Holiday in Madeira

After the hectic week previously, (Santa Agueda and all that was involved), we were glad to get away from it all for a fortnight to Madeira, one of our favourite destinations.

Click left on any photo to see the full size view.

We had booked an apartment with a fantastic view over Funchal.


The first week we stayed in Funchal, visiting the market with it's wonderful flowers and going for walks around the harbour and sea front.


The second week, we hired a car and toured the island. Above, we visited the second highest point in the centre of the island at 1810 metres. The highest point, just a few metres higher, is shrouded in cloud in the photo.


Even in February, trees were in blossom and lots of flowers were blooming.


Nearly all of the island has dramatic cliffs as it just pushes up out of the sea. Beaches are non-existent and wherever you go, it involves hills.


Porto Moniz, at the north-west corner, has really developed since we were last there a few years ago. It is much easier to get to using the coastal route which used to take several hours but now the road tunnels it's way through the cliffs. With a few tunnels left being worked on to open in the future, it is a great way of getting from one side of the island to the other very quickly.


At Porto Moniz are these natural pools used for swimming, during warmer months, and refreshed each time the tide comes in.


After lunch one day we came across a fiesta parade involving hundreds of children from a local school.


These are "traditional" houses at Santana, casas de colmo, straw houses - there are only a few which had been renovated for the tourists. Nearly all of the houses for the population of today are built into the hillsides and are in good condition with many being fairly recent, all painted white with red tiled roofs.

Spot the lighthouse, at São Jorge, on the north coast.

Spot Margaret.

On the "main" road, there's only one similar to a motorway, the tunnels were part of the dual carriageway. Elsewhere, the tunnels were single carriageway, being up to 3 kms in length.



This photo was taken in the only bar / restaurant on the high central plateau. However, there are no tigers or giraffes roaming around.


It's only at the far eastern end of the island where the land gradually fades back into the sea.



Another place which is easy to get to by tunnel even though it is relatively close to Funchal, is the Nun's Valley, Curral das Freiras or Nun's Refuge. It is one of the few places on Madeira from which the sea cannot be seen. Very picturesque.

Santa Agueda

The day of Santa Agueda is for the ladies - (Agueda was martyred in the 3rd century). Here, all the women of the village meet for breakfast in the bar then assemble for mass in the church in the afternoon.

Click left on any photo to see it full size.

This year it was the turn of our peña to organise the event so for the church service and procession everyone wore traditional costume. Margaret wore a spare costume of Rosi's.


Everyone assembled outside the ayuntamiento for the short walk to the church. Not sure about jeans and quilted coat being traditional, but it was very cold.


In the basket above are small cakes being taken to church in order to be blessed. The cakes are small and round with a cherry on top and represent breasts - Santa Agueda had hers removed!


In the smaller baskets above is more broken up cake which is blessed with holy water during the service and then handed out to the congregation as they leave.


Part of the service involves carrying the statue of Santa Agueda around the village and then back into the church.

To see the video of the procession, click here.

After the service, all the ladies go to the bar to eat the cakes, drink cava and dance to music played by the music group who play and sing in the church. For one number, all members of the peña participated in the singing even though Margaret could only mime as she didn't know the words.


An innovative feature this year was "entertainment" and we had all been busy rehearsing at our house the previous week. In the sketch above, "At the Doctors", Margaret played the "sexy nurse", a non-speaking part. It was hilarious!

To see a slightly shorter version of the sketch, 9 minutes 47 seconds, (YouTube have a 10 minute limit), click here.

Next up was the "Scottish Dancing" piece where we both took part and choreographed it with authentic moves. It was very well received, especially the ending when we all flipped up our kilts to show what was worn underneath!


The third and final piece of entertainment was "the Lina Morgan" tribute - she's big in Spain and everyone knows her songs. Once again, a huge success.

To see Floyd's videos of the 3 entertainment sketches, click here.

And then we had a meal in the restaurant to round off a most memorable day!

We're in the newspaper!

In "La Comarca" of Tuesday 27th January, the bi-weekly newspaper of Aragón, we were there!


Margaret, the "neighbour of the locality", may have said these words; "We like a lot the fiesta and to live in Torre del Compte". However, in true newspaper reporter style the name came out wrong. Probably somewhere in the course of the evening the reporter would have asked, "what is/are your name/s?", to which the reply would have been, "Margaret y Colin". An easy mistake to make.

San Anton

A special mass is held for San Anton in the Church. It is still very windy outside so the statue has to stay inside this year - hopefully San Anton will get to see the village and we will follow him in a procession next year. The Church has it's central heating system working again - a patio heater in the central aisle - well at least it's central and it gives off heat.

Click left on any picture to see it full size.

