Madeira News Blog

Today’s photo – Many thanks to Becky … Sunrise from Quinta das Vistas last Saturday morning

If you live in the South West of England, and enjoy cruises that takes in Madeira, you will be pleased to know that from December 2010 cruises will be available starting from Falmouth, on the Ocean Countess. MORE

TAP Portugal from 3rd July 2010 to 18th September 2010 is operating 2 weekly flights Funchal – Madrid with a seasonal service using an Airbus A319. In the Summer of 2009, it operated the flight once a week.

The Top 10 Five Star Hotels for under 50 pounds Compiled by trivago.co.uk

Hesperia Fira Suites, Barcelona, Spain
Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
Royal Mare, Crete, Greece
Meliá Mare Madeira Resort & Spa, Funchal, Portugal
Bristol Kempinski, Berlin, Germany
Swissôtel Tallinn, Estonia
Hospes Amérigo, Alicante, Spain
Vincci Selección Estrella del Mar, Marbella, Spain
Hotel Excelsior, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Hilton Helsinki Strand, Helsinki, Finland

"Tunisia, Gran Canaria, Kos and Madeira are set to be amongst 2010’s holiday hotspots according to leading package holiday provider, Jet2holidays. These new destinations feature in Jet2holidays brand new Summer 2010 brochure for the very first time, with the tour operator predicting a huge demand for the new destinations as families look to combine value for money with the ultimate holiday experience in 2010. With great value offers available  including ‘kids stay free’ places and £30 per person deposit deals Jet2holidays is doing their best to get UK holidaymakers away for less this year". FULL ARTICLE

The UK Daily Telegraph newspaper has published a guide to finding accommodation in Portugal and the archipelagos HERE. Of course our sponsor Madeira Island Direct will normally be the first point of call.

And the last of today’s web snippets came in from Becky … many thanks :

Batista in exile from Cuba, living in a Madeira hotel (1959)

Blog by Executive Purser of P&O Cruises ARCADIA

It will be an action packed weekend in the Liga Sagres as Braga host Sporting to open the round tonight (RTP 20h45), and Porto travel to Madeira to face Nacional on Saturday (SportTV 17h00). Marítimo make a visit to struggling Leixões on Monday night (SportTV 20h15).

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

DIÁRIO DE NOTÍCIAS 28/01/2010

FRONT PAGE NEWS

CMF allows urbanization of Socorridos. There is strong political pressure by the Social Democrats to pass this plan. This vast area is north of PIZO – Industrial Park of the West Zone, and includes an area where two people were killed in 2008, after reaching the installations of Tâmega. This private firm is used in this development project and own land there. In the PDM (Municipal Plan) of Funchal, the area is classified as urban green zone for recreation and leisure, although it has never been used as such. The Urbanization Plan includes an industrial area, as presently exists, and it could lead to a new residential area being constructed. There is strong political pressure as people in high positions in the PSD have indirect and direct interests. The area around Ribeira dos Socorridos is protected in the PDM as it includes an area for the public water supply and an ecological reserve.

MADEIRA NEWS

Golf threatens bird refuge. The construction of the golf course in Ponta do Pargo might jeopardize the continuity of an Area Important to Birds (IBA) and the habitat of various species. This alert was issued yesterday by SPEA. "The Regional Government starts the destruction of one of the last places of low population on the island, where there are several species of birds," some unique in the world. The start of the construction work coincides with the breeding season and all the nests in that area will be lost. In a previous plan, POTRAM, this area has been defined for agricultural or livestock use and this potential is not allowed to be reduced or destroyed.

International recruitment company in UMa. The company ‘Best Personnel’ specializes in recruiting graduates of Nursing, Dentistry, Mental Health and Pharmaceutical Science for work abroad. In Portugal, nurses have difficulty finding work whereas there are serious shortcomings in countries like Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Many nursing graduates want to work in the United Kingdom and it is easy to register with the Board of Nursing and Midwives. They fill in an on-line form then within 10 days receive an application package and submit this with copies of their passport, birth certificate, criminal records check, certificate in nursing and a statement from the Order of Nursing. They then just wait for their registration number. — English language test?

