Fernão de Ornelas, heading for the Sé.

D. António Carrilho recalled the Pope’s message for this year, stressing that "we are called to pray for peace" and "be builders of peace" as "to build peace is to say yes and say no." It’s "say no to selfishness, lying, hatred, revenge, war and all forms of violence, injustice, envy, jealousy, lack of respect for life and the rights of others and disregard of nature "and" say yes to truth and justice, liberty, responsibility, respect for the rights of the individual and respect for and protection of creation, the whole universe and our mother earth, our common home of all humanity".

The image of Our Lady of Fatima, who has been on a pilgrimage in Madeira since October 13, remains in the parish of Mount Carmo until the end of the week. She then goes to the Belfry, where she began her visit to Câmara de Lobos.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Wallet lost at Avenue Sea. A wallet with documents was lost yesterday afternoon on Avenue of the Sé, next to the restaurant ‘McDonald’s’. The owner is a mainland tourist who asks those who find the object to contact the PSP or contact the owner on phone 962 337 080. The lady promises to reward for the retrieval the wallet and documents.

Falling trees in the Nun’s Valley. Bad weather on Saturday afternoon caused the fall of several trees on the road to the Nun’s Valley. With the use of technical assistance from a landscaping company that use a chain saw to cut two pine trees involved was completed before the arrival of the Fire Volunteers Câmara de Lobos.

Madeira remains on alert ‘Orange’. Despite the improvements that were last recorded, the Institute of Meteorology continues to put Madeira on ‘Orange’ alert, but this time mainly due to the condition of the sea. Wave levels of five and six meters together with the wind are expected also in mountain areas where they can reach speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, are the situations to be taken into account.

If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link. All contributions much appreciated. 

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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 photo or video, 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 don’t send in automatic translations (like Google translator) without checking them through and correcting them first, thanks.

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any large contributions and photos / videos.

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Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.

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Today’s Photo Thanks to  Elaine (out West) … An old typewriter in the Blandy’s Wine Lodge Museum in Funchal.

This site has a couple of photos of a cruise ship in Funchal. It has real grass and a golf putting game FUNCHAL DAILY PHOTO hmm, looks good enough to eat (baahh)

From Paul in Paul do Mar … interesting stuff, many thanks Paul :

Here are some great contributions: links to the Financial Times

1. Funchal: the difference in life between 1933 & 2007. (can’t say any more because of copyright restrictions, so you will have to visit the site yourself. Der) . FINANCIAL TIMES

2. Article: Title: George Bernard Shaw: “Have you ever tried Madeira?”

According to a Financial Times (FT) article about learning holidays George Bernard Shaw learnt to tango in Madeira at Reid’s Palace Hotel in 1924. There is a photograph of him in the hotel 68 and white-bearded in the arms of the glamorous and youthful Hope du Barri. “To the only man who ever taught me anything,” he wrote on a photograph he gave to the hotel’s male dance teacher.

As the FT article ends: “For there are those, as Shaw observed, for whom a holiday can be “a good working definition of hell”, in which case a purpose, not to mention a ringing sense of having accomplished something, can make all the difference. Even on his voyage home, he was agog at his triumph on the dancefloor. “Have you ever tried Madeira?” he wrote in a letter to Lady Meyer. “I learnt the tango.” Learning holidays, then, can be as much about self-indulgence as self-improvement.” MORE AT THE FINANCIAL TIMES

3. Title: The ukulele which originated in Madeira is so in vogue even Tony Blair has been snapped strumming one whilst on holiday YET MORE AT THE FINANCIAL TIMES

This from Elaine (East) … a translation of Saturday’s article in Jornal da Madeira in a series of Madeira Christmas editions. (Many thanks as always … Der)

Specialties of the season – The sweet tradition of Madeiran liqueurs

Although no longer there are so many people making homemade liqueurs, as was the case previously, the truth is that there are still those that like to stick to tradition, as is the case of Teresa Santos, President of the Casa do Povo at Ponta do Sol, who since a young age has learnt to prepare at home the most diverse specialty liqueurs. And the recipes are not lost because the young people are interested in this art, so in 2007 the Institution launched the book "Sabores da Ponta do Sol", a project coordinated by Theresa Santos and had the support of the Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources, through the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development Services.