The group of musicians play their usual selection throughout the service.

After the service, 2 "devils" go from door to door visiting every house in the village to collect a gift of food or drink.

They are accompanied by a brass band so you can hear them coming.

In the afternoon all the food is taken to the village hall where it is auctioned off to the various peña groups. Margaret's mince pie raised 27 euros! A total of 2,600 euros was raised in the auction this year. The raffle, for the butchered pork, raised a further 800 euros. All the money goes to the town hall and is spent on various works that take place for the village.

A rum concoction is carefully brewed.

When it is ready, it is handed out to everyone there, it certainly helps to encourage higher bids for the food and drink!

When each piece of food or drink has been auctioned, the brass band play a fanfare. The auction lasted for 4½ hours.

Finally it was time to eat all the food - and yes, it was our peña who won Margaret's mince pie in the auction - delicious.

San Anton's eve

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It's the eve of San Anton so we go to the Plaza Mayor for the bonfire - it's a good way of getting rid of the Christmas tree plus any dead olive trees. This evening, it is very windy, there are severe gales in north western Spain and south west France and we are getting our share here.

Most events are reported on and appear in the local newspaper or on local TV. Here Margaret and Lola are going over some of the finer points of what to say in the interview.



The bonfire is going really well and then every so often there is an almighty gust of wind and embers fly everywhere. Our peña group barbeque sausages and pork slices which we eat in chunks of bread.

San Anton is the patron saint of animals - maybe that's why a pig is killed and butchered. These days the pig is despatched before it is brought, previously the whole thing took place on the night.

Bits of pork from the pig are fried and these are served in more bread. You certainly can't complain of being hungry at these events. The remainder of the pig is raffled and the draw takes place tomorrow after the auction - more about that in the following bulletin.

¡Nieve! (Snow!)

It started snowing very lightly late morning but has been somewhat heavier this afternoon.

Click left on any picture to see it full size.

There is virtually no wind so the snow has just drifted down and settled.

Now we have a couple of inches on the ground!

The branches of the trees, almond and olive, look as though they are straight off a Christmas card.

The weather forecast for the week ahead says there is a good chance of rain along with cloud and some sun but no more snow.

We'll just have to make the most of this!

5th January, 3 Kings

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Monday, January 5th is the evening of the Three Kings. At 18:45 we go down to the village through the Plaza Mayor to meet everyone outside the ayuntamiento. In the Plaza Mayor are the decorated Christmas tree and the "Felices Fiestas" lights.

Lunes, 5 de enero es la tarde de los tres reyes magos. A las 18:45 bajamos a el pueblo a la plaza mayor y nos reunimos cada uno fuera del ayuntamiento. En el plaza mayor están el árbol de Navidad adornado y las luces de las fiestas de “Felices Fiestas ".

As we approach we can see a group of people who have their candle torches already lit. In the background is the tower of the church.

Mientras nos acercamos podemos ver que un grupo de gente que tiene sus antorchas de la vela ya encendidas. En el fondo está la torre de la iglesia.

This year, the church tower has a star illumination on it for Christmas.

Este año, la torre de la iglesia tiene una iluminación de una estrella en ella para Navidad.

We are given a torch and finally get them lit as they are new.

Nos dan una antorcha y finalmente conseguimos encenderlas pues son nuevas.

We follow the tractor and the trailer with the Three Kings and their pages on down to the Church.

Seguimos al tractor y el remolque con los tres reyes magos y sus pajes hasta la iglesia.

A king waves as he gets back onto the trailer.

Un rey saludar mientras que él consigue detrás legar al remolque.

When all the kings and their pages are seated, the tractor sets off for the hall next to the bar / restaurant.

Cuando se sientan todos los reyes y sus pajes, el tractor se dirige para la sala al lado de la bar/ del restaurante.

The candlelit procession follows through the darkened streets.

La procesión de las luces sigue a través de las calles oscurecidas.

We walk back past the ayuntamiento. Outside the hall, we extinguish our torches in a bucket of water.

Caminamos detrás hasta el ayuntamiento. Fuera de la sala, apagamos nuestras antorchas en un cubo de agua.

The kings take their positions on the stage.

Los reyes toman sus posiciones en la sala.

Do you recognise this king?

¿Usted reconoce a este rey?

The page reads the village proclamation.

El paje lee la proclamación del pueblo.

Everyone pays attention.

Cada uno presta atención.

Then, the names of the children are read out and they go to receive their gifts from one of the kings.

Entonces, los nombres de los niños se leen y van a recibir sus regalos de uno de los reyes.

Not only children but adults too receive presents from the kings.

No solamente los niños reciben regalos, los adultos también reciben regalos de los reyes.

With many thanks to Pilar for help with the Spanish version.