Blog 34: Exploring Madeira - Part 1
Madeira is a beautiful and fascinating island, with modern and vibrant towns despite being in the middle of nowhere! Surrounded by the Atlantic and hundreds of miles from the nearest bit of mainland, Madeirans are proud of their traditions, but have embraced the modern world too. Madeira was formed by volcanic eruptions between 3 and 5 million years ago and its terrain is very rugged and mountainous with steep, dramatic cliffs. The main island of Madeira is green and lush with a sub-tropical climate, where sugar cane and vines grow well, and abundant alliums and hydrangeas grow wild along the roadsides. Madeirans seem to manage to build their homes on incredibly steep hillsides - some of the houses look like they're just clinging on! 'Our' end of the island - the eastern end where the Quinta do Lorde Marina is situated - is more barren and not so steep and high, but still beautiful and there's a very popular trek to Sao Lourenco. View over Canical towards...