Checking in in
the hotel, next surprise. „The identification cards, please!" In
order to be registered at the authorities, aha. I
did not experience this up to now yet. Then into the room. Furnished spaciously and stylish. I pull away the curtain of the window, and again I am surprised
positively because of this sight:
After a good dinner we break up to a small orientation walk. Close to our hotel there is a small promenade which allows an outstanding look at the sea.
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There are also the three small islands which I have seen with the approach on Madeira. But now they look much more beautifully. In the sunset they are shining very impressively. This are the "Desertas", desert islands on which no human life is to be found. But many other exotic animals, as for example wolf-webs, poisonous snakes and tarantulas. The concerned look of my wife amuses me a bit. But I calm her; there is no concern, this beasts are not to be found on Madeira, only on those Desertas. Additionally, one of the two last populations of the strongly endangered monk-seals live there. Even two puppies were born there this year. The second population living in the waters round Japan, stagnates.
Beside this, you should be able to read the coming weather in those isles, depending on whether you do not see them at all, or only in the fog, or clearly. But be aware: if they are to be seen clearly, the weather will not inevitably be fine.
Next morning, after a more than extensive breakfast, welcoming of the newcomers. Everybody gets a little glass of Madeira wine. And again a little surprise. Wine is served in small glasses here. Are my taste-annoyings deceiving me? Nevertheless, this does not taste like wine. The guide clarifies, and I am calmed. With me everything is all right. The stuff tastes a bit like sherry. But you may not tell it to the madeirian people, says the guide. Otherwise, they would be offended. I taste something else - this is never a pure wine, and actually, I am right again. He is tuned with brandy. Later we visit the capital of Madeira, called Funchal. The sight of this city is indescribable. Seen from the harbor, small houses cuddle up tightly packed in the semicircle, up to a height of approximately 600 meters. The likely largest amphitheater of the world. And also a little bit impressing - the traffic amount. Berlin meets London, or something like that. Driving on the close streets means adventure. With this sight, I immediately discard the plan with the rental car. A mistake, as will turn out later. But next time I know better.
Madeira is inhabited by approx. 260.000 people. The half (!!) lives in Funchal, and the other half comes there in the course of the day. To work, for making purchases, or simply to be there. This means that there is almost no traffic on the rest of the isle.
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By a visit of a well known wine tavern we still get more information about the Madeira wine. You can get it in four sorts: dry, medium dry, half-sweet and sweet. By tasting I fall in love with the sweet variant. This wine is stored, incidentally, in a different way than anywhere else, at a temperature of 40°C. This arose, when one had found out with the first exports that the Madeira wine tasted essentially better in the destinations than on Madeira itself. One first presumed the waves on the long sea-route to be responsible for this phenomenon. They built corresponding devices on Madeira. Unsuccessfully, the wine did not taste yet as well as in the exporting countries. With one of the next equator crossings one measured the surrounding temperature and had found the solution. Since then the Madeira wine also tastes on Madeira like Madeira wine.
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