MADEIRA ISLAND #1 - SLIDE-SHOW

Setting my feet on Madeira Island always pleases me. Brimming with smiles and colour, the island is warm and sunny, though this time clouds had gathered above the golf course, making me and my fellow players soaking wet to the point that not many but a few of them gave up playing. Back to the hotel, the sun was shining...

In the evening, we went to the Gala Ball held within the scope of Madeira Flower Festival. The ambience was colorful, the band not bad and playing all those musics we all knew... a fashion show preceded the opening of the ball by the Governor, a very controversial politician, yet with a very unique sense of humour.  

On the following day, the golf course welcomed us with strong wind and a bit cold but better conditions than on the day before. Our team played against a local one and... not surprisingly, we were defeated by the 'Flintstones', so the team was called. They knew every corner of the course, all the tricks and their strategy was perfect. Next time they will fly to Lisbon and the circumstances will be favourable to us... I do hope so!

No golf on the third day. Time to revisit the city and see some signs of the Flower Festival, the highlight of which had been a parade on the day before. Funchal city was crowded with tourists as I had never seen on my previous visits to the island. After having breathed the atmosphere of the old market, I continued my walk through the artist quarter with its artwork on the doors that had already impressed me when I was over there, in October.  I noticed the decorated doors had remarkably increased in number. Some more interesting than others, yet each and all showing creativity.