Waterfalls and Other Falls

One of the attractions of Madeira is a network of levadas, thousands of kilometers of shallow channels constructed hundreds of years ago to bring water down from the mountains, still functional and also serving as scenic walking paths throughout the island. We chose a guided walk on Levada do Rei (the King's walk) as one of the easiest and most level for our first such walk on the second full day of our visit.

Mercedes minibus with 8 others, a guide and a good driver, 45 minute drive to the north of the the island. A walk of 5.3 kilometers going and 5.3 kilometers coming back. Highlighted by Danny falling off the only stairs on the route, both going up at the start and going down at the finish. Both times into the thick vegetation at the side of the stairs without injury except to his ego. The route, though rated as easy, requires some skill, especially sections where you must walk on six-inch wide concrete paths running alongside the water channels. There are sections where two wire strands help insure you don't fall into deep gorges. Also muddy patches, some slippery spots, roots and stones and minor gaps. At one point going through a small waterfall for about 40 feet is unavoidable. By the way, we saw a trout in the Levada. Apparently they swim up to spawn.

On the ride back I managed to snap a bit of the remarkable extension of the airport runway on gigantic concrete columns which also provide marina space underneath. Plus a typical view of a seaside town from the highway. Not shown are the amazing tunnels which allow a complete highway system to connect the parts of the island. But after you leave the highways, the curviness and narrowness of the roads led Emma to conclude that driving those roads is not for her. And she is someone who has driven the curvy roads of the Amalfi Coast, Sardinia and the Azores.

Back in Funchal, we saw an interesting group of trees and Emma allowed me to commemorate our return from another heroic day with a shot of her in front of our hotel with the cathedral in the background.

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