Old and new

See the elegant white chimney ? It was the chimney of the Santa Lucia sugar cane factory. The old buildings were in the way of a new development and planning permission was tricky.

A few years ago, I was strolling down here when I saw quite a commotion. There was a huge blaze and everyone was watching.

Yes, it was arson, and the villains who had been paid to do it, had fallen asleep inside and were rescued by the firemen.

I don’t know what happened to them other than they didn’t perish.

As you can see, no longer was planning permission a problem and it’s now an elegant block of luxury flats, part of the Savoy Signature empire.

You may have seen in the press that the Mayor and a couple of other Madeiran politicians have been arrested and jailed for a financial scandal. The CEO of the Savoy company was also held but all of them have appealed and are out….

The sign about the fort marks the area of the third fort defending Funchal and the bits that have been excavated are proudly displayed.

It’s now quite an attractive view……and the old walls could tell some tales.

Extra…yesterday’s plant in its arcade. A friend tells me it’s a Mysore Trumpet-vine…..