Many people used to be fed the line that Madeira was an island for the elderly. The publicity probably told you it is a ‘flower-island’, wrong footing most, as the general image of Madeira was – and still is – that of beautiful and civilized gardens, inviting to leisurely walks and glasses of Madeira wine…
Category: the island
everything to do with the island
Green Veil: Madeira bushfire aftermath
It was just after mid-October when we received a WhatsApp call from Maria, who looks after our house in our absence. What she told us was frightening: our village, Fajã da Ovelha, was on fire. When I speak about Fajã da Ovelha as a village, I have to add that a village in Madeira is,…
Butter factory, the beginning of the end?
In our daily view from our house and garden features a very characteristic building. It is the old ‘fabrica de manteiga’, the butter factory of Fajã da Ovelha. The building is 110 years old. As the name says, it was used to make butter, and also cheese, in the days that it was still worthwhile…
Happy New Year!
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! Feliz Ano Novo! Happy New Year! Une très bonne année! Gutes Neues! We wish you all a very happy new year 2021. A year with fewer worries, fewer restrictions, more freedom. A year in which we can breathe again without fear, in which we can explore new horizons. And above all, a year…
Ferry to Madeira: whatever happened to it?
A ferry to Madeira could be good in these days of covid-19. All kinds of rules and regulations make air travel less pleasant. And maybe, they make you feel less safe than you would like. Unsurprisingly, many have sent me questions about the ferry to the mainland. True enough, a ferry to the mainland would…
Close your eyes, melt into the music: Madeira’s delightful surprise.
Most people are coming here to enjoy their holidays. The culture in Madeira is usually not on top of the list. Many people who enjoy their holidays on a subtropical island like Madeira do not really realise that there is life beyond the list of typical attractions for tourism. Now that alone, in Madeira, is…
covid-19 measures for Madeira
Updated rules as of May 15, 2022 Much to the relief of many, most covid-19 measaures have now been dropped in Madeira. The last rudimentary rule is, like in many places, about wearing masks There is no longer need to wear a mask in most places, with only a minimal number of exceptions. You still…
iconic voices and iconic places of Madeira
Over the months of April and May 2020, the great Madeiran performing artists have seen their income dwindle; hotels, theatres and other public spaces where they used to perform were forced to close due to the corona pandemic. No tourists and closed venues meant their work was put on hold. They have closed ranks and…
State of emergency lifted: the first week after.
The State of Emergency has been lifted now. Since last week, we have a little bit fewer restrictions, making our lives a little easier. But we are far from back to normal, though I keep saying that our lives here are still very relaxed compared to many countries in Europe, or even worldwide. The number…
Fake news and misinformation in corona times
Since we have to suffer the vainest and most useless US president the expression ‘Fake News’ has seen a lot of use. Or is it abuse? I think the latter. Fake news: since the orange idiot is mismanaging the United States the best definition of the expression Fake News would be: information that the reader…