As she said, the writing of this book began with a survey of sweets and dishes preferred by the ponta-solenses in the Christmas season, the result was a set of recipes that pass through the fish dishes, meat, soups, side dishes, desserts and drinks. These have highlighted the place of traditional liqueurs of our land. The book is a collection of recipes for drinks, published in the newspaper Brado d’Oeste which was published in Ponta do Sol, on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 1907 and 1917. This includes liqueurs of tea, peppermint and liqueur of rose, the latter recipe required the precise "fourteen deciliters of alcohol, fourteen decilitres of pure water, one hundred and twenty grams of roses and six grams of sugar." An old recipe whose outcome is still very good.

Because in Ponta do Sol there were noble families who had their own kitchen, in this book are included recipes of D. Teresa Pita de Macedo, a descendant of one of these families. These include, among others, recipes for liqueurs of cocoa, coffee, fig leaves, fennel seed, passion fruit and orange. Teresa Santos reminded us that "up to the last 50 years of the last century, people were making use of the aromatic herbs, leaves and peel of orange or tangerine to make liqueurs. Then it moved to a stage when it began using chemical essences. Now there are many people who are using herbs and peels, as before, which give a better flavour to liqueurs." It tells us that the liqueurs are easy to make because "just place the fruit or aromatic herbs or peel in an infusion, then boil the water to make a syrup and when cold add the alcohol."

The president is satisfied that the young seem to be interested in liqueur recipes, as reflected by the enthusiasm that occurs in cooking classes that are held in the Casa do Povo of Ponta do Sol. As she told us, "liqueurs are associated with Christmas but are also an integral part of the visits of the Holy Spirit, in Ponta do Sol, and not possible to be missing in the festas of wedding and baptisms. This tradition comes from the time that at these visits men would be offered a glass of wine and ladies a liqueur."  One of the reasons that liqueurs are a particular beverage at Christmas time is "because there was a belief that spirits give warmth at this time of year when the weather is cold, nothing better than a warm liqueur for people, provided that they drink in moderation."

According to the encyclopaedias, liqueur is a sweet alcoholic beverage, often mixed with fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, roots, tree bark even creams. The term comes from the Latin liquifacere, which means liquefy, dissolve. This refers to mixtures which are used in making drinks. The liqueurs are not usually aged for a long time, but may take some time to rest until they reach the ideal flavour. In Madeira, Christmas has a flavour all the more special with a variety of liqueurs that can be proven before, during and after the time of the ‘festival’.

Elaine on the West side found this article in the Jornal da Madeira :

Entertainment till 10 January : The Circo Brasil will be in Machico until 10 January 2010. From Monday to Thursday this week it will be open for Christmas parties and sessions geared to groups of companies and / or schools by previous appointment only. Yesterday, one of the shows was for the children of employees of the Jornal da Madeira.

As of Friday 18 December the sessions are intended for the general public and there are two scheduled shows, at 18.00 and 21.30. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays there will be three shows, at 15.00, 18.00 and 21.00, with the exception of Christmas Day, which is at 16:00. Entry is 15 Euros for adults and 10 Euros for children and each show lasts approximately 2 hours. Trapeze artists, jugglers, Olympic rings, clowns, fakir, Chinese scarves, illusions with "Harry Potter" and another with dogs are the main attractions Circo Brasil offers this festive season. For the second consecutive year the circus tent is located next to the football stadium in Machico. The owners of the company, Joaquim Silva and Fernanda Alves, hope to match or surpass the success achieved in 2008. Since opening last Friday the house has been virtually full. Once again, Circo Brasil has the support of Machico’s Câmara.

Circo Brasil is, like other circuses, run by one family. In fact, Joaquim Silva and his wife Fernanda Alves, their children and other immediate family members provide most of the entertainment. For example, the character "Harry Potter" is interpreted by his son, Sandro Silva (19). Other artistes have also been hired, and in total the company consists of about 15 people.

