2025 Volendam, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal...

 Since leaving Cadiz the weather was pretty rough as we were going through a storm in the Atlantic and it was anticipated that we would arrive late at Funchal. The captain was able to make up time, and we were docked earlier than expected. It is a pretty sail into Funchal with the fort and the mountains in the background. Funchal is the capital city of Portugal's Madeira archipelago, located on the island of Madeira. It is known for its mild climate, scenic harbor, and lush gardens, and is a popular tourist destination. We took the ships shuttle to the town and immediately went to the cable car station. Being early there was no line for the Madeira Cable Car. We took the cable car to the top of Monte… luckily, we were inside the car when the rains came. We toured a portion of the Monte Palace Madeira Tropical a Garden…the garden has a diverse collection of flora, exotic plants, and art collections. From the garden we walked up to Our Lady of Monte Church. This is a beautiful Monte parish church built in the 1741. The church has roof top viewport that I climbed to get some great panoramic shots of Funchal below. We watched many ship passengers taking the traditional Monte toboggan basket-sled ride down the hills of Monte. After our return cable car ride to the lower city, we walked along the waterfront promenade towards the Fort of São Tiago or St. James Fort. This fort was constructed in the early 17th century to protect the island against pirate attacks and foreign invasions. The fort is notable for its prominent yellow walls, which contrast with the surrounding architecture, and its strategic position overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. With the threat of rain, we headed to the shuttle through the historic old town with its lovely painted doors. It was a nice stop before our upcoming 6 days at sea.