Today we took 15 minutes in a taxi - €22 again, but at least this driver didn't accuse us of being 'The Lazy English' on account of our inability to speak Portuguese - to reach yesterday's end of walk point....
....The basket shop at Camacha. We left the 'purchasing' to coach loads of cruise liner escapees, but we did enjoy a coffee before setting off on foot back to our hotel. Gayle, a WiFi junkie, was allowed to download news from an assortment of bloggers. That gave us all a laugh.
So, we got a taxi for 15 minutes, then spent the next six hours walking 21km back to the hotel. Yes, that's what some of us do on our holidays. Crazy!? But almost true. The other three obviously thought it was crazy as they gave up after 18km and succumbed to the allure of another taxi - on the pretence that one of their number needed to be back in time for some completely unnecessary beauty treatment.*
The route was actually excellent - Levada da Serra to Choupana, then down to the Levada dos Tournos. Along that towards Monte until the vertiginous section (we went too far and hit that section - there were nearly tears) before which a steep downhill path eventually reaches the excellent Levada Bom Sucesso; beyond that steep steps lead to the centre of Funchal.
We are now enjoying sunset over Funchal from the roof of our hotel, celebrating 'beer o'clock'. Must go. Have a lovely evening.
*"So that'd be Mick" whirred the worn out cogs of President Sloman's brain.
Late News: M+G won the quiz again, by five clear points. Geniuses! So that's why they were so anxious to get back...
6 comments:
You obviously bought those hats with great expectations for fine chally weather.
Oh dear - That's exactly what I was going to say...
:-)
I thought Mick's would match his crinoline, another Chally essential...
I missed the point completely Louise, until Mick kept referring to his 'Rain Skirt' - clearly an essential piece of crinoline needed for the Challenge, the precise design of which may be modeled on one worn by Jon Hancock on this year's Challenge!
You live and learn!
Puzzled about taxi's the buses are so cheap and frequent :-)
Using taxis saved us hours, Geoff, as we would always have had to change buses in Funchal. We've used them in the past - they can take slow, convoluted routes, and for four people would only have saved a few euros. Taxis were by far the most efficient option on this trip (except for the day when we hired a car much more cheaply).
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