Philip R. Westcott
  • Home
  • About
    • Press cuttings and Magazine articles
    • Pictures from previous exhibitions
    • A short Video
    • Virtual galleries
    • Books For Sale
    • Magazines to view or download
  • Landscapes
  • Cityscapes
  • Holidays
  • Digital Drawings
  • Blog
    • A-Z Blog
  • Sketches
  • ABSTRACT PAINTINGS
  • Themed paintings and Commissions
  • Feedack from Galleries etc.
  • Comments and Contact form
  • Press cuttings and Magazine articles

Other places to visit from #Funchal #Madeira #Nun'sValley.

6/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Although our hotel was just out of city centre, it was ideally situated for a walk away from town towards the other hotels and Lidos  along the coast. 

​Here there were more of the larger hotels and concrete lidos, where you could spend the day sunbathing and swimming. There are not a lot of beaches and these are ideal for people who just want to relax in the sun with every convenience on hand. The one I sketched was typical of these.

Further along the road you came to the new shopping centre, the  Forum Madeira, where more high street retailers are found. This was a nice change to be able to walk around out of the heat. The roof garden was excellent but under used. I felt a bit sorry for the man who sat up there all day with a hawk; probably to frighten off pigeons etc.
Another organised tour was to the Nun's Valley. This is a small village situated in the crater of an extinct volcano, which has kept its 16th-century Santa Clara Convent; where the nuns used to hide from pirates who were attacking Funchal.

The trip started at a stunning viewpoint, where we could look down on the small village. In the first picture you can see the original road used by villagers. A winding treacherous way clinging to the cliff side. 

Having said that the new road is still very narrow in places and as we sat having a drink, at the viewpoint, we watched two coaches trying to pass at a narrow section. This was like two stags fighting with one advancing and then retreating, then the other doing the same. This went on for about twenty minutes before one gave in and reversed so the other could pass. Drivers pride was at stake I think.

One of our hobbies is Geocaching, where we look for hidden caches. On our travels we try to find one at every stop. As we looked at the viewpoint, we found the hiding place, which was a deep hollow in the rock side. As we considered putting our hand inside, another man code name 'Peter Pan' without even thinking about it, reached in to retrieve the treasure. Much braver than us, so an apt name. After chatting he told us this was his 499th find.

After the road was clear we descended the valley to the village. This was quaint but a little disappointing. Maybe because we didn't have long to explore it.  Again we decided to look for a Geocache, which was at the local Fire station. As we rooted around a fireman came out and gave us a hint. As we opened the log we realised 'Peter Pan' had achieved his aim of collecting his 500th cache. So congratulations to him, but we will get there one day.

Two interesting trips; one organised and one where we just explored the area. Both chances to see different parts of the island.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Philip Westcott

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    April 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
    • Press cuttings and Magazine articles
    • Pictures from previous exhibitions
    • A short Video
    • Virtual galleries
    • Books For Sale
    • Magazines to view or download
  • Landscapes
  • Cityscapes
  • Holidays
  • Digital Drawings
  • Blog
    • A-Z Blog
  • Sketches
  • ABSTRACT PAINTINGS
  • Themed paintings and Commissions
  • Feedack from Galleries etc.
  • Comments and Contact form
  • Press cuttings and Magazine articles