Walks in Funchal

We have walked a lot.  Madeira is hilly and beautiful.  In any given block, one can find something worth photographing; I suppose in a few more weeks we will grow more accustomed to the surroundings, but for now it is difficult not to ogle at every corner.

These are banana trees that we pass on our walk into town.  They are everywhere and the bananas they produce are small and sweet.  They cost about one and half euros for a large bunch at the market.

Downtown Funchal is very busy with winding streets and narrow alleyways with tons of cafes, shoe shops (thanks to Farrar we have been to all of these, and some of them, twice), and friendly, well-behaved dogs.

Besides Madeira wine, the other famous export from the island is some very fine embroidery and lace.  There are only 4 factories remaining on the island, where there used to be around 80 not so long ago.  We stopped in one of the shops and were happy to simply browse.  If we were to purchase a table cloth and napkins, we would be out the majority of my stipend.  It is extremely beautiful and I suspect Farrar will not leave without something...hopefully much smaller than a table cloth.  She could have stayed in this shop for the better part of the afternoon.

By the time we head back home, it is usually getting dark.  The walk at dusk is scenic in its own way and we have no problem stopping to take a break here and there.

While we seem to be drawn to the old part of town, we are beginning to be comforted by the quiet and relative calm of our own neighborhood.