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Author Topic: Madeira  (Read 4428 times)

RickF

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Madeira
« on: August 24, 2009, 11:10:29 am »

No - not the drink. The island!

The DSM and I are off to Funchal for a few days next month and we would like to know the cost of the necessities of life -  glass of beer, litre of house red, average meal, etc. Anyone been recently?

Thanks in advance

Rick

PS Anything of interest in the boating department?
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2009, 11:43:18 am »

We were thinking of doing the same Rick, what sort of travel/accommodation arrangements have you made as there seem to be an awful lot of hotels and flight options (some of them very long!)

In doing my research I did see a comment to the effect that the cost of eating out is about the same as it is in the UK.

Colin
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2009, 11:58:19 am »

We went last year and the prices are broadly comparable with the UK. Don't miss the street-toboggan ride down the hill from the top of the cable car ride.........you'll find out what I mean  ;)
Not much interesting boat-wise unless you like cruise ships.
Enjoy the island - we did.
FLJ
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Roger in France

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2009, 12:19:23 pm »

Have some maderia m'dear
It's very much nicer than beer.
Do drink it up
It will help you to sleep
And once it is open, you know, it won't keep.
So, have some maderia m'dear...."

Anyone else remeber Flanders and Swann?

Roger in France
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dougal99

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2009, 01:07:20 pm »

Stayed in Machico earlier this year. Nice little harbour with some biggish fishing boats.

Doug
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Shipmate60

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2009, 01:07:47 pm »

Have a drink in Reid's Hotel, one of the bars has a whole wall of glass overlooking the town.
Best seen in the evening.
Have a round the island trip and the the "Espadadas" cubes of steak cooked on a barbecue, garnished with Garlick Butter and hung from the ceiling on a large skewer.
The weather is temperate so just a nice heat.
Bananas grow from gardens overhanging the street.
Lovely place to visit.

Bob
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2009, 01:15:19 pm »

I forgot the 'stone-cooked' steaks - best I've ever tasted, the beef comes from the Azores (another good place to visit). Sorry if you're not a carnivore.
FLJ
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RickF

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2009, 07:12:38 pm »

Thanks for all the advice, chaps -  much appreciated.

Colin - we are travelling with Travelsphere - a package job - details here http://www.travelsphere.co.uk/europe/madeira/madeira_with_hotel_pestana_casino_park.aspx

Roger - Yes, I do remember F & S - saw them live in the early sixties. However, we only like the "dry" Madeira - not the sweet stuff!

Shipmate - Reid's  is definitely on the list of places to visit.

FLJ - Yes, we are both carnivores and love a good steak.

Once agaim, many thanks

Rick
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funtimefrankie

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2009, 08:29:42 pm »

We stayed at the Hotel Pestana Casino Park hotel a couple of years back....very good, handy  for a stroll into the town centre.
Good show in the cassino/theatre in the grounds. If you pay to go in the cassino you get your money back as chips to play with...OK for a dabble  even if you are not into ganbling.  Not quite  Las Vegas though !!!
We hired a car and saw most of the island in a couple of days, you can get to bits that most trippers don't get to.

Just checked it was June 2005 when we were there....I'd like to go again some day.
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DavieTait

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2009, 08:31:17 pm »

I went to Funchal for a week on my honeymoon ( only good thing lol ). For food definitely have Espada , we call it Black Scabbard fish and it is absolutely fantastic to eat. When I was there in '99 you could have a good 3 course meal with plenty of wine and a large Irish coffee for about £20-£30 each max.

Try to eat in the small local places , OK it could be a bit of close eyes and order ( I did that and got flash fried squid...mmmmmmm lovely ) but the food will be great and it will not cost a lot.

We did the north island tour day which is worth doing , completely different weather on the north side compared to the south side ( north is cooler and wetter compared to the south ) , and I INSIST ( !! :D :D ) you do the Madeira wine tour ( I got rather "merry" lol ).

One thing you will notice is that real Madeira cake is NOT white... it is very dark in colour full of nuts and fruit and Madeira wine ( you will want to buy a few to take home believe me I did , they last up to 1 year unopened but mine lasted 1 month :D :D )
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RickF

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2009, 09:36:12 am »

Well, back home and about a stone heavier! Had a great time and would thoroughly recommend a week on the island to anyone - two weeks might be too long.

Here is a picture from the hotel pool bar - the old(ish) and the new(ish). A replica nau - Santa Maria de Colombo - heads home with happy tourists as the Spanish Descubierta-class corvette Infanta Cristina prepares to sail.



The corvette, now in service as a patrol craft, is actually older than the replica - 1980, as opposed to 1998!

Thanks again for all your good advice

Rick
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Shipmate60

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2009, 09:41:35 am »

Rick,
Did you stay in Funchal?

Bob
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2009, 09:50:09 am »

Glad you had a good time Rick, we couldn't get the package we wanted and went to Sardinia instead. Madeira is still on the "to do" list though.

Colin
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RickF

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2009, 12:05:32 pm »

Bob,

Yes, at the Casino Park, a superb hotel on the cliff above the commercial harbour. It was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Nearest 5-star to the city centre and we could not fault it.

http://www.pestana.com/hotels/en/hotels/europe/MadeiraHotels/CasinoPark/Home/

Colin, Sardinia is on our list, too!

Rick
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Bryan Young

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2009, 04:35:07 pm »

Well, back home and about a stone heavier! Had a great time and would thoroughly recommend a week on the island to anyone - two weeks might be too long.

Here is a picture from the hotel pool bar - the old(ish) and the new(ish). A replica nau - Santa Maria de Colombo - heads home with happy tourists as the Spanish Descubierta-class corvette Infanta Cristina prepares to sail.



The corvette, now in service as a patrol craft, is actually older than the replica - 1980, as opposed to 1998!

Thanks again for all your good advice

Rick
Rick, nice to see the Santa Maria afloat. Last time I was in Madeira we chanced upon a small coastal town not too far west of Funchal and There she was, being built more of less on the beach. Got some pics of her somewhere, but I recall thinking she looked a bit odd with that great brass prop stuck on the back end! BY.
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RickF

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2009, 07:48:32 pm »

Brian,

Built in Camara de Lobos 1997-98 by Robert Wijntje, a Dutchman and a gang of locals. There is a nice album of photos on board documenting the build.

It's not a bad "trip round the bay" - under power, of course: the sails stay furled. But apart from that it's fairly authentic and she looks good afloat

Rick
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rem2007

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2009, 09:24:43 pm »

Hi Rick,

We went a year ago in January, loved it. Booked it all on line with Fly Be out of Bristol, hotel B and B , hire for a week came to about £600 for the 2 of us.
Not the best hotel, but its just a bed at the end of the day.

I'd recommend the ferry trip to Porto Santo, leaves once a day in the morning from Funchal and takes 2 hours but the beach over there is lovely and quite a contrast to Madiera.
There is a Model Boat club out on the commercial pier, But Portuguese is alittle different than Spanish
We may go back this Feb when its abit warmer.
Oh and they have 2 footy teams in Funchal both in the Portuguese 1st Div,
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funtimefrankie

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Re: Madeira
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2009, 06:55:58 pm »

IOM Steam Packet Lady of Mann   spend summer 1995 there, on charter, as ferry, after the TT rush was over
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