Police identify six for theft and receiving stolen goods. The police collected enough clues from crimes carried out earlier this month in São Roque to arrest six people in Funchal. They arrested two people for theft and retrieved gold jewellery, phones, audio equipment and a replica gun. They then identified a third person who bought stolen items. The police located and retrieved a high-end car (Mercedes-Benz) that had been stolen in Santa Cruz and was to be sold later on a stand. It was returned to the owner and the three individuals responsible were arrested. The six defendants were aged between 25 and 31 years old.

Rubble in place for more than a month. 80 year old Angelina Candida Pereira has difficulty entering or leaving her house. The collapse of part of a supporting boundary wall in Travessa do Papagaio Verde in São Martinho during the December rains is the cause. Other residents in this area have difficulties due to these stones on the pathway. São Martinho Parish Council have been notified and in turn, have informed the land owner and hope the debris will be cleared away soon.

ECONOMY SECTION

New navigation guide. The Transatlantic Crossing Guide will be published in summer 2011. 20 pages are devoted to the marinas, ports, boatyards and harbours of Porto Santo and Madeira. The information was collected by an American, Donald Street, who has met the administrators and visited these areas and on Saturday, will visit Porto Santo. The data will also be used to update nautical charts to be published in January 2011. This American has many publications and works for Lloyd’s of London insurance agency. His visit to the region was supported by Quinta do Lorde and with the co-operation of the Association of Promotion of Madeira.

UPDATES

Transavia launch Madeira-Nantes for 74 Euros. Promotional trips between March 28 and June 30. This fare is for only the outward journey and tickets must be bought before 31 January. This low-cost carrier will fly four times a week between Porto and Madeira at an introductory price of 40 Euros. The trip at the promotional price to Nantes is via Porto.

JORNAL DA MADEIRA

More help for IPS. The Parliamentary Group of the PSD visited the Lar Intergeracional da Santíssima Trindade in Tabua to assess the conditions in the institute which has a capacity for 35 elderly and 19 children. They praised the excellent work and conditions in terms of support services, health services, rehabilitation and integration. The centre will soon have accommodation for four young women to help them become independent. This institute is supported by Ribeira Brava Council and Social Security but still needs private businesses and volunteers to help.

Nymph Fantasies at the Carnival Parade.  The Associação Geringonça has taken this as its theme and has about 160 participants and two floats. The floats will carry mythical figures: sea gods, nymphs and of course, a ‘queen of bateria’. The band will consist of 18 musicians and for the first time, there will be 8 disabled people participating. As in previous years, an original song will be sung, this year by Sofia Relva from the ‘Funchal a Cantar’ competition. The overall carnival theme is Seas and Oceans and the predominant colours will be blue, green, silver, white, orange and pink – colours of the bottom of the sea. Geringonça bought the materials last October and rehearsals began at the beginning of this month. The Carnival Parade is on the evening of 13 February in Funchal. Associação Geringonça has participated the past 23 years and also participates in carnivals in Machico and Câmara de Lobos.

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

Convention to discuss the language brings Soares -  José Eduardo Agualusa is going to take the lead to lecture about Portuguese, in February.

Today’s main news headline : The real debt of the Region is alarming. Madeira : 4.6 billion Euros ; Azores 917 million Euros. Since the pardon of António Guterres, the debt of the Region to the bank shot off into unthinkable numbers. A bank report, that the Regional Government contests, says that we owe five times more than the Azores. Also in a separate article, Portugal’s Finance Minister Teixeira dos Santos says that "the numbers speak for themselves", and that between 2006 and 2009 the direct debt of Madeira doubled. He also pointed out that 10 years ago, Portugal took on Madeira’s existing debt and left us with a clean slate.  The report mentioned is from the bank BPI, so no doubt it has some errors, but it claims that Madeira’s debt equates to 92% of its PIB (Gross Domestic Product). The debt belongs to all elements and levels of government, including the public companies and partnerships. I don’t know why this has suddenly hit the headlines again, as that is nothing new except probably an escalation of the figures. I make that around €18,400 of debt  for every man woman and child living on Madeira, around 3 times the minimum (and most common) wage, and nobody seems the least bit concerned, least of all the politicians in charge. Somebody will have to pay for it sometime, and all the wonders that President Jardim has brought to the island will most certainly still be stinging us long after Uncle Bertie has expired with his reputation almost intact.

