We were all pretty exhausted from the previous day but after the coffee, we did yoga to stretch our bodies to be ready for new adventures. Let’s begin.
Santana
This town was on my list because here you can find some old history of Madeira - “Palheiros” or colorful tachched houses. They started building these houses around 16th century for farming families, but there were only one or two room in the house so it was really small. No one lives in these houses anymore, and they are for tourists to visit and take pictures of them because it is truly iconic. The houses are surrounded by bushes and flowers, which makes everything even more wonderful.
Guindaste viewpoint Faial - Santana
A little further down the road is another place to see with amazing view on the sea. Madeira's northern coast stretches from Faial to Ponta de São Lourenço and the Atlantic Ocean. Here you have the opportunity to walk on a glass platform, which is placed 26 meters above the sea, and is a truly incredible sight when you look into the depth. On a clear day, you can observe sunrise but you really need to have luck with the weather. Unfortunately, we were too late, but the weather was great on that day. Perfect place to take some photos, and to drink some beer.
Porto da Cruz - Praia da Maiata
It was time to go swimming.We were looking for a beach that is a bit more hidden, and we really found a perfect beach where there weren't many people. It is a short coastline surrounded by cliffs. I'd never seen a black sand beach before and I think that's what impressed me the most. Black sand. It didn't bother me at all that there were stones a little further away, at least we could lie there and sunbathe without being black from the sand. Or so I thought. It was a little windier, so there were also nice waves, it's a great place to learn how to surf. But on this day I just wanted to swim and enjoy the sun. The only problem? Waves. At first, it didn't bother me at all, I was excited to be able to throw myself on the waves, and jump and scream like a little kid. After about half an hour of swimming and throwing in the water, a wave came and pulled me under the water, I didn't have the energy and strength to swim to the surface, so the wave dragged me along the ground and over the stones that were in the water. That was very painful. The result? I scratched my back. That was the end for me. Saltwater and wounds are not a good combination. During this time quite a few young surfers came. It was fun watching them learn.
When the sun went behind the clouds it got pretty cold, so we decided to go to dinner and end our day with sangria. Always a good decision.
“But where, after all, would be the poetry of the sea were there no wild waves?” - Joshua Slocum
Pinmapple location:
With love, 