The Garden Island of Madeira
It was a big thumbs up as we arrived on the beautiful island of Madeira. The glorious sunshine greeted us as we stepped off the plane! We couldn't wait to start our holiday.
We were keen to get to know the area so we walked all the way down and along the promenade where we took in the stunning views across the bay. We stopped for a drink in a lovely cafe before continuing our stroll in the warm sun.
A lovely morning was spent exploring Rua de Santa Maria, one of the oldest and most colourful streets in Madeira. The narrow, cobbled street date back to 1430 and are full of tiny cafes and restaurants that are only wide enough for pedestrians. In 2014 the "Art of Open Doors" project started and local artists were invited to work on over 200 doors. The beautiful colours and designs on these doors are amazing and are now one of the main tourist attractions in Funchal.
We visited a few of the souvenir shops before walking down towards the marina where we sat and had a drink enjoying the stunning views of the small fishing boats, bobbing up and down on the water.
The evening entertainment at the hotel was fantastic. You would always find us dancing away, late into the night.
We boarded the cable car ride which took us to the botanical gardens. The higher we went the more spectacular the views became. For some of the group this was their first experience of a cable car and loved every second!
We could smell the aroma of the flowers and plants as we walked closer. The flowerbeds were bursting with every colour imaginable. The cacti plants were the biggest we had ever seen. 
A trip to Monte, also known as the "village of carts" and for its panoramic view over the bay of Funchal was a must! On arrival we watched as the "carreiros ", two men typically dressed in white and wearing a straw hat. They control the traditional toboggans or basket cars which are made in rattan and mounted on wooden skis. These are then pushed down a route which runs for approximately 2km from Monte to Livramento.
The most memorable day was spent out on the turquoise waters for a spot of whale and dolphin watching. As we set sail our captain told us that he would be keeping watch and would alert us if anything was spotted, and it wasn’t long before he did just that! 
Before our very eyes a pod of pilot whales were swimming ahead and sure enough we got to see these beautiful creatures long enough not to disturb them. What an amazing experience; we were thrilled! We continued our journey across the crystal clear water, taking in the wonderful scenery.
The best way to sightsee was on the open top bus. We took our seats on the top deck and listened to the commentary about the local area.
An ice cream treat is a must on our holidays!
Another lovely, warm day greeted us and we were keen to make the most of it. On one of our walks we came across some steps that led us down to a pebbled beach. At the bottom was a small bar/restaurant set in the rocks. We decided to stop for a drink and couldn't resist sampling some of the freshly cooked calamari that the chef had prepared and was being cooked on the outside grill. It was absolutely delicious and for some of us it was the first time trying calamari! You don’t get fresher than this!
We visited Cabo Girao one of the highest cliffs in the world which measures 589 meters high. Here, without hesitation we were able to walk on the glass platform, where we could see all the way down to the ground. The panoramic views of the coastline and the mountains were breathtaking.
Then we visited a small chapel and we learnt that Winston Churchill used to visit this village frequently and would sit and paint the wonderful scenery. There is a statue of him that we had spotted outside one of the local hotels. Inside the chapel we admired the beautiful, ornate details of the font and the stain glass windows. We felt very peaceful as we wandered around.
More incredible views of the coastline always made for a great photo opportunity.
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