Nature Warden shortage ; 5 levadas and walks closed ; Porto Santo Ferry keeps 2009 prices
Today’s photo – Many thanks to Pete … swimming pool area behind the Forte De São Tiago damaged in the December 2009 storms
With the Portuguese tax year just finished, and the time to submit tax returns just around the corner, this is a rather useful set of Questions & Answers on what you can and cannot submit in terms of medical expenses PORTUGAL NEWS ONLINE
The weekly travel challenge from the UK Independent newspaper this week targets Madeira : "Every week we invite competing companies to give us their best deal for a specified holiday. Today: a week in Madeira, departing on 26 February". The responses (so far) include 4 or 5 star hotels, but I reckon I could find cheaper (for a small fee of course). RESULTS
"Don’t miss the top spot to visit – Funchal Botanical Garden. With an area of 80,000 sq. m. it is the most famous tourist attraction on the island. There is a collection of more than 2500 plant species. Its location in the amphitheatre will enchant you. The Botanical Gardens provides its visitors with spectacular panoramic views over the mountainous backdrop, the city below and its bay with the deep blue waters of the Atlantic". I don’t think it the most famous personally. New year fireworks is for me if we are talking man made tourist attractions. Anyone think that some of those photos have appeared before as the blog daily photos? FULL ARTICLE
"With the advent of refrigerators and other similar devices today it has become possible to have ice all year-round. Now … imagine 100 years ago …. how could one get ice? Only in winter and in the highest regions of Madeira, when it snowed or hailed. Madeira ancestors solved the problem by building reservoirs in which they could store and preserve the ice and snow that winter brought to them those days. It was then used by hospitals and hotels, … thus resulting in the famous Wells of Snow (Poços da Neve)". Don has given his blog a new look HERE
Becky has come up with another batch of web snippets she found … many thanks :
A brilliant clip courtesy of British Pathe. "Women’s Own" models, Gina and Brenda explore Madeira during a fashion shoot for the magazine in 1952. Hilarious. "Play suit" conjures up such different images these days. FOR THE OVER 18′s ONLY
At the risk of boring everyone with historical journals, here’s a link to a short chapter from the Letters of John Driver in 1834 (they’re getting earlier!). He writes engagingly and if you click on [PDF] you’ll get the first 10 pages. It seems he was more interested in chatting up Americans than the locals 176 years ago. If you like what you read, the book of letters has recently been published in hardback and paperback. FUNCHAL LIBRARY BLOG
Over twelve thousand visits from 106 countries to this blog in January, the best yet after 8 months with Madeira Island Direct.
Many thanks to Elaine once again for yesterday’s top news stories :
DIÁRIO 31/01/2010 MADEIRA
Five pathways closed. In less than a month, bad weather and landslides have forced the closure of five footpaths and levadas which are included in the official walking circuit of the serras of Madeira. The official ‘Turismo’ site alerts walkers to the closures and the Regional Director of Forestry acknowledges that the renovation of such extensively damaged areas will be expensive. Levada do Rei, Caldeirão Verde, Caminho Real da Encumeada, Levada da Fajã do Rodrigues and Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal are the five closed footpaths. The worst affected is the Caminho Real da Encumeada, especially the section Boca da Corrida at Encumeada. Almost all the walking paths on the island have been damaged by the bad weather, the ones least affected are near the south coast and on Porto Santo. Before work can be undertaken, a survey will have to be carried out and a firm contracted.
Region lacks Nature Wardens. The Nature Wardens (vigilantes) began in 1988 with four people and there are now 36 members of staff. The law requires 50, which would be too many, according to the President of the Association of Nature Wardens of Madeira. Tuesday is the National Day of ‘Vigilante Nature’. They work in the protected areas and natural reserves under the Service of the Natural Park of Madeira (SPNM). Their work includes helping in conservation projects, raising awareness and environmental educational projects in schools and other establishments. The Wardens also stay on the Ilhas Desertas and Selvagens for three weeks at a time. The Association is facing recruitment challenges as for the past few years there have been no new recruits. The work is physically demanding, including the use of rock climbing equipment and boats.
