Dropped from trees

... in Santa Catarina Park, Funchal, the flower heads of the African Tulip Trees still hold their beautiful shape and colour.

We're back to warm weather again, and now that the wind's dropped I even swam in the unheated roof-top pool of the Aparthotel Imperatriz. It was lovely (after the initial cold shock!), marred only by the sound of building work. A new HUGE Savoy Hotel is being built 'next door' - but as I read my book and dried off in the sun, it was easy enough to tune out the noise; no worse or harder than tuning out my tinnitus on a daily basis.

My Extra is of a lizard in the park. They're everywhere on the walls, paths and rocks - but this was the first I'd spotted sitting on leaves. It wasn't even spooked when a huge monarch butterfly perched beside it. So - another day of simply enjoying the climate and the views in and around Funchal. A lovely, lazy day.