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| The extensive selection of tiles in the garden, bought to mind rugs |
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| with lots of ideas for borders. |
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| The garden covers 70,000 sq metres and has a collection of plants from all over the world. |
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| Of course I had to walk on the stepping stones in the Oriental garden. |
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| The garden follows a valley down the hillside (quite steeply of course). There is the periodic sound of birdsong and a constant sound of running water. |
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| Waterfalls, ponds, creeks and water dripping down rocks and ivy. Very peaceful. |
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| And of course the plants. All labelled with their scientific names and native location. |
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| Hidden off in one corner was a cafe with a view over Funchal. To help people find it, part of the entrance ticket includes a portion for a free "wine tasting", there. The darker is sweet and the lighter is dry Madeira. I had the dry and it tasted vaguely like a sweet sherry. |
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| Sculptures are also scattered through the garden. |
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| Some ancient, |
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| some modern. |
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| The best views were from the terrace in front of the palace. |
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| Built in the mid 18th century by the British Consul, |
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| it later opened as a hotel. Though it was not open when I was there. |
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| I continued from the palace, |
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| past a koi pond and an aviary, and out the gate on the opposite side from where I started. |
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