Today dawned bright and sunny, just how it should be - and how it should have been yesterday! Our trip today was scheduled for 1.30. At 8.15 there came a message over the tannoy system that the tour would start at 9.30 - and we were still in bed thinking we had a late start! So it was a case of hurry up get breakfast and be ready to leave on time. We made it OK!
We journeyed east today, up to a height of 1,555 ft to the Quinta do Palheiro Gardens first. The gardens were first laid out in the 18th century for the owner Conde de Carvalhal. There is an abundance if camelia trees, many forming an archway avenue. Currently it is owned by the Blandy family who have introduced many tropical and sub-tropical plants. There is a small hotel within the grounds as well as the original house. I took 29 photos in these gardens. I cannot put them all into this report but I will select a few to show the general idea of the place.
The pathways were very uneven which made walking difficult. J decided to return to the coach so missed the best parts of the gardens. That is why I took so many photos.
Next we visited the Botanical Gardens, lower down the mountain, nearer to Funchal. Situated in the grounds of a private house once owned by the Reed family. Not as extensive as Palheiro but much steeper with many terraces and steps.
I think these gardens were more attractively laid out.
At a lower level there was an aviary with many caged birds but also some running free. En route there was a pond with turtles. The reflections are good!
Notable among the birds were the peacocks. There was also an albino peacock but I didn't see the full tail spread. He looks well next to the bird of paradise flower!
A turkey obliged with a display of feathers. There were lots of parrots of various kinds but they were difficult to photograph because they were rather small and they did not keep still for long enough! I have cropped these photos to pick out the parts I wanted.
J didn't do the aviary as his knees were aching. He retired to the bus. I was also getting very tired by now so I didn't go all round. Getting back to the coach up a steep hill was the worst bit of all! One person was late for the coach which delayed our departure time. However we made it back to the ship by 1.45 which was just in time for lunch - and we needed it after all that walking. (I had taken 18 photos at the Botanical Gardens.)
What did we have? One meal seems to merge into another now that we have had so many on board. I think today I had salad with various meats followed by a chocolate mousse. J had the same but with chips followed by jelly and mousse. After a cup of tea we eventually returned to our cabin. I started on today's diary and J slept. I had a rest later on then it was time to dress for dinner. As it is St. Patrick's Day I chose green but not many others had made that observance. The waiters were back in uniform tonight after the Western then Tropical shirts! J began with asparagus followed by prawn soup which I also had. His main course was beef and pork medallions whilst I had shark. We both had marinated orange with cream for afters.
Coffee in the Neptune lounge was followed by the evening's entertainment. First was a friendly game of Blockbusters then Deja Vu provided the entertainment for the rest of the evening with a selection of excerpts from various Shows - Starlight Express, The King and I and Les Miserables. They are soooo good and the costumes excellent.
We leave Madeira tonight and sail to Porto Santo, our last port of call before England.