Why choose a holiday home in Madeira Island?
Have you ever heard of a European Tropical Island? Welcome to Madeira! Of all the discoveries made by legendary explorers from Portugal, this has to be the best! Poets, pirates, priests and partygoers belong to the past and the present on this island paradise.
A self-catered holiday in the Santa Cruz area promises relaxation and reflection near the edge of excitement. Local pubs, restaurants, and cafes will expose you to the delicious foods favored by natives.
Santa Cruz has a premier aqua park that can handle over one thousand sun soaked swimmers in search of a cooling thrill or a terrific tan. Five toboggan rides, four high velocity slides, and two swimming pools are surrounded by a lazy floating river. Relaxing at the pool bar is a favorite place for old and new friends.
The 2001 World Surfing Championship introduced the world to the gilded beaches of Calheta. The main beach is protected by boulders shaped like a horse shoe to prevent the waves from crashing to shore.
The yellow sand is actually imported from Morocco and the beach features restrooms, medical personnel, and a state of the art marina that attracts boats from all around the world. It's fun to rent canoes, windsurfing boards, or skim the crystal waters in a catamaran.
A long lunch or late supper is available on the main avenue that ends at the beach. You can easily find a wonderful outdoor restaurant to try the local seafood specialties with a cold bottle of white wine.
You are not in the snowy Alps so you may be surprised to know that the people of Monte have used toboggans to go to Funchal since the mid 1800's. Picture yourself on a 2-seat wicker love seat with wooden runners that is pushed and steered by a couple of men decked out in matching straw hats and white cotton shirts and pants.
Now imagine how you will feel as you are launched downhill for nearly 1.5 miles at speeds reaching 30 mph as you remember that the only brakes are the rubber on the bottom of your driver's boots.
Madeira is an enchanting departure from our routine lives. Daytime offers sedate tours or frothy stimulation. Nightlife is a cozy club or thrumming disco. Treat Madeira like a sweet scented bakery and try a bite of everything.
Contribution post: 14 August 2010
