Fun and Sunshine, There's enough for Everyone

Wow.  We were off to a flying start today. 

Breakfast... I do love a croissant, quince, and cheese, whereas the other two take everything hot going, and then fruit.   Coffee, Croissants.  Anything better?  No I don't think so. 

Courtesy bus from the Hotel to the centre of Funchal.  What a pretty place.   Very busy harbour - loads of christmas decorations everywhere and plently of fairy lights. 

We spotted the open topped bus immediately and boarded for an hour and three quarter run.   

Aw. To have come from temperatures last week of -8; I cannot tell you how glorious it was to drive in the sunshine in 23.   I wasn't even looking, or listening (One of my headphones was nacked).  I just sat and enjoyed the warmth. 

We drove everywhere.  All over the place.  Very pretty. 

When we disembarked, we headed to the shopping precinct - Himself wanted plasters; the Birkenstocks were rubbing.  Tooli and I sat on the base of a statue and grinned while people stood around taking pictures of the beautiful statue, and us. :D

We decided to do lunch.  We had missed the return coach, so it seemed sensible. 

Gorgeous place - middle of the road, we could watch everyone.  THen we noticed a Webcam address on the wall - and told Boy and Jess.   They tuned in and captured us; just like we captured them in Dublin.... sometime... (November? )

After a very leisurely lunch which was delish.... we wandered a little shopping centre, and then decided to walk to the cable car station.   I was not going up the cable car, I had warned them.    The Dangerous situation in Stratford Upon Avon, (Big Wheel, not Withers)... put me off trying. 

We walked for ages, but found it.  Silly man about a mile away had said not to go today - there were two Cruise ships in and it was busy, but it wasn't. 

I spotted a lovely cafe from where I would sit and watch.... and rubbed my hands in glee.  Then Tooli looked at me and said "Mum, you only live once". 

So I turned my back on forty minutes of sitting on my arse with a glass of rose in the sun, and clambered on board. 

I am so glad i did.    The rumble over the joining bits is a bit scary, but otherwise the views were well worth the discomfort AND we could see straight into people's houses!  Double Win. 

We got out at the top and wandered about-  there is a Tropical Garden, and somewhere around there are the men who put you in a bread basket and push you down the hill back to funchal.  Erm. Thank you but no.  No One is putting  me in a bread basket.  Wheels or not. 

Trip back down was a lovely relax.   perfect. 

Taxi back to the hotel, which gave us a bellyl laugh.   Himself stretched forward to shut the sliding door, and the driver said, "no sir, No Automatic.   Started the car with a rev. and then slammed the brakes on, which made the door slide forward neatly and slam shut.  Oh How we giggled. 

Back at the hotel, we  reached the sunset bar... in time for sun set  Rose in hand.  (Too many cocktails available for me to peruse.  I have to show some control) . 

We sat and gazed at the beautiful skies, the cliffs along the front and decided that tomorrow, would be swimming and sitting day.