Many thanks Elaine

Many thanks to Elaine (East) once again for this picture link and yesterday’s top news stories below :

Error in yesterday’s Diário CO2 emissions report. Madeira is responsible for 1,000 million kilos, not tons, of CO2 released to the atmosphere. Madeira has a value of emissions per capita (4.3 tons) which is below the national average of 7.2, due to the absence of heavy industry. Madeira may not meet the goals set by the EU to reduce atmospheric emissions by 20 – 30% by 2020. By international agreement, countries also pledged to increase the share of renewable energies to 20% and a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020. In Madeira, the goal of 20% renewables will be met if linked only to electricity production. But what the EU decided covers total energy, including fossil fuels used in transport. In this context, the goal will not be met as electricity is only about 30% of energy consumed in the region, transport accounting for 60%. Public transport occupancy rate is only 22% so to meet these targets, Madeira would have to change its transport policy and reduce the import of fossil fuels.

Illuminations cause ‘spark’ between mayors. The cost of Christmas lights and decorations triggered a ‘spark’ between mayors. All because Funchal benefits from assistance from the Regional Government, which is not true for other municipalities, who have to pay for their decorations. The issue continues to cause a division of opinion between mayors of the PSD. The Mayor of Câmara de Lobos does not hide his dissatisfaction, although the other councils also have to pay for their decorations. The Mayor of Ponta do Sol considers the claim of his counterpart in the câmara-lobense unreasonable. Arlindo Gomes says he thought the current situation is an "injustice" whereas Rui Marques finds reasons to justify this ‘discrimination’. "Our capital is the area of concentration for most tourists and the Funchal amphitheatre is excellent for the spectacle of New Year’s Eve." The Mayor of Câmara de Lobos said, "While in Funchal the Government is paying, here the council supports all these costs. All these Christmas decorations should be part of a Regional project and not handed over to each municipality." The councils have to pay for the decorations whereas in Funchal it is for profit. Funchal receives EU funding for its decorations whereas other cities, like Câmara de Lobos, do not receive anything in this context. Rui Marques rejects this claim as "out of context." "In this time of crisis when the Regional Government is asking for everybody’s efforts, to be raising controversy about a benefit that is in fact for all, because not only Funchal gains, gains for all the region, I think it is inappropriate." The ponto-solense mayor defends the continuation of the current model "according to the possibilities of the councils." Rui Marques is against the municipalities that ‘burn money" on the night of S. Silvestre. The overwhelming majority of people who want to celebrate the New Year go to Funchal, where the firework display is a worldwide tourist attraction, even those that live in Porto Moniz or Santana are now less than an hour away from Funchal.

Meeting of twins. During this month, there will a total of 44 cruise ships calling at the Port of Funchal. Today is no exception with three cruise ships arriving. It is an odd moment in the history of the port because it is the first time that both the AIDAbella and AIDAluna will be here simultaneously. The AIDAluna moored yesterday with 2,250 German tourists and the AIDAbella brings the same number of Germans. Both leave at the same time and for the same destination, La Palma in the Canary Islands. This situation will be repeated twice next year on the 28 February and 21 March. The other ship today is the Island Escape carrying 1,500 tourists which arrived from La Palma and goes to Agadir in Morocco at 23.30. The port will also accommodate the ferry Volcan de Tijarafe from Portimão which will leave later today for Tenerife.

Classification of trees does not always protect them. It has been previously announced that the regional database of iconic and monumental trees is to be updated. The DRF (Regional Directorate of Forestry) now state they prefer to classify zones rather than individual trees. If individual trees are defined, it could lead to vandalism and revenge attacks just due to the sheer pleasure of destroying, so the Regional Director considers it could be counterproductive to implement the national law in the region. The small size of the island compared to the mainland also leads to incompatibility issues, for example the need of a protected area of a radius of 50 metres around the tree. The present laws and land management initiatives for authorities to implement mean that it does not make sense to adopt the national law in the region. Trees can only be pruned or cut with pre-authorization. Some species are already protected like the lauraceas and the invasive eucaliptos and large acacias whose largest specimens occur in Jardim da Serra. Examples, even if on private land, are protected if of botanical or landscape interest.