Snow slows today ready to increase tomorrow – The weather station sensor of Areeiro broke down and the Observatory is unable to say officially that it snowed. But yesterday the temperature was at zero and there was a white cloak on the serra. The snow fell in the highest zones of Madeira yesterday,  but with the equipment broken it is not possible to say officially whether it is snow or hail up there above 1,500 metres. During the night sub-zero temperatures were registered, that were still there after daybreak. Despite the wind and low temperatures, some enthusiasts were out there making snowmen on top of their cars, as is traditional. And just to prove the point the main front page photo today shows a snowy landscape, though it looks like that fine powdery snow variety.

Jewellers forced to to night rounds – The traders are scared by the wave of robberies and appalled with the lack of police. Already there have been two robberies in downtown Funchal this month, and the owners are scared and doing their own patrols. There is a really surprising fact in this article, but I don’t have time for any more, so it’s over to somebody else I’m afraid.

The main sport / football headline today : Nacional – Porto opens diabolical round – The firstly classified in the League play each other. Yes I know it doesn’t make much sense, but I don’t write it, I just translate. Perhaps someone will delve into the article and clarify matters, but I won’t be holding my breath.

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.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

(more…)

Today’s Photo Thanks to  Elaine of the West … Oleander

Have a great weekend, and be cheered by the forecast that tomorrow the weather will be better (already is here).

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

Christmas events opening today, Friday. Mega Park opens under the runway at the airport in Água de Pena, until January 17. Circus Brazil opens today until 10 January, located near the stadium of UD Machico. Expo Christmas starts in Santana. Until December 18, in the lobby of the Câmara Municipal de Santana. At 19.30 today in Funchal, the official opening of the decorations and entertainment, including an ethnographic village and a nativity scene.

CMF budget – less for social housing and more to the Parish Councils. Funchal Council discussed the budget and Plan of Activities for 2010. They will continue the policy of investment in sanitation and the environment, more efficient management of the ports, money for renovation of social housing but finance only for buildings already built, and extra support for the Parish Councils. The Parish Councils will receive an extra 6.7%, nearly 1.6 million, when the State increases revenue by 2% but this is only in theory so far, not guaranteed. The Council believe this is one of the best budgets, particularly in the social area which receives 46% of the investment, a 6% reduction in current expenditure (€5 million) and a reduction in bank debt in 2010 by nine million. "It contemplates a reduction in revenue and in view of this, a decrease in the amount we have for expenditure." The budget drops from 114 million to 108 million Euros, a realistic loss of 6 million Euros. The Socialist Party voted against the budget and the investment plan as they do not respond to the actual crisis the Funchalenses feel. The CDS-PP (Christian Democrats) abstained as although it is a realistic budget, it does not address the Council’s social responsibilities, especially the high unemployment levels in Funchal. The PND (New Democrats) voted against both times as they said it is a fairy tale budget with unrealistic direct tax revenue expectations. The CDU (Communists) also voted against as they thought the parishes should receive a larger share.

Ambilift now available at the airport. The new system helps air passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility and came into use last Wednesday. Consisting of a mobile lifting device for loading and unloading wheelchairs, with or without occupants. It cost 160,000 Euros and is being deployed in all EU airports if they have an annual turnover exceeding 150,000 passengers. It is a requirement of a 2006 EU law on the rights of people with disabilities and with reduced mobility, and air transport. There must also be fully qualified staff at the airport to help people with such disabilities. The equipment was purchased last month but has only become operational this month due to staff training on safe usage. To fund it, the airport is adding a charge of 0.61 Euros to passenger tax.

