Madeira - business as usual - the airport

Funchal airport is notorious - or it was, before they extended the runway. Even now, it is tight as you can see from the plane coming in. There is little margin for error as it is on the coast and with the hills behind.

As you can see, things are brisk and back to normal after the tragedy of Saturday's mudslides - and that is the message that Madeirans want to be spread LOUDLY to the world. The clean up is going well and the rocks and mud are being removed. There is help from the army and from other parts of Portugal and the Madeiran people are hard working, proud and getting things sorted with no fuss.

The media (particularly the UK media I'm afraid) have made a lot about the awful conditions in Funchal. Actually, for tourists there is little impact apart from the emotional one. The hotel areas are not close enough to the flooded central Funchal so the only real difference from a normal week is that the old town restaurants are closed and the buses are changed.

Taxis, hotel and resort areas, the Lido, and road communications are fine.

My taxi driver did come early to collect me this morning as I requested but there was NO problem and I checked in straightforwardly to a happy and efficient airport as ever. Birmingham airport was ok today (closed yesterday morning for snow they tell me) and actually the flight arrived early.

So - please don't cancel a holiday to Madeira or cross it off your list. The lovely people and this paradise island need you....