Hundreds say farewell to the Pilgrim Statue in Ribeira Brava. Hundreds of people gathered yesterday afternoon on the football pitch in Ribeira Brava to attend the farewell Mass of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady Fátima from the parishes of Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol. The service was taken by the Bishop of Funchal who also took part in the motorcade and presided over welcoming  prayers at the present location of the Monastery of Caldeira (Convent of Sister Clarissas) in Câmara de Lobos.

SEF holds a person for fraud in Portuguese test. A person who was applying for the acquisition of nationality by naturalization, was arrested by the Immigration Authority in Madeira for committing a crime of fraud in the compulsory Portuguese test. SEF were carrying out a surveillance operation at the national level covering 31 educational establishments, including one in Madeira and one in Porto Santo. They detected falsification of documents and altogether a total of 14 applicants were arrested.

Chocolate Festival attracted more than 3,000. The first Chocolate Island festival this weekend at the Congress Centre attracted more than 3,000 people. The chocolate sculptures which were more than three metres high and made by local school children attracted the most visitors. The organizers expected smaller sculptures so were surprised by the enthusiasm of the children. The target of next year’s edition is to attract international professionals. Two of the exhibitors ran out of products and had to quickly acquire more stock.

Burglaries becoming more daring – or desperate. Collection of stories about unusual burglaries. In Nazaré, the residents were surprised by the daring of two individuals who prey on the elderly alone in their homes. With the intention of robbery, the two walk around the apartment blocks, knocking on doors where they suspect elderly people live. On one occasion, they cursed an elderly woman who persistently refused to open the door because she lived alone, as advised by her family.  In Estrada Monumental, it is not safe to leave a hotel room window open, even on the eighth floor. A thief managed to climb in from the balcony and stole 2,000 Euros worth of goods; 500 Euros in cash, two watches, a mobile phone and a gold chain. Playing a round of golf at Santo da Serra is not even safe! There have been thefts from the golf trolleys while players move away from the equipment during the course of play. There have been several complaints to the police that wallets and documents have been stolen, from both locals and tourists. The same group of individuals is suspected that have for some time been hanging around the area and have on previous occasions climbed over the security net and cut holes in it. ‘Sapatinhos’ were stolen from gardens of houses in Poco do Gil, Machico last week. Dozens of vessels containing sapatinhos were stolen and the neighbourhood is on alert to apprehend the individual in the act.

European Commission wants to reduce catches of mackerel in Madeira and the Azores. The Portuguese Government is opposed to the EU wanting to reduce by 15% the catches of mackerel in the waters of the Azores and Madeira, based on scientific criteria. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries points to a study by the University of the Azores which indicates a good state of stocks of the species and does not anticipate the need to reduce.

Jardim’s monologue. The Regional Plan and Budget for 2010 starts to be discussed tomorrow in the Legislative Assembly, in a way that is unparalleled in most democratic parliaments. First, because the President of the Regional Government is not required to provide any clarification to the members. He can, and probably will, give a speech on Thursday with no time limit and without the right of questions. In both São Bento (Portugal) and the Azores, the presidents always participate in the debates. Due to the limitation and distribution of time, the opposition does not have the opportunity to raise any detailed questions to the members of the Executive. Each individual members of the BE, MPT and PND have three minutes and each member of the Regional Government has 45 seconds for a reply. Despite the budget’s spending cuts, the opposition will still be critical especially as the PS expect the total debt to increase to 5,000 million Euros. The PS will propose more than two dozen amendments, including a tax of 1.5% on the assets of furniture companies holding concessions for public services and as with other proposals, the proceeds will be used to fund social projects. They also want a 7.5 euro tax on each ton of aggregates extracted in the Region. They will present alternatives to the limits of indebtedness, investments and current expenditure. The PCP (communists) want 39 measures on social and economic development that have already been debated in parliament to be recovered although previously rejected by the social democrats. They highlight the payments of debts to suppliers, reduction in VAT rates, intervention in energy prices and a new transport policy to support businesses and families. Other measures are compensation to farmers and fishermen, support of the taxi industry, construction of a new Hospital of Madeira and Hospital of Porto Santo, and an increase of 7% in the minimum wage. The CDS-PP want a reduction in expenditure and investment priorities should be limited to a new hospital, the rehabilitation of health centres and schools. They want a reduction in both income and corporation tax and tax incentives for the establishment of new companies in rural areas. The BE, MPT and PND each have only one member in the Regional Government. They have similar views and due to limited time, should attack tax revenues and the large proportion of current expenditure. The BE will propose measures to combat unemployment, support for the elderly and funding for school boards.

