Fun in Funchal

The name Funchal was given by the first settlers that landed on its shores due to the abundance of wild fennel growing there.

Early morning view from our hotel room

We did the all the usual touristy things yesterday.

Cable car ride up to Monte - built in 2000, the ride takes approximately 15 minutes.  The distance to the top is 1.5k at a height of 560m.

View from the cable car

Friends Janella and Jane on the basket toboggan sled ride.  It's about 1.2 mile ride down the streets high up in Monte.

The sleds are pushed, steered and braked by two sturdy men.  I wonder how many pairs of shoes they go through each year.  One could smell the scent of burning wood from the sled on the road. 

flower market

fish market - this is a sword fish - (the knife looks like a sword, doesn't it?)

interesting fruits and vegetables

Hand-painted tile murals are found on walls all over the city - not only in Madeira, but throughout Spain and Portugal.

We couldn't pass up the chance to taste several different types of Madeira wine.

It was a fun-filled day!