Plants and animals in Funchal, Madeira 2010 competition. This is open to those aged between 10 and 25 years old. It aims to increase knowledge of the environment and biodiversity in the region. Teams of three to five can enter. Activities will occur in these seven locations of Funchal: Parque de Santa Catarina, Jardim Municipal, Jardim das Plantas Aromáticas, Jardim de Santa Luzia, Jardim Botânico da Madeira, Núcleo dos Dragoeiros and Jardim do Madeira Magic. These activities will consist of obligatory tasks at predefined locations and dates, assessed for aesthetics, use of techniques and materials and originality. Prizes awarded for the best work of second and third cycles, secondary and university students and awards for all participants. The activities will be carried out during March and April and prize giving is on May 22nd, the International Day of Biological Diversity. The activities will strengthen ties with the natural heritage of Madeira, promote team working, help participants discover the plants and animals on the island and challenge them intellectually, physically and artistically. (Photo from the area Núcleo dos Dragoeiros).
ECONOMY
SATA promotes Madeira – Zurich flights for 278 Euros (round trip). Another special promotion. The direct flight to Switzerland leaves every Sunday afternoon and returns at night. The Airbus A320 has 160 seats. — No details of any conditions.
TerraMinha charter flights from Lisbon to Porto Santo. This firm is part of the tour operator Sonhando (Pestana Group) and has initial promotions using flights leaving Lisbon on Saturdays between 10 April and 23 October. Flying with SATA, the seven night package includes accommodation and breakfast. Prices are valid for advance bookings until April 30 or until 60 days before departure. Promotional prices vary from 432 Euros for accommodation at the Praia Dourada to 995 Euros at the Pestana Porto Santo, although the firm also uses other hotels.
Aigle Azur magazine devotes 18 pages to Madeira. This is the autumn edition of the in-flight magazine of this French carrier. The two principle articles cover 15 pages and describe the potential of Madeira as a tourist destination, suggesting routes and itineraries, and the history and geography of the archipelago. It also includes useful tourist information. There is a direct weekly flight from Orly Airport, increasing to twice a week from March. Aigle Azur expect Madeira to become a popular destination for the French tourist, thus invested in promotional flights which brought 150 travel agents and journalists to the island last October. This company had remarkable growth last year are are implementing a total of 40 flights per week from Paris to Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Madeira.
NS magazine – no prizes given to Madeira wines. This magazine is distributed with Saturday’s editions of the two major Portuguese newspapers, ‘Diário de Notícias’ and ‘Jornal de Notícias’. Yesterday’s copy published the list of the ‘Best of 2009′ wines. In the 18 categories, Madeira wines had 5 nominations. They were on the short-list in 10 categories but could not get enough votes for the first place in any of them. The region was nominated for Best Protected DOC, won by Bucelas. Old Blandy Wine Lodge (Adegas de São Francisco) nominated for Best Wine Tourism Without Estate, won by Quinta do Seixo, Adegas Sandeman in Tabuaço. The Vila Cipriani restaurant in Reid’s Hotel nominated for Best Wine Service in a Restaurant, won by Fortaleza do Guincho in Cascais. The Madeira Wine Company nominated for Best Fortified Wine Producer, won by José Maria da Fonseca. In the Personality of the Year category, Américo Pereira of Diago’s Wine Cellar was nominated but André Ribeirinho of ‘Blogger Adegga’ won.
POLITICS
Arlindo prefers to preserve nature in Socorridos. Last Thursday, the Municipal Council of Funchal approved the Urbanization Plan of Socorridos by the firm Tâmega, with only the support of the PSD party. This will legalise the unlicensed industrial activity in the area, that has been repeatedly acknowledged by the council and Regional Government. Arlindo Gomes, the Mayor of Câmara de Lobos, does not follow the intent of Funchal to urbanize the valley but prefers to recover and preserve the natural aspects of the area. He promises that as stated in the PDM, the land will be for agricultural purposes. Laurissilva in the corridor leading to Curral das Freiras will be preserved. In the photo, the left-hand side of the valley belongs to this municipality with the river bed on the side of Funchal.