More than 7,000 square metres of leisure. Second phase of the redevelopment of the Avenida do Mar in Funchal opened today. The project cost 778,000 Euros. According to the Mayor of Funchal, it will allow, among other things, "to contemplate the sea". The public toilets have been renovated and there is one for people with disabilities. Also installed, a sculpture by the artist Silvio Cro, entitled The Blind Man. According to the sculptor, "it is a metaphor between the traditional game and the experiences of the women in the Old Zone."

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Bang on time and as noisy as ever the ‘Missa do Parto’ explosions started this morning. 5 mega-bangers went off at 5 am this morning, and having eventually got back to sleep another series went off a while later. This is the first time I remembered it was going to happen, so not quite the usual shock as in previous years … oh well, only 9 more days to go of the same!

A bit more on the orange weather alert I mentioned earlier in the comments :

Madeira orange alert – Wind, wave and rain motivate warning from the Institute of Meteorology. Due to wind, rain and strong sea waves the Meteorological Institute placed Madeira on orange alert for Tuesday, the second most severe on a scale of four. Weather forecasts indicate periods of rain or showers, temporarily strong, and favourable conditions for the occurrence of thunderstorms. Moderate winds (25 to 35 km / h) south-west, blowing strongly at times (35 to 50 km / h) with gusts of winds of 65 km / h. In mountainous areas, high wind (35 to 55 km / h) southwest with gusts of 70 mph, making it very strong (60 to 75 km / h) with gusts to 120 km / h. At sea, on the north coast waves of 2.5 to 3.5 metres, increasing to 4 to 5 metres. On the south coast the forecast is for waves of 2 to 3 metres, increasing to 3.5 to 4 metres. Due to the warning of rainfall and strong winds, the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Department caution and advise against walking or driving on the mountains and the exposed slopes.

Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :

200 thousand per day – In the Christmas season, the amount of mail to deliver soars. The daily average for December so far is around 170,000 mail items, but yesterday was exceptionally busy, and the dates the 21st and 22nd December will be the same, with 200,000 or more items to be delivered. The busiest day last year saw 220,000 items being delivered.

Today’s main news headline : Tenants owe €8 million to IHM – despite of the reduction in the amount of infullfilment, there are many social rents to pay. This story comes up regularly, as tenants of the housing institute of Madeira fail to keep up with rent payments.

The other top story today : Complaints about salary arrears grow – The accusations against the failure of bosses in civil construction are arriving in the courts. According to the trade union for construction workers, the civil sector will have lost around 50% of the workforce in the last 4 years. The union has received nearly 200 complaints from workers since the beginning of this year, nearly half of them relating to arrears in salary payments, followed by unfair dismissals.

Companies criticise unfair competition of the government in the meeting with UEFA.

Emigrants without tickets – Still with 6 months to the football World Cup, some emigrants living in South Africa complain that they cannot get tickets for the Portugal games.

Social Democrats reject Jardim – Some notable names in the party in Portugal don’t want to talk about the chance of the leader of the PSD-M being a candidate at national level. Rumours that President Alberto João Jardim is being pressured by some PSD members to go to Lisbon to go on the National Executive save the party, are in the wind again. PSD members contacted by the Diário generally say they don’t know of any such move, or just don’t want to talk about the matter. Of course you will probably guess that he has my full support for such a move, and his dictatorship leadership skills probably make him the ideal candidate for the top job in the flagging party that seems to have no real direction.

If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link Thank you in anticipation.

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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 photo or video, 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 don’t send in automatic translations (like Google translator) without checking them through and correcting them first, thanks.

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any large contributions and photos / videos.

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Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.

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TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Tobi … Great shot of the Brazilian tall ship Cisne Branco here recently.

The second photo, sent in by Jenny, is of a tornado spotted over Estreito da Calheta this morning … thanks Jenny.