Man arrested for attempted extortion. A man was arrested in Funchal while trying to extort money for the return of stolen goods from a car. The goods were stolen earlier this month from a car parked in the street. After being contacted by the suspect, aiming to exchange some of the stolen goods (gold objects and two mobile phones), the victim contacted the police who posted two patrol men at the meeting place for the delivery of goods in exchange for an unspecified amount of money. The arrest of the suspect was successful and allowed the recovery of the gold objects which were in his possession. The police managed to unravel the fate of the two mobile phones. A Guinean was charged with receiving stolen goods and another of the same nationality was identified for purchasing the mobile phones. They are now also under investigation by the SEF (Immigration Authorities).

Kissing the ‘Menino’ under the discretion of each individual. The continuity of some Christmas religious traditions may be compromised by influenza A. Placing kisses on the Child Jesus has been discouraged by some parishes of the continent. In the Region, Father Marcos Goncalves, head of the Information Office of the Diocese of Funchal, says the way to fulfil the tradition of greeting the Menino should be left to each person. "The tradition will continue to happen with a kiss, a gesture, a nod, in view of the traditions of each place and site and the desire of the faithful." It is important that the Church takes its role as a public health informant but, "We cannot fall into alarmism and exaggeration for only some gestures and traditions." "Every day we greet, kiss and touch everything and everyone, and just remember prevention in relation to the Church and its traditions." In some parishes in Portugal, the advice is not to kiss the foot or forehead of the Baby Jesus, to prevent the spread of influenza A. Priests think the tradition will not be lost because some people will still carry it out. The tradition of blessing the Child Jesus occurs tomorrow at 17.00 Mass and Sunday Mass in the Igreja do Colegio. The images taken by the faithful will be blessed in a celebration of joy and preparing for Christmas.

Chocolate Festival promises to surprise. The Chocolate Island festival will be held this weekend at the Congress Centre. The organization say that, "Whoever is used to consume chocolate mainly in sweets and tablet form will be surprised by the wide variety of applications that the leaders at this festival of chocolate will present." "The preparation of meat, soups, beverages and delicious desserts, these professionals will, above all, show the different uses that can give chocolate delicious and original applications." In the festival, visitors can take away recipes and the best products. Children, as they appreciate the product more, have their own area called Hands On. Groups of children from the ages of  5 to 12 years, up to  maximum of 15 per session, can be helped to prepare lunch, including of course, much chocolate! Charge is 5 Euros. Chocolate sculptures on display will be another visitor attraction. The organizers have challenged individuals and companies to purchase the sculptures and 50% of proceeds will go to the Gil Foundation to support the creation of the Casa do Gil in Madeira. The minimum value of each sculpture is 300 Euros. Entry to the festival costs 2.5 Euros and children up to 12, accompanied by an adult, have free entry.

Special Operation Crime Prevention in Nogueira. Police surrounded the area and within a few hours had made several arrests and seized narcotics and prohibited weapons, including a dagger. About 40 police from the Machico Division made a ‘sudden’ approach with the support of the BIR as a preventive measure in case of turmoil within the district. The local population are divided as to whether they welcomed such an operation. This housing area in Camacha was targeted by the operation because of social unrest, insecurity and deviant behaviour due to drug consumption and trafficking. Cars on the main road connecting to the centre of Camacha were also stopped and drivers investigated.

Concession expired a year ago for Penteada Market.  After the fire, the market traders are housed in military tents. They are now worried about new competition for the concession to allow them to continue trading. The former concession, for 20 years, expired in 2008 and Funchal Council have not issued a new one. There are 29 spaces in the market and each lease is individually considered. The Council have decided to waver payment of three months rent for vendors of fruit, vegetables and flowers and a month to dealers using shops which were not affected by the smoke. The Council is insured against third party liability and the fire has been reported to the insurer. It is now up to the insurance firms to assess the claims and it could take months or years for traders to receive any insurance money.

