Saturday 30th

Today started off overcast but not cold. After a decent continental breakfast in the hotel we set off for the cable car. The walk down through Funchal took us past the indoor market and we Couldnt resist a look inside. It was fascinating with every type of fruit, veg, flower, herb and fish known to man! We took the cable car up to the Monte Tropical Gardens where we spent a very enjoyable 3 hours wandering round the steep paths which wound around between ponds, woodlands, Japanese sections with coi carp and white swans, waterfalls abounding! We then visited the impressive church of our Lady of Monte before setting off on a fairly steep levada walk to an impressive waterfall. The rain, which had been threatening all the time we were in the gardens settled into a steady moderate downpour while we were in the church so we put on our wet weather gear. It was a good, slightly strenuous walk and the rain stayed up the hillside as we decended in the cable car. Most of the shops had closed by the time we got back into Funchal but as it was such a pleasant early evening we walked through town to one of the gardens overlooking the marina before going for supper at a restaurant which was once a large yacht owned by The Beatles. The meal was adequate but not worth the 42 euro it cost (without wine or dessert).