The drive all the way to the North of the island have been made beneath clouds and rain. I knew the weather in the part of the island could be a little less shiny than in the south, where we were staying, but I was also expecting it to be more beautiful. I wasn’t wrong. … Continue reading Sights of Madeira: the blue lava pools of Porto Moniz
It is a very interesting and yet, a quite obvious metaphor, to name a waterfall. I had never thought that a waterfall could resemble the veil of a bride, but someone did, particularly for this one. The above photograph shows the waterfall from the official viewing point, but from Seixal beach, you also have a … Continue reading Sights of Madeira: the Bride’s Veil
Sometimes you find the unexpected. I would never dream that in a place where the weather is often considered tropical, so much that all kind of exotic flowers and fruits grow (there are bananas growing everywhere) I would find the kind of forest that, in my head, could only exist in the most northern part … Continue reading Sights of Madeira: finding the unexpected nordic forest
View of the Village from Eira do Serrado Viewpoint In Madeira there is a place called “Curral das Freiras”, known in English as the Nuns’ Valley. It is a village located, as the name says, in a valley, that is actual a very old crater of a volcano. Nested in what seems like a big … Continue reading Sights of Madeira: the Nuns’ Valley
View from Cabo do Girão Where I come from beaches are made of ocean and yellow sand. Sometimes thinner, sometimes thicker. But mostly sand. For years I couldn’t imagine any other kind of beach, of course, before moving to the UK. It is when you travel that you start to understand how small your own … Continue reading Sights of Madeira: the rocky beaches
Up there, above the clouds, it was sunny. But after passing through the clouds, drops of water were decorating the tiny airplane windows. Crap, I thought. Can't believe it's rainy. Switched my mobile data on. Oh, it seems like it's going to be raining 70% of the time we're spending on this island. Oh, great. … Continue reading Sights of Madeira: the first day in the pearl of the Atlantic
There is something that's a lot bigger than any of our lives, or any pandemic - Nature. It doesn't matter how many of us are born and die, how we live, how we thing, what makes us laugh or cry. It doesn't matter the wars we create, the peace treaties we eventually sign. The borders … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: exploring the National Park of Gerês
Some beautiful places make me sad. Their beauty is a reminder of the beauty I may lack in my life. A reminder of a life I never had or will. A reminder that society is too busy with being practical. A reminder that any golden ages are way over and of how unequal they actually … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Monserrate Palace & Gardens, in Sintra
I'd say Quinta da Regaleira it's a place that leaves you with a lot of questions and no answers. Composed of a neo-gothic ornate mansion, and gardens filled with symbolism, it could be just a way for the wealthy to satisfy their eccentric tastes or maybe a bit more than that. I like to think … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra
We were admiring the interiors of Pena Palace when a really nice lady from the staff monitoring and safeguarding the tours told us our tickets also included a visit to the Chalet that was built specifically for Edla, the second wife of king Ferdinand II. We weren't aware of such fact. She said "it's just … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Countess Edla’s Chalet in Sintra
