We spent 2 wonderful weeks on the Island of Madeira. Madeira is called the pearl of the Atlantic. It is a small island some 850 km from the Portuguese coast, 600 km from the West African coast. Madeira (57 km long,22 km wide), also called the Atlantic garden, is diverse and green, and has, despite its small size, high mountains, highlands and deep alpine valleys. The central area is volcanic in origin, with eruptions starting around 20 million years ago. They are thought to have finished 1.7 million years ago and are considered extinct. Pico Ruivo, the highest mountain, can only be reached by foot. The central mountains, about 1200 m in elevation, form a protective barrier against the cold, wet winds from the north-east. This island offers a variety of landscapes. Irrigation channels or ´levadas´ can be followed from sources high up in the mountains. You can see impressive sceneries of high, frightening mountain peaks, deep valleys, steep cliffs, green woods (145 different tree types) and exotic flowers. We stayed at a small luxury Quinta which offered comfort, charm and beauty and was surrounded by 2.6 hectares of wonderful gardens, offering beautiful views of Funchal. Jardins do Lago is an amazing example of a beautiful restored 18th century Quinta. Transformed into an elegant hotel that joins the modern world while retaining many original features appealing to those looking for tranquility and quality of an historic manor house, a large and superb swimming pool hidden among lush gardens and mango trees add to the welcoming atmosphere of this hilltop heaven. I’ll be posting quite a few pictures in the near future… keep coming back and please comment… :O)