Madeira / Portugal


Madeira - one-day jeeptour, February 2003
Perhaps not quite in keeping with the title of this webpage, a few words about Madeira, Portugal. In times of insecurity, not only with regard to prices and when it comes to long-distance travel, a visit to the island of Madeira, located northwest of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, is not a bad idea in my opinion.
As the island is situated in the Gulf Stream, an air temperature of 20º C and a water temperature of 19º C is normal even in February.
There’s no guarantee of sunshine, but it seldom rains.
Madeira - one-day jeeptour, February 2003
If you want to go on an outdoor trip on Madeira, I’d recommend a tour by Land Rover through central Madeira and the western part of the island instead of one of the coach tours offered by the big tour operators.
Starting at Funchal and then continuing via Estreito de Camara Lobos, Boca da Encumeada, Paul da Sierra and the Parque Natural da Madeira to Porto Maniz in the island’s northwest, the nine-hour tour gives you a good impression of the broad variety of landscapes on Madeira, following mountain trails, some of which are accessible only by 4WD vehicle.
Madeira - one-day jeeptour, February 2003
At the moment, you can’t book such a tour with one of the big tour operators; the only places where you can do that are the local information and tourist bureaus. Generally, you can immediately feel at home here as a European.
Since Portugal is part of the eurozone, you don’t even have to get used to a foreign currency. If you want to keep in touch with home, email is the cheapest option here as well, e.g. Lidonet Internet at the Monumental Lido Shopping Centre L.14.R/C, Estrada Monumental, Funchal. Up to 10 minutes Internet € 0.80. Video conferencing via PC available.
I can’t help mentioning here that I was able to observe the surely interesting replica of Christopher Columbus’ “Santa Maria” – which is used for tourist cruises – sailing at full speed, but never under sail. If Columbus knew about this ...

© Copyright Dieter Klinkhammer
webmaster: Dieter Klinkhammer

Last Date Modified of german page: March 02nd 2003 ,
english translation published: June 28th 2003


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