"It is very clean and neat, it reminded us of Hawaii. The city is built on rolling green hills. There is a tropical feel with beautiful foliage and temperate weather. The ride around town took about an hour and half. We did learn that the name Funchal come from the fennel plant. Which grows in abundance on the island". CRUISE VISITORS BLOG Hal will probably get a bit of a shock shock when he looks at his blog readers stats tomorrow … I tried to leave him a comment, but couldn’t get it to work, so don’t waste your time.

I am not sure what the exact relevance of this image of Uncle Bertie is, but I liked it anyway.

The next round of the Portugal Cup (taça) has been drawn, with games to be played on or around 22nd November. Madeira’s three remaining teams have drawn as follows:

Nacional v Fátima, Vieira or Mafra (yet to be played) v União, & Camacha v Vigor Mocidade

Pick of the draw for me (just because I like the name) is the Fishermen of Costa de Caparica of the 3rd division v Sporting. My money is on Sporting for that one, but that depends if there are no holes in the nets, their pitch and lines are well defined, and whether the  (s)kipper does his job well, and Rod comes into play, but either way it won’t be plain sailing.

One of yesterday’s news stories was that 11 Madeiran farmers have formed a ‘Club of producers for Modelo’, each with a contract to supply agricultural products to the supermarket chain. What a great idea, local farmers supplying fruit and veg to our local supermarkets, I wonder who thought that one up (and why didn’t they do it years ago?).

Another story yesterday about a young lady in Câmara de Lobos getting an electric wheelchair was nice to read. The 12 year old was given the wheelchair by the local council and a local community association. It might surprise some people to know that those who need wheelchairs don’t normally get given them. It is up to family to raise the money, and as you might guess that is often very difficult. However, there is a way to obtain wheelchairs for those who need them without spending any money, and it is ironic that smokers are the key. Cigarette packets brought on Madeira have a small sticker or seal called a ‘selo’ on the back (they peel off quite easily). A collection of such stickers that weigh one kilo can be exchanged for a wheelchair. We in Ribeira Brava have an ongoing collection, and to my knowledge at least 3 wheelchairs have already been provided, and we are very close to getting another. The stickers weigh very little, so many thousands are needed to reach the target each time, but if anyone smokes, or knows smokers, and can collect these and get them to me then it all helps the cause. Thanks in anticipation.

Yesterday’s news again very kindly supplied by Elaine. As I didn’t get a single response to the appeal for other news translators, then how long Elaine’s generosity will continue I don’t know, but when that stops the blog pretty much stops :

Large-scale emergency drill at the airport. In November there will be a simulation of an accident involving an aircraft on the ground, involving all means of assistance. Around 250 volunteers, mainly recruited from university students, will represent passengers, crew members, as well as family and friends of those who travelled on the plane. Participating students could learn about activities necessary for the development of tourism in Madeira; how the airport operates to ensure aircraft safety and emergency care. The airport will give more details on November 6th. The last emergency exercise was two years ago in 2007.

Regional Gerontology Plan 2009 – 2013. Presented to the public yesterday morning. This is the first of four plans to be presented by the end of the year by the Regional Secretariat for Social Affairs; plans for the homeless, domestic violence, and children and adolescents. This plan has 14 strategic objectives and 41 steps to be complied with, by 2013, to ensure a better quality of life for as many elderly people as possible. 15% of the present population is over 65, an increasing trend. More than 2,800 elderly are receiving income supplement (CSI) and the elderly are also entitled to financial, health, medication and food supplements. There are 1,300 beds in nursing homes and a waiting list of 800, and 3,000 have domestic help. They want to train and give financial support to family members who will work as carers, to keep elderly people in their own homes.

A survey by DECO in Portugal found that only 25% of the elderly have a healthy diet and the price of food is the deciding factor, then taste and food quality. Unhealthy eating habits worsen with advancing age. 3% experienced hunger in the previous week. Reasons for a poor diet are: dental problems (35%), financial (24%), lack of appetite (13%) and medications (12%).

Funchal Tuning Club accompany the Virgin. These are people who modify their vehicles, although illegal here but legal in some parts of the EU. This will be on November 4th when the statue goes from Acadas da Cruz to Ponta do Pargo. It will be in the Diocese of Calheta until the 26th November when it goes to Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol. —– An illegal convoy? Will police be in attendance? A bit different from the Popemobile, which was the first vehicle, then bikers, now tuners….next?

