Funchal Portugal

Our last island visit for the week was the island of Mederia Portugal. This island was very tropical, busy and the town we ported in was Funchal. A blue collar town fueled by it's fishing community, farming community and tourism. The city has steep inclines. The marina area is flat for walking but if you want to see anything in the upper regions, you'll need to find some transportation. The inclines are too steep for walking.
We opted for a private taxi tour 🚕. There was some guys waiting right outside the cruise ship and for 130€, we felt it was worth it for 2 people with all the steep hills.

This town has beautiful views everywhere! The cab driver brought us to all the top stops!
Our first stop however was Carreiros do Monte - Partida (Wicker Toboggan ride).

Originally developed in the 1850s, these sledges were the primary means of "downhill" public transportation for residents of the hilltop village of Monte. Perched about 550 meters above Funchal, Monte was a popular health resort for Europe's wealthy elites, who used these wicker baskets to travel quickly and comfortably down the steep, narrow streets to the city center. The tradition is still alive today through tourism.

We later indulged in some local scabbard fish. Very good white fish when eaten as a fish & chip style. We also enjoyed some local fresh fruits from the market before heading back to ship!Read more