Madeira - Day 45 - Fortaleza do Pico

We have got into the habit of having a (minimal) agenda for the day and then spending time in the sun on the terrace whenever we get home. Today the agenda was buy beer and bananas, and find the fort up on the hill. Guidebook, bus routes and bus schedule were consulted and we thought we had a plan of attack.

This was Nicola and Dave's first walk into the downtown area with its mixture of old and new, large and small, plain and ornate.

Another of the I love Funchal benches. This one

in the municipal gardens.

We walked to the round about at the far end of the downtown but the bus stop there did not list the #15 bus that we were looking for. So we walked up the street (Past H&M and Subway) and found the #15 stopped right outside The Vie (Shopping Centre). We had a 20 min wait so popped into the mall and had a coffee.

We could see glimpses of the fort as the bus zipped through the streets and got off when we thought we were in the right area. We walked around the outside of the walls until finding this little sign pointing down a side street.

We walked past a lovely garden where among the orchids, geraniums and other flowering plants there were also pots of Amerylis.

Admission was free, even though they gave you a ticket, and there wasn't much to see.

You could certainly see the value of the location as a place to watch for pirates.

We could see the convent and Quinta that I wanted to visit on our way back down.

Aside from battlements to look out over

there was a small cafe

and a room that described the history of the fort, started in the early 1600s to add to the defenses of the city.

Leaving the fortress we walked downhill until we reached Quinta das Cruzes. We walked through the gates and into the gardens but the museum was closed until 2pm.

The garden was a strange combination

of archaeological pieces scattered

among the grounds

with

big old trees

and flowers.

These beautiful variegated leaves

belong to this tree that had fruit growing from its trunk. From an internet search ('tree that grows fruit on its trunk") I learned its a South American tree called Jabuticaba and when ripe the fruit will turn a deep purple, almost black, and can be eaten or turned into wine.

It was difficult to see what this painting had been, backing a water feature.

Leaving the garden and continuing down hill we passed the convent (open at 3pm, I will have to come back to see it and the Quinta museum) and started looking for a place for lunch.

We were attracted into this restaurant by the board that proclaimed we could get 3 courses for 10 Euro and the girl at the door who told us there was a garden we could eat in.

We settled, in dappled sunlight

in a secluded courtyard.

For starters I ordered limpets which came in garlic butter (anything tastes good in garlic butter), Nic had shrimp cocktail and Dave had melon.

Then I had Octopus Steak,

Dave had Pepper steak and Nicola had Avocado salad. We finished off with chocolate mousse, caramel pudding (flan) and ice cream, respectively.

Of course Nicola and I had wine and Dave had a local beer (Coral). It was the best meal we have had so far. Lovely location, great service and good food.

Tiles in the restaurant. We walked back to the grocery store picking up the required bananas and beer, along with some more custard apples, wine, milk ...... you always get more than you intend.