JORNAL DA MADEIRA
Azores will receive 20 million Euros. From the European Commission for the restructuring of the dairy sector under the strengthening of rural developments program. This restructuring of the dairy industry involves 27 member states and 14.5% of the total budget. The funds are from the CAP and the Economic Recovery Plan. The current economic and environmental situation requires action. — This is important to Madeira as the Azores are the main source of dairy products.
Porto Santo Line maintains tariff. In 2010, the Porto Santo Line will keep the present price list (2009 prices) for the sea voyages between Funchal and Porto Santo. The departure times also stay the same. Economy class round trip costs 42.10 Euros for adults in low season (January – March and October – December) and 51.50 Euros during high season (April – September). Residents in Porto Santo pay 28.60 Euros for each return ticket throughout the year. Children between 5 and 11 years pay 50% of the adult fare and children under 5 travel free. Vehicle transport fares are the same as in 2009. The fares are subject to fuel surcharges.
Police identify a dozen individuals in raid. On Friday night / Saturday morning, both uniformed and civilian police officers held a preventative raid in areas of Funchal, Santo António, São Martinho and São Roque. They went to establishments that had given rise to complaints in terms of noise and public disorder. Social complexes were searched for narcotics, particularly Quinta Josefina in Nazaré and Ribeira Grande. Some vehicles were stopped and individuals were identified but no arrests made.
Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :
Cáritas [charity] and grandparents have to feed children – Couples robbed of resources by the crisis leave the children with the grandparents and institutions. There are more and more cases of kids getting caught up in the economic crisis, going hungry at school, and being supported by grandparents. The first impacts of unemployment are felt by adults, but the children end up facing the consequences when hardships arise. Failure of maintenance payments is also a harsh reality, with hundreds of cases being dealt with through the courts, and Madeira at the moment is in a peak of single parent families. In some cases, especially where drug addiction is involved, children are even being abandoned, without any warning, with grandparents. In cases like these the charities step in to help where the grandparents cannot provide what is needed.
Today’s main news headline : Company waits 12 years for €6 million from the government – Successive appeals in court continue hindering judicial decisions that indicate towards an indemnity from the Regional Government to the businessman Avelino Catanho. At stake, lands at Zona Franca.
This photo was taken in Santa da Serra yesterday where the water depth here reached one metre, after heavy rain at the end of the morning.
Today’s main photo shows the cruise ship AIDALuna in Funchal Port in some pretty agitated looking water : Strong waves delay docking – The angry sea obliged the AIDALuna to stay out at sea for 4 hours, for a peek of an opening in order to dock in the Pontinha, that finished up being done with the help of a tug boat. I think that spell of high waves yesterday occurred right on a very high tide, because although the waves were not that big, they seemed to sweep over everything in front. The picture on the news last night showed one swimming area in Funchal underwater, and the Lugar de Baixo marina looking a bit of a mess … nothing new there then!
In politics : Jacinto Serrão asks for the resignation of Ventura Garcês – The size of the regional debt scares the leader of the Madeira Socialist Party, who is going to ask for the intervention of President Cavaco Silva.
Canon Martins wants to see the icon in Ribeira Seca. The priest is referring to the statue of Fátima that is on loan from mainland Portugal, and has been touring the churches of Madeira for the last few months. He said at the end of mass yesterday, in Machico, that the statue was coming to Ribeira Seca, fulfilling a promise made by the Bishop of Funchal. Fátima is due to be in the churches in Machico between the 5th and 9th May. Canon Manuel Martins had asked the faithful to pray for this to happen, and for any obstacles to be removed. The power of faith and prayer eh! I prayed for a cheese and pickle sandwich at 11pm last night, and I am still waiting. No faith, that’s my trouble.
