Mmm… Madeira once more! My husband bought us tickets for one more trip to Madeira – the hiking paradise of our youth. There are endless hiking possibilities along the levadas carrying water to the city. The scent, the sound, the solitude. Unforgettable.
This is only a short Thursday entry, because there will be more posts from this charming island.
The last time I was there was with my children and my mother. We walked several levadas, not the most difficult ones, because my mother was 75 – but even if she was agile, I wanted us to be safe. And she loved it. Our forest walks at home used to be frequent and long. But, in Madeira the added sound of water swirling in the levadas is very soothing.
As in Portugal in general, the Azulejos are beautiful history tellers.
A must was always the Botanical Garden – and other gardens of course. Madeira is a flower Paradise – so there are many reasons for loving this island. Every time we visited, there was a new pattern in this open space. This summer it was geometrical.
A visit to the museum of their greatest son, Cristiano Ronaldo, was of course a must for my husband. But I rather enjoyed it too. The statue of CR was much debated when it was set up. I must say I didn’t like it then, but the one we saw here couldn’t have been the same – it looked much more like him now. Maybe they had to make a new one because of all the criticism??
Finally, the promenade we have walked so many times. It was good to see it again. Walk it again. Even if the city had changed very much in later years, this part felt warm and familiar.
Thank you for walking with me, there will be more of levadas, gardens and city walks in a couple of Thursday posts. Looking back sometimes is good for the overall perspective of your life.
Happy July 4 to you who celebrate, and hope you all are having a beautiful week!
Leya 
Always good to look back at photos, they bring back so many memories. What an interesting geometrical pattern in the botanical garden. I think I would love walking round there
thank you so much – and i do believe you would have loved a stroll in those gardens!
Hi Ann-Christine
Thank you for making us aware of Madeira. We didn’t know anything about this island except that in former times sailors who crossed the Atlantic stopped here to take water and provisions.
We are looking forward to your next posts
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you, yes, there will be some more posts – nice to know you are looking forward to them!
How lovely! I wish I can also visit it someday..
I wish you will. But the hills and mountains are a bit tough for our knees nowadays. You are young!
Oooh, more posts like this one to look forward too? Marvellous!
♥ Always kind and supporting, Margaret! Love you.
And me you, Ann-Christine 💛
Never been there, but heard about it a lot. Lovely images and memories. I don’t like Ronaldo though 😚 not my favorite footballer
Well – I don’t watch much football, but he is good.
Good yes very good , still don’t like him 😂
Haha;-D
What a lovely surprise!
Sweet of him – I guess this was our last visit. We have done all hiking trails over 6 years and seen the festivals and flowers. Now our knees are not that good in this landscape. But – how good to see it once more and remember all our great adventures.
Absolutely Leya
such a beautiful place
♥ It is.
It makes me happy to know how much you enjoyed this beautiful place, A-C. Low-key celebration of the 4th for us tomorrow, but that’s fine.
Thank you, dear friend. And we hear so much about the celebrations, how people will not celebrate anymore…Interesting to hear how it went.
This turning out to be a great holiday, Ann-Christine. Have only heard of this island , more as a wine, so reading about it and looking at the photos is a treat. Also I didn’t know that Ronaldo was from this part of Portugal. Looking forward to the next post already.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Sheetal. I guess this might have been our last visit in Madeira, so we made the most of it and went to our beloved places from days gone by.
The flower are really good in Madeira
♥ They are.
Always fancied Madeira, but never got there so I will enjoy your photos.
Thank you – you would love it. So many beautiful gardens and festivals, wild flowers and plants.
Wow, Ann-Christine! We spent a month in Portugal but never made it to Madeira. Your photos are beautiful!
Thank you, Egidio. I will post more on it – and maybe you will visit some day?
I hope so… We have this thing about going back to places we really liked instead of trying new locations.
I think both! New places and old places. The older I get, the more I like to visit old places important for us. Except sometimes I do not want to go back – when I suspect the changes are not for the better.
I have lovely memories of spending my 65th there. It’s a beautiful island xx
You did! Lovely!
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It looks like a lovely place to visit. Enjoy!
I did!