New Year in the Wine Institute inspired by Hollywood. Hollywood and Wine Movies is an event planned by the Institute of Wine, Embroidery and Handicrafts for the night December 31 to January 1. This is a themed party with all the ambiance, charm and glamour that Hollywood cinema evokes. There will be a red carpet at the entrance to IVBAM and around it an area created for the media, recreating an atmosphere of a premiere. Inside, the area will be divided into three distinct areas with different musical approaches and decorations, to accommodate a wide range of attenders. The areas Noir, Hollywood Disco and Icon are inspired by three different decades of movie history and will show excerpts of films from the selected times. The Hollywood Disco area will be the largest, with pop and rock music and the decor inspired by Studio 54 will include projection of images from Saturday Night Fever and Grease and others. The Icon area will have electronic music and house and deep house chill-out music. The area is formed for dancing and socializing with a rest area. The base colour for the decoration is white and images of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and James Bond and other icons will be shown. The Film Noir area will be a relaxation zone, dressed in black and white with a chill-out sound and images of the time. Doors open at 1 am and tickets cost 20 Euros.

Madeira now has a mosque. From Monday, the mosque will be open in Santo Amaro in Funchal. Facilities were provided by the Regional Government and the cost of the renovation work borne by the Islamic community.

Council will build community centres. The first two will be in Fajã da Ovelha and Paul do Mar and will be built next year. Others will be built in Arco da Calheta, Calheta, Florencas and Cova do Arco. At Jardim do Mar, the Quinta da Piedade will be renovated to function as a day care centre.

Parliament approves €79 million loan for Madeira. The revision of the Regional Finance Law will not be voted on today, (€129 million loan was to be part of this amendment), in exchange for the loan being allowed in the State budget. This was to avoid embarrassment of the social democrats and socialists, the only parties voting for / against the law, all other parties abstaining, and there would be a ‘close call’ whether or not the law would be passed. The PSD-M provided this solution for fear of the law not being approved therefore Madeira not being allowed a loan. The Parliament in Lisbon voted to amend the State budget for 2009 to allow Madeira to borrow up to 79 million Euros, but not the 129 million Euros initially wanted. Jamie Filipe Ramos (PSD-M), the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for the Single Economy, Finance and Tourism is pleased with this result, "79 is better than zero."  The proposal of the PSD was approved with the votes of the Social Democrats and the CDS-PP member elected by Madeira. The PS, CDS-PP, BE, PCP and PEV abstained. — I presume the State transfer of 111 million Euros for loss from the Cohesion Fund will not occur?

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

Madeira only manages loan approval for €79 million – França was going to abstain if the LFR were voting. In order to avoid divides, the PS socialists postpone the final decision and concede on the loan.

Water and garbage swamp the Câmaras – Arlindo Gomes condemns the costs as intolerable. The president of Câmara do Lobos says that rubbish, water supply and waste water management are swallowing up 25% of the councils receipts. The problem is due to the delay in setting up and getting operational the new company (Sistema Integrado de Gestão de Águas, Resíduos e Saneamento) that takes on the management of all these services from 10 of the regions of Portugal (Funchal is excluded for now). Gomes says that the situation is leaving the council on ‘the edge of a nervous attack’.

Today’s main news headline : State obliges aquarium to return money – ‘Tourism of Portugal’ requires the municipal company that manages the aquarium of Porto Moniz to hand back the €1.1 million. Everything due to the lack of documentation required for justification of the co-financing of the project. The notification was received by the outgoing president, but the new president of Porto Moniz and the aquarium administrator are avoiding commenting on the matter. It is one more ‘bomb’ to fall on the aquarium of Porto Moniz. The bomb was dropped by the organisation that manages the funding from Europe, Tourism of Portugal, that the aquarium that opened in September 2005, has to return the money provided. The setback is all due to the fact that the correct justification paperwork was not raised and submitted for the joint financing provided to carry out the work. With this news combined with the financial problems in running the aquarium, the ´black hole’ created is now approaching €5 million. The management of the project had until the end of 2008 to submit what was required, but the instruction was ignored. It was then given a second chance to comply by June 2009, but again failed to comply. The money has to be returned within 60 days. It seems unlikely that the aquarium will now survive this latest blow, and nor should the person(s) responsible for such a blunder. I can’t even begin to imagine how a small region like Porto Moniz could find €1.1 million out of it’s budgets, and the impacts it will have on public services and projects, although the normal route for any PSD politician is to borrow money to make the problem go away. Porto Moniz had one or two surprises for the social democrats in the last elections, and one wonders if this news had broken earlier whether it could have been worse.  Silly idea building an aquarium in Porto Moniz when there is no real tourism infrastructure there anyway. It can only rely on the tourists that visit there anyway, as nobody is going to travel that far especially to see a fairly small attraction when there is not much else there, especially out of season.

