Thursday, December 26, 2024

Images of Christmas - Madeira

Holiday Lights in Funchal (3 December 2024)

I want to end the year on a festive, upbeat, holiday note. Over the years, we have posted Christmas images from three of the cities I have called home…New York, New Orleans and Baltimore.

Holiday Lights in Funchal (3 December 2024)

I’ve noted that we were fortunate to have planned an overseas getaway after the election. The small boat cruise from Portugal through Spain and Morocco ended on the island of Madeira. We were a small boatload of Americans, so the entirely foreign crew found some turkey meat and mounted enough balloons and flags to celebrate Thanksgiving. But we spent the week after that holiday in the arid and Islamic nation of Morocco. No light displays and Christmas markets there. So, it was a treat to end the trip on an island that was more tropical and filled with Christmas spirit.

Holiday Lights in Funchal (3 December 2024)

Madeira is the main island in a seven-island archipelago 300 miles west of Africa…at the same latitude as Georgia here in the States. Funchal is the capital and contains more than half the island’s population. The island’s origin is volcanic, and lush vegetation covers the dark rocks. If you’re a soccer fan, you know Madeira’s favorite son, Cristiano Ronaldo. One of the greatest players ever, Ronaldo was born here. The airport bears his name. He must have learned his craft somewhere else since I saw no plot of flat land as big as a soccer pitch.

Holiday Lights in Funchal (3 December 2024)

Funchal soon rises up the mountainside from the ocean.
Strands of holiday lighting follow the main roads up the hills.

This was the day we arrived. After a long disembarkation and Customs check, we had a walkabout in the old quarter that included a stop at the tasting room of one of the wineries that make that potent sherry the island is noted for. The afternoon ended with us checking into a lovely hotel and the rest of the day was on our own. I may be old and lame but why not walk back into town that evening? We saw all the lights during the day…we needed to see them in all their glory and were not disappointed.

Holiday Lights in Funchal (3 December 2024)

These hand-held shots could be better. Taking decent pictures of holiday lights should include a tripod to allow for a longer exposure with a lower ISO (“film speed”) setting. Sharpness and color quality has been compromised a tad, but this was a fun walk into town…not a dedicated photo shoot.

Holiday Lights in Funchal (3 December 2024)

We went all the way back to the harbor. On the waterfront promenade was this very tall cone of lights that changed colors and patterns…fun to watch.

After a nice outdoor café meal, we took a cab back to the hotel. It was a delightful, colorful holiday experience and a great way to wind down the vacation and set the stage for our return to home and America’s All-Christmas-All-The-Time scene. The next day, we went to a place like nothing else we saw on the entire trip. We’ll save that for the New Year when more of the trip will be posted.

May you and yours have a grand holiday and a safe, happy New Year.
I will try to do the same.

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