Madeira 2023 - Part 1

Pre Travel Day

 

Friday - May 5th 2023

 

It was finally time for our trip to Madeira, what we wanted to do for a long time now. Since our flight departed Saturday morning, we decided to spend the night before at the Novotel Munich Airport. Friday after work we hit the road an drove to Munich. After we checked in, we took our luggage and headed to the airport for the baggage dropp off so we didn't have to do it in the morning. Next was dinner at Oliva where we both ordered the a falafel wrap before returning to the hotel. There we had a couple of drinks until we headed to our room.

 

Novotel Munich Airport

Dinner

Dinner

Drinks at the Hotel Bar

Madeira 2023 - Part 2

Travel Day

 

Saturday - May 6th 2023

 

After we got up, we packed our stuff, checked out and took the bus to the airport. First we had to go through security, but that took some time. Once we were through, we had breakfast and then we headed to the gate to catch our flight. Our Lufthansa flight to Madeira departed on time and soon we enjoyed our first beer. Around noon we arrived in Funchal and after we got our luggage, the shuttle service picked us up and took us to the hotel.

 

Breakfast

Munich Airport

Munich Airport

Above the Clouds

Drinks and Snacks

Funchal Airport

On Madeira we stayed at The Cliff Bay Hotel, which was located just outside the city of Funchal. Upon arrival our room wasn't ready yet and so the hotel invited us for drinks at the hotel bar. Then we checked out the hotel until we could finally head to our room, where our luggage was already waiting for us. The room was really nice and spacious. Once we unpacked our stuff, we got ready to spend the afternoon at the hotel pool.

The Cliff Bay Hotel

Welcome Drinks

Hotel Bar

Hotel Bar

The Cliff Bay Hotel

The Cliff Bay Hotel

Pool Area

The Cliff Bay Hotel

The Cliff Bay Hotel

Our Room

Bathroom

View from our Room

The Cliff Bay Hotel

View at Funchal

Since we hadn't had lunch yet, we stopped at the pool bar first and ordered a salad, fries and grilled vegetables. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon with swimming and sun bathing. The pool area was really nice and also offered a pier to the sea. After we enjoyed a cold beer we left and checked out the surrounding area to find a supermarket to buy some snacks, drinks and water, before returning to the hotel and getting ready for dinner.

Hotel Pool

Pool Bar

Late Lunch

Pier to the Sea

So many Crabs

Hotel Area

Hotel Area

The Cliff Bay Hotel

The Cliff Bay Hotel

We booked half board, which meant breakfast and dinner was included. The hotel offered two restaurant, but one was an upcharge restaurant where we didn't eat the whole week. For the first evening we got soup for starter and the main course was a veggie burger for me and a risotto for Claudia. The food was really good and the service staff was amazing too. For dessert we ordered creme brulee and a chocolate mousse, both were delicious. Then we just strolled around the hotel area until we headed back to our room.

The Cliff Bay Hotel

Dinner

Starter

Risotto

Veggie Burger

Dessert

The Cliff Bay Hotel

The Cliff Bay Hotel

Madeira 2023 - Part 3

Madeira West

 

Sunday - May 7th 2023

 

For today we had booked our first guided tour to see the west side of Madeira, but first we had breakfast. Our guide picked us up at our hotel and once we collected all other participants the tour was about to start. The first stop was the Skywalk at Cabo Girao, the highest cliff of Madeira. From there we had fantastic view over the ocean and of Madeira's south coast.

 

Breakfast

Breakfast

Madeira

Cabo Girao

Cabo Girao

Cabo Girao

Cabo Girao

Cabo Girao

The next stop was the coastal village of Ribeira Brava. There we had about an hour to explore the market, the narrow streets and the beautiful church. Unfortunately we weren't able to see the church from the inside, since there was a festivity going on, but we still enjoyed browsing through the village. Then our tour continued towards the north of the island. On the way to our next town we crossed the mountain range of Madeira with its beautiful vegetation.

Ribeira Brava

Ribeira Brava

Ribeira Brava

Ribeira Brava

Ribeira Brava

Ribeira Brava

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Around noon our group arrived in Porto Moniz, where we had plenty of time for lunch and other activities. Claudia and I first headed to a restaurant to get something to eat. We both ordered Bolo do Gaco, a traditional garlic bread from Madeira, a salad and a glass of beer. The garlic bread was really good and perfect for a small lunch snack. Now it was time for our highlight of the day, the natural lava swimming pools of Porto Moniz. The pools were formed thousands of years ago through the cooling of volcanic lava. The water was rather cold, but refreshing in the hot weather.

Porto Moniz

Porto Moniz

Lunch

Lunch

Lava Pools of Porto Moniz

Lava Pools of Porto Moniz

Lava Pools of Porto Moniz

Lava Pools of Porto Moniz

Lava Pools of Porto Moniz

Porto Moniz

Our tour continued towards Seixal to see the beautiful water fall and the old coastal road. That part of the island was so breathtaking with the cliffs and the crystal clear water. It looked like Hawai'i. Our last stop was Sao Vicente, a charming small village on the north coast of Madeira. There we got to try the traditional drink of Madeira called poncha. Then we just strolled  through the lovely village before returning to Funchal.

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Madeira

Poncha

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente

Back at the hotel we spent the rest of the afternoon with a couple of drinks at the pool, before it was time for dinner. Today we got a tomato soup as a starter and for the mian course we had a vegan sandwich and vegetarian meatballs with lentils. For dessert we tried the cheesecake, which was delicious.

Pool Time

Dinner

Dinner

Dinner