The main sport / football headline today : NONE! That’s twice in a week, what is going on?
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.
… and to finish today, a couple of pieces from the Diário de Notícias from Elaine out West … many thanks.
Madeira Mandolins at Teatro Municipal.
A piece by Antonio Vivaldi and ‘Preludium and Allegro’, a work by composer Fritz Kreisler for mandolin and orchestra will be performed by Isabel Camacho and Sara Gonçalves together with soloist André Martins. These are works to mark the special concert of Mandolins da Madeira, led by Eurico Martins, on 18 February at 21.00 hours in the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias. Tickets (20 Euros) are now on sale at the Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias.
|
Rain, thunderstorms and strong winds will continue in the coming days. The ‘winter’ will continue in Madeira at least until Wednesday, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre. The situation is viewed as “natural” by the observer Antonio Santos, who has 40 years of experience: he notes that these weather conditions are "normal" at this time of year. He added that the only unusual fact related to the sea. "Conditions will be worse on the south as opposed to the north coast," he said, justifying the waves of two to three meters in the south by virtue of the wind being from the west. On the north coast the waves will be 1.5 – 2 metres. There is a strong possibility of rain, perhaps turning to showers, heavy at times, extending to Wednesday. Similarly, the wind will be strong in mountainous areas and most moderate in coastal regions. Yesterday winds produced gusts of around 80 kilometres per hour in the mountains and about 40 in the rest of the island. Despite these conditions, according to Antonio Santos, it is not expected to snow. |
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
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.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Please use the comments here for general chit-chat, or feel free to ask any questions … someone usually has an answer.
Vila Porto Mare Distinguished among the Nation’s Resorts
Exotic species in the wild. Although Madeira is an island and there is close monitoring at the airport and animals for sale, it is difficult to prevent the illegal entry of exotic animals or plants into the region. The biggest problem is the maritime link, species entering from a yacht or a car travelling from Europe on the ferry. The import of exotic species has been regulated since 1999, especially for those endangering the ecosystem or dangerous to humans. The major threat is from species accidentally introduced through imported materials, like sand or wood. Such materials, for example the Moroccan sand for the beaches, is subject to a quarantine period. The photo shows a 2 metre long python found recently in the area of Pináculo in São Gonçalo. It was dead, presumably after a road accident, and was either abandoned in the region or had escaped from the owner.
Youth assaulted outside a bar. A 20 year old went to a bar at 11 am on Sunday morning, in the area of Palheiro Ferreiro, to buy tobacco. The establishment was closed but seeing a light on and hearing voices inside, he knocked at the door. He was told the bar was closed but explained he just wanted to buy tobacco. Suddenly, the owner emerged and attacked the man, punching and kicking him, but he managed to escape to his house. His brother took him for medical attention and he has a broken arm, cuts and bruises. The police are investigating his allegations.
An unusual ship. Next week, this unusual ship named the Monge, will visit the Port of Funchal to allow the crew a rest period. The A 601- Monge belongs to the French Navy and carries 232 crew members. The ship is the only one operating in Europe with the role of supporting combat missions involving missiles. There are two Super Hornet helicopters on deck. The ship arrives at 9 am on 3 February and departs at 9 am on 6 February.
Madeira self-sufficient in eggs. The Girão Group opened a new poultry centre yesterday, enabling Madeira to be self-sufficient in egg production for domestic and industrial use. The investment was one million Euros, 50% from institutional funds. This company accounts for 60% of the regional distribution and presently only imports 20% of its eggs. The new centre in Campanário in Ribeira Brava has a capacity of 90,000 birds. Each year, 25 million eggs are produced earning the firm 4 million Euros. The company started 35 years ago in Quinta Grande in Câmara de Lobos.
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."
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. 
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’. 
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.