‘Quarrel’ on the the beach of Socorridos – The extraction gives rise to doubts, but the Metropolitana Society guarantees that it is removing materials that it deposited there in order to make the public walkway. Quercus disagrees with the action. The development company ‘Sociedade Metropolitana de Desenvolvimento’ (SMD) is raiding the beach to obtain building materials (rocks), in front of the cement plant at the beach of Socorridos. SMD is already awaiting a court appearance after Funchal council took an action  for dumping by the company in the same area. On Thursday afternoon a Diário reporter watched 3 lorry loads of rocks leaving the beach, all belonging to SMD, and loaded by an excavator situated on the beach. Enquiries thereafter with the relevant authorities revealed that there was no illegal activity, despite it being against the law to remove materials from the beaches, and so nothing will be done to stop the action. The environmental organisation ‘Quercus’ however is not convinced that all is in order, and that more is being taken away that was ever put there. The result he thinks will be more of the beach being washed away when the sea gets rough, and the water turning brown. 

In today’s football headline : Nacional fail in duel with Paços de Ferreira. Our lads lost away 2 –1 last night against a team that had failed to win a single home game so far this season.

Many thanks to Elaine (West) for providing this translation from today’s Diário :

Judgement on book by Gonçalo Amaral postponed till January Kate and Gerry McCann were present at the start of the session. The trial of proceedings between Mr and Mrs McCann and the former Inspector of Judicial Police, Gonçalo Amaral, was postponed to January because the lawyer of the former inspector was unable to attend today due to illness. The trial of the injunction on the prohibition of the sale of Gonçalo Amaral‘s book "Maddie – The Truth about the Lies" should have started today.

After receiving the document from the lawyer Antonio Cabrita communicating his absence, the judge in the case ordered the sessions of the trial to be held on 12, 13 and 14 January in the Civil Court of Lisbon, in the Palace of Justice. Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of missing British child who disappeared in 2007 in the Algarve, and Gonçalo Amaral had been present earlier in the session, although they were not obliged to do so because it is a civil action.

Also present was one of the six witnesses listed by Gonçalo Amaral, the PJ inspector Tavares de Almeida. The remaining five witnesses, including Moita Flores, Luis Neves and Guilhermino Incarnation, did not respond to the call.

Before entering the court, Gonçalo Amaral told reporters that "Portugal is a country with freedom of expression. I cannot be prosecuted for writing a book. There were other people who wrote other books," he stressed, adding that he expects the collaboration of researchers who are his witnesses in the case. Around ten members of the Gonçalo Amaral Justice Project wearing t-shirts which read "Freedom of Expression" are distributing symbolic red carnations. The parents of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared on 03 May 2007 in Praia da Luz, Algarve, argue that the book and video marketed after a documentary broadcast on TVI promote the theory of Gonçalo Amaral, which they consider unsustainable, that they were involved in the disappearance of their daughter. Therefore, in an application filed by attorney Elizabeth Duarte, the British couple asked the court to withdraw from the market, albeit provisionally, both book and video, and this was carried out on 9 September. There is also another action against Gonçalo Amaral, accusing him of claims deemed defamatory, in which the British couple seeks damages of at least 1.2 million Euros. The book "Maddie – The Truth about the Lies" was published in 2008 and cast suspicion on the parents having participated in the concealment of the child’s body. As coordinator of the Criminal Investigation Department of the PJ of Portimão, Gonçalo Amaral joined the team of researchers trying to find out what happened to Madeleine McCann.

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.

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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.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

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

(more…)