Between 2 – 8 November, the Science Centre in Porto Moniz will have the photographic exhibition of the first visit of the Pilgrim Statue to Madeira in 1948. The exhibition has hundreds of photos from the Vicentes Museum and is touring the country.

Elements of the civil protection will act as observers in a military exercise in the Azores. From Friday to Sunday, the Chairman of the Regional Service of Civil Protection and Firefighters (SRPCBM), the Head of the Division of Emergency Planning and the Commander of the Fire Department will be participating for the first time. They hope in the future that the defence forces in Madeira will be able to actively participate. It should help contingency planning.

Health professionals still reluctant to be vaccinated. The vaccination campaign against Gripe A (swine flu) did not begin as planned on Monday as IASAÚDE is still validating the list of priority cases, due to the nature of the vaccine, a strategy known as ‘play it safe’. Some health professionals on the priority list are refusing to be vaccinated, partly because it is a new vaccine, as has happened in France and Germany. The campaign should start on Wednesday or Thursday.

Purchases paid by credit or debit card may be more expensive. Portugal is implementing the Brussels Directive on Payment Services which means payment by cards will be taxed. This is to be enforced on November 1st. The President of the Association of Commerce and Services of Madeira questions the legality and appropriateness of this directive as "the rights of consumers might not be safeguarded, because it is not clear under what circumstances the fee is charged or not." It is not in the seller’s interests as they will have to notify the customer of the fee. DECO (consumers’ rights organization) also suggest it is illegal, as you cannot sell the same product for two or more different prices, according to the method of payment. The Portuguese are the only Europeans who do not pay ATM fees for withdrawal although there is an annual card fee. —— I do not know if it will affect people in Madeira who use Portuguese internet sites etc.

Museum of Sacred Art closed until November 3rd. Redevelopment of the exhibition space as some of the art pieces are going to be in an exhibition in Lisbon. Also, the City of Sugar Museum is shut at present.

Regional Library in Panteada might have longer opening hours, including Sunday. No decision yet. Due to an increased number of users, from 17,000 in 2005, to 35,000 this year. Mainly an increase in young people, and the elderly population are under-represented.

Portuguese Community Centre will open in London in 2010. 550,000 Euros (500,000 pounds) from Lambeth Council. The site, a building owned by Lambeth Council, will be confirmed and then the lease signed. The original idea was in 2004 and the money allocated in July 2008. In Lambeth, there are around 35,000 – 50,000 Portuguese, 15 – 20% of the local population. They are the largest foreign community in the area, owning cafes, restaurants and businesses. The Stockwell area has been named ‘Little Portugal’. The centre will also cater for immigrants from Brazil, Mozambique and Angola, and have advisory services on health, education, housing and employment. The heads of the centre also want to raise funds from the Portuguese authorities.

Quinta do Lorde development within the law. The Legislative Assembly of Madeira approved a 30-page report stating there was no illegality in the construction of the private enterprise in Caniçal. Illegalities had been raised on grounds of the areas of construction and environmental impact. There had been a previous 10,000 page report compiled by prosecutors, mainly 4 political parties and environmental group Quercus. The licensing was approved by all authorities, but there were particular problems with intrusion into the public maritime area. The resort was designed by an American company and will have 740 beds and 370 rooms spread between the hotel and tourist villas and apartments. It will employ 200 and indirectly employ another 100.

The Regional Government want the EC to create a specific financial program for the outermost regions. The MEPs are presently visiting the region to evaluate funding. Nuno Teixeira, the Madeira MEP (PSD) admitted that it will be difficult to achieve as it will be necessary to "change the rules that apply to all Member States, including the fashionable issue of GDP and its use as a criterion, which led to the departure of Madeira and the Canary Islands". The Regional Secretary of Planning and Finance, Ventura Garces, wants an extension to the time allowed to implement the EU funds, so Madeira is not penalised by loosing them.

