Queen Elizabeth Voyage: May 4, 2017, Thursday, Funchal, Madeira

Our last stop before we reach Southampton.

We have been to Funchal before, ten years ago on our first trip around the world. We have taken the cable car up the hill to Monte and the wooden sled down the hill on city streets. Been around the town on the bus, with a stop at Reid's Hotel for lunch and stopped at several wine shops. So, we did not do any of those things this time.

In the morning, we walked off the ship and took a shuttle bus to the center of town. Everyone was busy setting up for a local festival but it was a good chance to see the downtown before things got too busy.

In the afternoon, we took a ship's tour up into the hills above Funchal. First stop was an observatory (observation point) and coffee shop overlooking Funchal. A beautiful place to see the city, the harbor and the sea beyond. After a half hour of seeing the sights, it was back on the bus.

Our driver took us up a very narrow winding road into the mountains above Funchal. Two large buses could pass on the road but you could not add a piece of cardboard to the mix. Our final destination is a hotel at Eira do Serrado. Then there is a fifteen minute walk to Pico do Serrado, where there is an overlook of a deep valley and the village of Curral das Freiras at the bottom. As the story goes, the hamlet was so remote the Santa Clara Convent nuns used it as an escape from the pirate raids during the 16th century. After a round of pictures, it was back to the hotel for a round of wine.

Back down the mountain and to a high overlook by the sea at Cabo Girao. This is the location of the second highest sea cliff in the world. From the glass walkway at the top of the cliff, you can look straight down for 1800 feet. From there, the trip back to the ship was all down hill.