Early Morning Sunshine as We Arrived in the Port at Funchal
In Madeira, our final port of call before Southampton, I decided to do a levada walk. Levadas are the irrigation channels, or small canals, that bring water from the mountain springs to the dry farmland and residential areas, helping to make Madeira such a beautiful island.
Our walk was on the Campanario section of the Levada Du Nord and, like most levadas, it weaves it’s way around the mountain side at a very high level, providing spectacular views, but also with frequently precipitous drops at the side of narrow pathways.
Levada construction was a challenging and dangerous undertaking, with many deaths occurring due to falls, cave-ins, and the harsh conditions. The construction, which began in the 15th century, involved arduous manual labour and often took place on steep, rocky terrain, making it a dangerous endeavour.
A plaque shows an old photograph of construction workers with a quote in Portuguese from a prominent civil engineer which I have very roughly translated (with Google’s help) on the right below.
Inscription (Translated)
“I remember the friends – those who, long ago, stood upon distant slopes, far from their villages and the comforts of home. Cloaked in mist and concealed by the undergrowth, they faced immense dangers with quiet resolve, never once suggesting that their task was extraordinary or any different from those who journey with certainty, confident of returning safely to the warmth of their homes.”
Eng. Manuel Rafael Amaro da Costa June 1, 1952
“To those who gave their lives for this work, we give tribute for their supreme sacrifice.“
Flowers Growing Wild
There were delightful flowers everywhere. Below are a few that I happened to photograph.
Camara De Lobos
After the walk we enjoyed a cold beer and a snack in a restaurant in Camara De Lobos, a fishing village with scenery that famously, Winston Churchill was inspired to paint.
The statue is outside a restaurant in the harbour. The plaque on the right is at a roadside viewpoint on the hillside where he loved to spend time painting the scenery.
The scenes below are from that viewpoint.
After Madeira we set sail for Southampton. At first the sea was very rough, but I’m used to that now. Then, un-typically the weather gradually improved as we approached the Bay of Biscay and headed for home.
Just one more post to go. I’ll write a bit more on life onboard.
Leave a Reply