There might be an agreement drafted about placing of election posters.  During this year’s election campaigns, the numbers and sites of political posters was bad for tourism and led to many complaints from rival political parties. There might be an agreement drafted for a uniform system which can then be adopted by each county. There were agreements several years ago to reduce the visual impact, but they were voluntary, and of course didn’t last long. We still have posters up in Ribeira Brava nearly three weeks after the elections finished, and the PSD annual ‘Chão de Lagoa’ rally posters usually stay up until the following year. Der

New book by Dan Brown will go on sale in Funchal at midnight on the 29th October. ‘The Lost Symbol’ will be on sale at Betrand stores, FNAC and Tangarine. 140,000 copies will be available locally and in Funchal, it will only be available at that time in Betrand Forum Madeira. A limited and numbered edition will be available from the FNAC website, with a 2 Euros voucher. I can’t believe they hope to sell 140,000 copies, that’s more than one between two for the whole population of Madeira, including tourists! Der

‘Mission Recycle’ collection of electric coffee makers. ‘Delta Q’, who make coffee pods, in partnership with ‘Amb3E’ are bringing their recycling awareness campaign to Madeira. If an electric coffee maker, either used or damaged, is taken for collection for recycling, the person will receive a discount of 50 Euros off a ‘Delta Q’ coffee machine. The first ten deliveries in the morning and afternoon will receive a machine at a token price of 10 Euros. The collection van will be at the Praceta do Infante in Funchal on November 3, Largo da Praça in Machico (6 – 8 November) and Rua Eng. Pereira Ribeiro in Ribeira Brava (9 – 10 November), and Praça do Infante, Funchal (11 – 13 November). Website www.missaoreciclar.org.

Modelo wants to increase quota of local agricultural products in regional stores to 50%. Within four or five years.

Municipality of Funchal to pay homage to the hero of Poland Jozef Pilsudki. Marshal Jozef Pilsudki was responsible for the independence and unification of Poland after World War One. He spent from December 1930 to March 1931 in Madeira. The President of the Polish Parliament and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Lisbon will attend the day of celebrations. The roundabout at the intersection of Rua do Esmeraldo and Caminho do Pilar will be named after him at 11.30 tomorrow. A bronze bust by the sculptor Ricardo Veloza will be unveiled at 12.00 by the building of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira in the Rua Dr. Antonio Jose de Almeida. After lunch with president Jardim at the Quinta Vigia, the delegation will visit the exhibition of photographs assembled by the Vicentes Museum at the Regional Directorate of Tourism.

From the front page of today’s Diário :

Expropriation in São Vicente with police and gunshot into the air – Owners contest the moving in of construction machinery without explanations on the part of the council. Sounds like another bungled compulsory land purchase. The photo shows a JCB diggers with it’s shovel raised, ready to attack a cultivated allotment or garden, but it stopped in it’s tracks when it heard gunfire.

Pioneering plan to help the aged – There are 41 measures including projects for retirement and voluntary and paid work. Jardim Ramos says that life doesn’t finish at 65. The elderly also want more money. Continuing the news coverage from Elaine’s report above.

The main headline today : Privatisation in sight in the Hotel School – The government project will offer a solution to the difficulties that have marked the management of the establishment, where €4.5 million of Madeira’s annual budget are spent annually. The guardianship doesn’t confirm the efficiency.

Nacional is not going to contest the incidents in the ‘Luz’. After a dreadful performance by the referee on Monday night’s game against Benfica, it seems Nacional will not take the matter further. It had so much TV and media coverage anyway, that there should be no need for Nacional to take action, it should be initiated by football’s authorities.

Assembly wants Sócrates to pay for a new hospital – Proposals of the PCP and PP on the regional law of finances were accepted. Now the regional assembly of Madeira wants to retrieve what the ‘garrotte’ took away. Nothing new there then, but I guess it formalises the approach already taken, that a new hospital project should be state rather than a Madeira project, but of course it is all about who would pay for it. If I was prime minister Sócrates, I would want a very good explanation of why Madeira was able to give away a very valuable piece of real estate and €45 million for redevelopment to Marítimo football club, but has no money for such essential health service improvements?

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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 photo or video, 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. 

You can email blog@madeira4u.com with any large contributions or comments and photos / videos, or if you can contribute regularly, I can give you a special account that allows you to create your own blog postings.
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Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.

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