I have never seen Madeira before, but my research indicated that it should be good. On a previous cruise I met Sarah and Andy (after 'meeting' Sarah on the cruise critic internet boards) and we have kept in touch. We wanted to do the same things in Madeira so decided to share taxi costs and set off together.
We left the ship shortly after 11am, taking the shuttle bus to the centre of Madeira. We had arrived during their flower festival, so the centre was full of floral decorations. We just missed a display of people singing and dancing, so it was evidently an important weekend.
We had been told that it was a short walk to the cable car up the mountain, our first destination. It was further than we expected, and I was glad that Andy has a good sense of direction as I would not have found it from the instructions we were given. The cost of the cable car was 10 euros one way, which seemed good for a 10-15 minute journey.
At the top we wandered around the Monte botanical gardens (another 10 euros), and were amused by signs that one moment said it was in the top 14 botanical gardens in the world, and then leaflets that claimed it to be in the top 13. We had arrived just as the azaleas were finishing. The layout of the garden was lovely but we did not see the flowers we had expected. We were either too early or too late.
Coming down was an adventure. The traditional route is by toboggan, a wicker basket that is greased on the bottom so it will run smoothly. Two men start it by pulling, then ride on the back and steer it with ropes. The cost is 25 euros for one person riding alone, 30 euros for two people and 40 euros for three in a wider toboggan. We paid our money but the men would not let Sarah and Andy ride together. Sarah had to go alone while I rode with Andy. Andy was worried as he thought Sarah would be scared, but she had braced herself well and was enjoying it enough to take photos of us up ahead of her. It was a bit scary when the men turned the toboggan side-on to get us around corners. I was glad to be with Andy as I might have slid along the seat otherwise.
At a bend near the bottom of the toboggan run we saw a man taking photos. By the time we got off, we were shown the printed photo in a folder to buy for 10 euros. Fast work!
It must be a big business, judging by the minibuses waiting to take the men back up the mountain, and the truck waiting for the toboggans.
We caught a taxi back into town. We probably should have bargained or insisted on him using the meter, instead of agreeing to the 20 euros he told us. I think the fare should have been closer to €5 from what I had read on the internet and heard from others who went up the mountain instead of using the cable car. After a cold drink and a wander around a few shops, we went back to the ship.
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