Sightseeing at a *VERY* windy Lac d'Estaing. 100+kph recorded at the local airport so who knows what it was up here!
When your friend's luggage beats him through French customs. Lucky there's nothing exy in this unattended box!
When a visiting mate loses his drone flying from the house! Bush bashing in steep forests & eventually found it. Yay!
Out on the town for snacks and a few beers. It's been too long... cheers!
Out walking and stumbled across these... that's lunch sorted!
Lunch catch up with friends in town. Pizza, tiramisu & lemon meringue. Yum!
Home sweet home. Blue skies at the Col d'Aspin & noodle soup for lunch. Ahhhhhhh....
Bienvenue en France! Not quite the warm welcome home I'd hoped for!
Airline food ain't what it used to be!
Last snack in Madeira: more treats from another bakery
Monte Palace garden, Funchal. The perfect place to visit with your plant obsessed wife!
The famous Carreiros do Monte. Not sure it's for me, but long line & excited faces says it's certainly fun for some!
Good morning Funchal... Don't worry - this is our last day here Booooooo....!
Goodnight Funchal...
Dinner at O Polar, Funchal. More superb meat - this time steak skewers & roast chicken. And dessert of course Nom!
Post hike refreshments... coffee, beer & passion fruit dessert (which was both unusual & delicious). Nom!
Miradouro da Bica da Cana. More sublime views from mountains to the sea!
Today's hike part 2: Fanal forest. Many of these beautiful trees have been dated at 5-800 years old! So cool!
Part 1 of today's hike: down to the waterfall source of this levada, through lush forest & past fern walls. Magical!
Goodnight Funchal! We're not quiet home yet, so slightly a view from the West
Stop on the cruise home for some sunset shots. Somewhere on the Madeira coast West of Ponta do Sol.
Road near Ponta do Sol, semi-closed due to waterfall in the middle! Incredible shots from Pratiwi as I drove through!
Sunset dinner at the Sabor aMar Fish Factory. Calamari, mussels, octopus, swordfish, cheesecake. Nom, nom, nom!
Miradouros do Paredao... clouds rolling by & the view changing literally by the second. Very cool!
View from Eira Do Serrado (nice looking hotel here) down the road we just drove (& will return on) ain't bad either!
Miradouro da Eira do Serrado. Awesome lookout almost 500m above the valley below. What a spot!
A lookout on the way to erm, another lookout. This is Miradouro da Malhada & view down into river Socorridos gorge.
Another random stop, this time for coffee, cakes, meat pasty & you never can eat too much caco de bolo in Madeira!
Random stop at a Gaudi-esque church. Bit odd, but view is nice & the olds hadn't seen this before, so that's a bonus.
Visit to another scorched lookout & closed walking trail Miradouro da Boca dos Namorados - catchy name!
In the grounds of Hotel Quinta da Serra, this Eucalyptus is allegedly the tallest tree on Madeira. Sure is a big boy!
Lunch @ Abrigo do Pastor. Calves liver, garlic pork, suckling pig, venison stew, chocolate mousse, tiramisu. Amazing!
They said Madeira would be crowded & parking hard. Yet only us in this empty carpark top of Pico do Arieiro! Easy!
View from Pico do Areeiro. Path to Ruivo closed due to fires (somewhere in the clouds). Would have done it otherwise.
Hike pt 2: Miradouro dos Balcoes. Actually lucky with clouds - as we left it really rolled in & could see nothing!
First part of today's hike: Levada do Furado all to ourselves. Didn't see a soul until we were almost back to start!
Tonight's dessert... erm... half eaten... sorry
We skipped the touristic looking places & had lunch snack in a side-street bar. Tasty fish sandwich, coffee & cake.
Few more random snaps wondering around Funchal. Gotta say, while nice to walk around, not the most photogenic place.
Obligatory bakery craving photo ... Funchal edition.
Fresh produce & fish market in Funchal. Very interesting & very colourful place!
Early-ish morning stroll in Funchal.
Tonight's dessert... super yum!
Views on the drive home: Miradouro Camacha, overlooking Funchal & squeezing through the old town!
End of hike treats in a local coffee shop. Nom, nom, nom!
Coastal hike from Canical, along the levada to Pico do Facho & back. Mostly dry & dusty but very quiet which is nice.
Funky coloured rocks near the start of our hike. Could go up there, but not why we are here today!
Madeira had some serious bushfires just before our visit. Many of the most spectacular roads & trails still closed