An afternoon in Funchal

It was certainly hot here!

 The weather app was recording 26°C but if anyone said higher I would concur.

I was in the pool by the time we berthed at the town pier. 

Funchal still looked the same just more of it and probably spread further up the hills.

Looking starboard, we had nestled in by two other cruise ships, one a German Tui ship and the other, I suspect by the name, Spanish.

The Costa Firenze looked to be about the same size as ours but with a yellow funnel and a large letter 'C' emblazoned on the side, it made no impression on me.

The Tui ship I've encountered before. More a mobile town than a ship I counted 7 normal ducks and 2 extra large ones on their port side. I can but presume it's the same in the other. When you consider we have 8 ducks in total, theirs is a considerably larger ship.

Behind all that iron work was yet another ship, a ferry from the Porto Santo line. Nice way to travel over to the island if you don't fancy the flight.

Once the weather cooled a fraction I wandered off along the seafront and then up into the old part of the town that lies around the cathedral. 

I've always enjoyed this part of town and with the market in full swing it was a joy to wander along. Christmas time has arrived and tree ornaments abounded.

Wandering around the stalls and popping into stores it was nice to browse but with no aim in mind. 

People were gathering to enjoy a beer, a pizza or chat over a much needed coffee. The place hummed with life and activity, everyone wrapped up in their little piece of reality.

Slowly I wandered back knowing a lovely cup of tea awaited my hand in the cabin and I could wait to see which of these other ships left tonight.

To be honest, I might even go for another swim. The water is lovely and now the clouds have rolled down from the mountains it is a good degree cooler. 

Day 4: passing Porto Santo

Slowly, we sailed passed our first sighting of land since leaving the UK, the islands of Porto Santo and its centre Pedro's Pretas.

Looking at prices per night, considering its somewhat exclusive nature, €60 per night seems almost reasonable. 

The sun was just coming up as we slipped by and the main town itself lit up in the sunshine. 

I watched the light change and spotted a yacht  making its way into port from the northern tip. The Erra de Denton certainly live up to their name; spikey, deserted and inhospitable, 

Looking at the map gives an idea of scale when you note the airport strip and just how much space it takes up.

Anyway, I'm off, a sauna awaits and then a quick hydrotherapy dip me thinks.

This is the life.

Next will be deck 12, find a seat and possibly a dip in the pool later, but for now, the sauna calls.

Day 3; the afternoon

By lunchtime, the sea became like glass and reflected the blue of the sky, the temperature rose to 21°C and the wind became no more than that created by the ship itself.

A pod of dolphins lept by, followed by a lone whale. The sunnier, southern climes are here and so too is the warmth.

The captain came over the tannoy system and let us know the latest details. 

We will pass the island of Porto Santo at breakfast time tomorrow and then cruise into the port of Funchal, docking at midday.

He sent out two challenges; the last person aboard tomorrow night having had fun and a good time gets a bottle of bubbly and the second, a reminder to keep the lobster on the plate not the person.

I enjoyed a light lunch then retired to the library. A small group of ladies were making necklaces out of laces. The rest of us collapsed into chairs already sunned out by the morning heat.

Can't have too much on the first day, we'd end up like lobsters 😁

Day 3 and the barmy warmth reaches us.

Sitting on my balcony looking out to sea, I observe calm waters, a clear horizon and broken cloud. It feels around 17° to 19° C with little wind to play with either the ships stability or the ocean waves.

I've already enjoyed a sauna and hydrotherapy swim (well paddle about) and I do feel better.

After last night I'm going to follow Shirley's plan of ordering just two starters or an appetiser and a starter. By the time we get up for dinner it's just too late to eat and I'm tired of feeling rubbish all night. 

Yep, Shirley, you, me, both; lunch then a little something later.

Heavens I'm really missing that lady.

Oh by the way Shirley,  the art work on here is no where near as good as the Discovery! Its ultra modern but has little apparent soul. Huge canvases but size doesn't make up for lack of depth in my mind.

OK, cup of tea time and then deck 12, lido deck. I want to see of they've filled the pool and if its warm enough to sit up there. I'm waiting for my phone to charge. 

Until then, I'm going to enjoy the silence. 

Just reading through and my cabin phone went; reception. My card hasn't registered correctly so my purchase today fell into an abyss.  Oops. So deck 5 first then, but tea and finish charging my phone first. 

Day 2 at sea and the weather was bad

I do love our captain.

He came over the tannoy at lunchtime today, all bright and breezy to give us a weather update. 

Yes, we'd fought the worst of the storm and even with all four engines working at maximum thrust, we were already five hours behind schedule. 

Happy days.

"Not to worry" he said, "we've been in negotiations with Funchal and we'll arrive at midday instead of 08:30, stay overnight and then have the morning, the following morning if you get me. We've also negotiated best berth at the harbour, so we're really close into the town, which is nice."

So, we are doing an overnight in Madeira, bonus I say.

Rest of day? Well I can write it now. I'm back in the Library on a chaise longe about to devour book number two on the Kindle.

Yesterday's book was brilliant and I have high hopes for this one too.

Oh, and yes, already visited the sauna.

It's 03:32, day 2

I really don't get this loss of 24 hours I go through these days.

Mind you, getting ready to have the floors done probably didn't help. Too much lifting, carrying, shifting, losing.

The sea has been rough, with a swell of 4 meters making moving around difficult. 

I did get up for a few hours yesterday but came to the conclusion food was a step too far. I'd packed some water biscuits so had them with a couple of pieces of fruit. I've enough meat on me not to starve 😁

Today I'm hoping to resume a normal service. 

My only problem is, having slept for nearly 24 hours, I'm no longer tired.

A note to Shirley; really odd not seeing your face on deck 6 and even more so the first night outside The Grill.

Be sailing shortly....

An easy journey down: few road works. That, coupled with a lovely lady who rode with me, passed the two and a half hours really smoothly.

My first time out of Portsmouth and I was surprised just how different an experience it was.



We were docked next to two cargo carrying ferries. They reminded me of days gone by when I would plop off the end of the ramp in a Scania and head off somewhere with a load on board.



Not this time. I'm sitting in my cabin waiting to be called to my Muster station; North Cape Bar for those who know the ship.

We will pull off after muster and then it's three days of gentle sailing toward our first destination.

Me? Well some of the ladies in the Spa have already seen me, recognised me and asked wen I was coming down. So I've already committed myself to a hydrotherapy relax tomorrow.  

Happy days.