Sept. 13 - Funchal, Portugal

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them”. – Unknown

Today was our first full day in Madeira. Actually it was our first day since we didn't land until 4:30 this morning. By the time we got in bed it was after six. After a few hours of sleep we started the day by having coffee and a pastry at a place located across the street from our apartment. This afternoon we wandered around town a bit and then we had to go back to the airport to pick up our rental car. Unfortunately they were closed when we arrived. 

The view from our apartment. Looking towards the water a little restaurant in the park.

Funchal is the capital city, laid out like an amphitheater around the bay. It's a magnificent city, with cobbled streets, splendid parks and gardens, little squares with restaurants, Portuguese colonial architecture and a cable car for a bird's eye view of the city. The city began in 1424 when the Zarco family settled there. Its strategic location between Europe, Africa and South America has led to its importance as a port of call for the European trade routes. We're staying in The Old Town, known as Zona Velha. It's a lively place and we plan to explore as much of it as we can while we're here. 

The harbor looking towards town.

The Mercado dos Lavradores, literally translated as "farmers market", it's a fruit, vegetable, flower and fish market in old town that opened in 1940. The building houses 3 floors of stalls with exotic fruits, vegetables, plants of all kinds and lots of fish and shellfish. The stalls are decorated in vibrant colors and the salesmen dressed in typical costumes.  

Rua de Santa Maria is one of oldest and most colorful streets in Old Town. The narrow cobbled street dates back to 1430 as a thoroughfare up to the church of Santa Maria Maior. It's just wide enough for pedestrians and is lined with restaurants, cafes and an art gallery or two. In 2014 the “Art of Open Doors” project turned this old shabby area of Funchal into a colorful outdoor art gallery with more than 200 works of art.

Part of Rue de Santa Maria.

Just a few of the doors we saw. We went back to this little street the next night for dinner.