Madeira - Day 52 - Checking off some boxes

I have been here more than 7 weeks but there are still things I haven't seen so when today proved the forecasters wrong, bright and sunny, I set of early to see if I could check off some things.

On the walk down the hill, a wrought iron decoration on the peak of a roof. The rain last night had washed away the heat and humidity and it was a very comfortable temperature for walking.

Sculpture of a woman embroidering in front of the Embroidery (Bordado) Museum building.

I have walked past here so many times and the door has been closed. Today it was open.

At the top of the stairs

a tapestry, entitled "The Allegory of Madeira",

made by 14 girls over a period of 3 years (1958- 1961)

with a total of 7 million stitches. It is fading but still magnificent.

I was not permitted to take pictures but there were 2 rooms with numerous examples of the tapestry, cutwork, lace making and embroidery that Madeira became famous for. Embroidery became a way to make money, for the women of the island, after the vineyards were hit with a disease that destroyed the wine making industry for decades. It was also an occupation of the rich who sewed for their trousseau on patterns that were handed down for generations. Ornate, inlaid wood sewing boxes and inlaid wood sewing tables were also on display. A video was playing, in Portuguese, that showed how the willows were cut and prepared for the furniture and basket making that I had seen before.

The bad weather had caused a bit of a problem in the harbour with 2 cruise ships that should have left opting to stay and 2 more needing to come in. This one was just leaving. The "parallel parking" last night must have been quite entertaining.

I glanced into the Regional Government building and just had to go in to look at the tiles.

covering every nook and cranny

including under the water fountain

for the turtles that seemed to be posing for us to take pictures.

A more modern section of the building also had tiles (the plug receptacle looks, somehow, out of place)

and a massive wall mural depicting banana harvest,

wine making,

wicker making,

fishing and

sugar cane harvest.

I continued up the hill and visited the Santa Clara Convent, had Sopa Verde and went to the English Church but that'a all for the next post.