Category Archives: Madeira

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O Manjerico!

Everything about O Manjerico in Prazeres is a little different from the norm – from procuring a reservation, to the actual dining experience. I read about the restaurant on Trip Advisor and it sounded good and not too far from our place for night driving. Reservations were recommended and so I attempted to call without success, but then wrote them a message on Facebook requesting a reservation. The response was positive but also inquiring what we would like to eat! I’d read how good the stuffed chicken was, so went with that!


We arrived for our dinner to this lovely little stone building with no obvious outward appearance that it was a restaurant. In we went to a cozily decorated room with fireplace ablaze and a warm welcome from the proprietor. Seated in front of the fire, there was just one other table set for two and we were soon joined by a young Dutch couple. 

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The meal itself was absolutely delicious. Starting with fresh, home-baked bread and a platter consisting melted Brie, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp, short ribs with a delicious sauce, and little meat-filled puffs.

 

 The entire evening was very leisurely and we enjoyed conversation with the proprietor and also the other couple; experiences  whilst on Madeira, living on the island, the U.S. political situation, the pending Dutch elections, and much more.


The deboned roasted chicken stuffed with pork, chestnuts and raisins was absolutely delicious.


 … and dessert! Oo-la-la! Passion fruit mousse, which resembled key lime cheesecake, topped with fresh passion fruit!


 We definitely saved the best for last! Salad for the next few days!!

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Funchal, Madeira

A relaxing day wandering around Funchal on a beautifully warm and sunny day.

So many interesting doors on Rua Santa Maria

We saw these interesting wicker carts that were pushed down the hill from Monte by guys dressed like Venetian gondoliers! We didn’t take part, not because we were chicken, but the price was heftier than we wanted to pay!

Lunch at Taberna Madeira…

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Over the top or through the center – Madeira

Up and up, round and round and over the top of the mountains and back down the other side – we love these roads that twist and turn and offer a slice of a village, a jaw-dropping precipice, or a glimpse of ocean.

Or there is the faster way – roads that are a series of tunnels that have been burrowed through the mountains or the cliffs along the coastlines. The tunnels vary in length up to the longest one we went through at 3.1 km, and  on the newer roads they are lined and illuminated, whereas the tunnels on the secondary roads are older, hand-hewn and dark! I read somewhere that there are more tunnels on this small island than in Switzerland!

A visit to the rum factory in Porto da Cruz. I love the poncha (punch) made of orange juice, rum, honey and passion fruit!

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After visiting the Whale Museum, we stopped for another delicious seafood lunch at Muralas Bar in Canical – a simple and busy little restaurant with many local families enjoying a leisurely lunch. (Local mussels with garlic, parsley and butter, grilled shrimp, and scabbard fish and chips).

We set off to hike to Ponta de Sao Lourenco, but with unsuitable shoes and full tummies, we decided to only go part way and back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Honey and cheese

I bought this honey directly from the bee-keeper at the market in Ponta Delgada (Azores). It is the most flavorful honey I have ever had – this particular one is clover – or so he told me! We are enjoying it on the delicious Portuguese bread with salted butter or sharp cheese – as we learned at Taberna Acor….


Yesterday we enjoyed limpets in garlic butter at Restaurante Caravela in Sao Vicente (Madeira). Local flavours abound

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Up and down and round and round

Today took us to the north shore up and down and round and round. These roads are not for those who don’t like driving, but we both love it! Once again over mountain ridges, through cattle zones, tidy villages, and views that never end.

We saw the most amazing surf along the northern shore. It was absolutely mesmerizing.

Other than the surf, another huge highlight was taking a cable car down the very steep cliffs to the beach – or just above it. The telerifico in Achades de Cruz is definitely worthwhile but not for the faint-hearted or those who suffer with vertigo!

Eats today included a roadside picnic and dinner at Chico’s in Pezares.

Evening calm

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Terraces, high cliffs and mountains – Madeira

To live on Madeira is to live a vertical life-style. The mountains meet the sea at a dramatic depth. An express way cuts through the mountains with tunnels or secondary roads twist and turn their way to the top. Everything is terraced, from gardens to fields, and nobody has a bad view!

Most of the houses are painted in a cream or pale yellow and all have red tiled roofs.

The roads are bordered with agapanthus and gorse (in higher elevations) and as we climbed our way into the clouds we could smell the eucalyptus from the forest.

Our drive today took us on the (yellow) secondary road from Estreito da Calheta to Achadas Da Cruz and back to Calheta via ER110 and down on ER209.

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Home away from home for a week – Madeira

We love our home for the week – villa Pinheira in Estreito da Calheta, Madeira. On the southern coast of the island overlooking the ocean with grape vines out of one window and banana plantations another — bliss! Looking forward to exploring the island…