Funchal

We caught an earlyish bus into Funchal and walked up to the Quinta da Cruzes museum. A bit of a steep climb, but well worth it. The gardens are lovely with whole hedges of stunning red crotons, which we think of as a house plant!  Wonderful to see it in its element. Beautiful orchids and trees too.

Inside the house there were amazing treasures, and so much to see. So much so that we had to be asked to leave at lunchtime!

We ate at the Tea Garden, the cafe at the Universe of Memories, a collection of memorabilia gathered by a traveller, artist and actor of these parts. It was lovely: fresh homemade lemonade and pear scones with apricot jam, sitting in the semi shade under wisteria blossom, next to a pool of gold fish, surrounded by elegant trees and flowers. Perfect! My photo is of the steps leading up to the cafe. There is another horse, life-size, painted in multicolours, on a balcony...

In the afternoon we went to the house of Frederico de Freitas, a museum absolutely packed with antiques and paintings. There was also a huge collection of ceramic tiles and tile fragments, beautifully displayed over several rooms.

A quick tour round the Santa Clara convent before closing time. You have to have a guide and she was nipping round sharpish, but I managed to get a photo of the church ceiling, painted on cedar, apparently. Very ornate, as most of the churches are, but some lovely painting and more blue and white tiles too. Very beautiful.

I made reference the other day to having our first 'proper' meal of the holiday. By this I meant a 'going out in the evening, me wearing a dress, Mike in his jacket' sort of meal at the hotel which is pretty posh. There is a strictly smart casual dress code of no sandals, shorts or sports wear!  They haven't thrown us out yet!