Madeira

To Madeira for a week 18-25 June. As BA flight left early from Gatwick we stayed at the Gatwick Hilton, where joy-of-joys we were upgraded to the exective floor. Free drinks and snacks in the evening and free breakfast in the executive room next morning.

First sight of Madeira was of its mountains rising above cloud cover as the plane descended. 

We stayed in Funchal at the Vida Mar Hotel on a fully inclusive basis.

Rooms were large with a seating area, balcony and full sea view. We were on the 8th floor.
 

View from balcony, restaurant at left

 Included house wines were Fonseca JMF.

We had red with dinner and white with lunch.

Lunch was at the sea-level restaurant. There were also a sushi, Italian and Madeira restaurant we could dine at.

We went to the Madeira restaurant on Thursday when they had folk singing and dancing. We ate espetata, chicken skewers cooked over charcoal.

A visit to Blandy's Madeira Lodge, a 30 minute walk from the hotel, was a must. We took two guided tours each followed by a tasting.

L>R - Rainwater (3yo), Verdelho (5yo) Malmsey (2010 vintage)

Barrels aging in heat of roof space

Me with a large barrel of 1948 Bual.

Old Satinwood vats

Near Blandy's is this castle by the sea

The Madeira flag

We took a trip around the island which stopped at the second highest cliff in the world with a glass bottomed viewing platform jutting out at the top.

Beautiful island, lovely wines, wecoming people, a super holiday.

Shame Thameslink cancelled all trains northbound from Gatwick after 21.40 so we had to get a taxi when we arrived home.

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Toby Runs St Albans Half Marathon

To Verulamium Park to see Toby sprint to the finish line of the annual St Albans Half-Marathon. 

Toby cools down with his finisher's icelolly.

The 2018 finisher's medal.