Happy New Year from Funchal

We made our way down to Santa Caterina Park at around 9.40 and found ourselves a good vantage point to sit and wait for the fireworks and watch all the people gathering around us.  There were 7 cruise ships both in the harbour and at anchor off shore, lots of music and lots of fireworks going off across Funchal as people were having their own parties.  It was fortunately warm and dry.  At 11.15 the first group of fireworks went off then at 5 minute intervals until midnight when we saw the most magnificent display from the harbour and across the hillsides, the ships were blowing their horns as well it was fantastic.  We’d taken some fizz with us to toast the new year in (as had most people).
Glad we were able to be here for New Year at last (another tick on the bucket list).
This morning we set off for the service at the English Church and the heavens opened!  We considered turning back but decided to get the bus down, we were somewhat wet when we got there but someone kindly hung our dripping coats up to dry while we went in. The church has been re-ordered since we were last here, pews removed and chairs installed.  They hold a lot of concerts in the church so it will be a much more useful space now. We were a bit concerned about dripping rain over the lovely flooring.  A couple were celebrating their ruby wedding with a blessing during the service and then provided Madeira wine and homemade cake afterwards.  The flowers in church are always beautiful and with the Christmas tree in place it looked lovely.
By the time we came out the weather had changed and the sun had come out!  We walked down to the Loja do Cha and sat outside with a sandwich and a drink, then we uploaded some more credits onto our Madeira bus passes before making our way back.