On the following slide show you can see images related to the Funchal 500 Years celebration taking place this year. Next to the photos of the 500th Anniversary there are also pictures of the vessels that will be participating the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta, and arriving in Funchal on 2-5 October 2008. (more…)

A new blog Madeira Walking is looking for beginner or experienced enthusiast walkers, social walkers or solitary stroller, who have visited Madeira Island (or are living on Madeira), and wants share their thoughts, views, experiences, suggestions with fellow walkers and nature lovers.

The Madeira Walking Blog is a free consumer generated media that offers reviews and information to help travelers to plan a secure and pleasant visit to the Madeira Islands. Anyone can send their their views, stories in their own language and include photos in order for others to research potential new locations on the archipelago of Madeira for them to visit.

The goal of Madeira Walking is become a complete Nature information website, covering walks (Levadas, mountains and coastal walks), Flora/Fauna, Health &Safety, Facilities, Equipments, Traveling, Services and everything else to ensure an enjoyable visit to Madeira.

Interested? Want to repay Mother Nature for one of its beautiful offspring with the name Laurisilva by praising in words and images on the web? Then visit Madeira Walking and Join the Club.

We have a new site with the name ‘Video Sights Madeira‘. This is a videoblog in which we will publish a selection of the best online videos and films made of Madeira Islands.

Check out the various videos of island visitors or locals from Madeira that have uploaded into YouTube and other video websites.

For those who missed for example the (belated) Flower Parade of this year … you can now check it out via the following link: Festa da Flor – Flower Festival

Are there any Wi-Fi Hotspots (Public wireless acces) on Madeira Islands?
Click here here and see it for yourself.

P.S. check here for a List of Wi-Fi Hotspots on Madeira. For the time being it is a free service.

Many have asked if it was possible to go by boat to Madeira. The answers were:

Yes, with your own boat and at your own risk;
Yes, but then it is with a organized cruise voyage and you will only be able to visit Funchal for 1 day
Yes, but then you need to work in a freight ship or transatlantic container;
Yes, by joining a regatta that sometimes can take place each year;

And since summer of 2008 we can add a new answer …

Yes, you can visit Madeira Islands by ferry departing from the Portuguese port of Portimao, coast of the Algarve (Portugal)..

A new ferry Volcano of Tijarafe of the Armas shipping company is going once per week between Funchal (Madeira) and Portimao (Portugal).

This is the first ferry connection between Madeira island and the mainland Portugal after 30 years. It is a new alternative to visit the archipelago … and you can take your own car with you.

The duration of the trip between Funchal and Portimao is less than 24 hours and it takes place in the weekend.

You can go to the Naviera Armas website and book your trip with the ferry Volcán de Tijarafe.

For those who are looking for detailed weather information and weather forecasting, visit the following links/sites:

• WindGuru Madeira Weather Forecast
• Meteorological Warning System
• Satellite Weather Animation
• 10 Day Local Weather Forecast

Due to the weather conditions today (Sunday, 6th of April) the Grand Parade of the Flower Festival (Festa da Flor) has been canceled postponed. The event will take place the next day (Monday, 7th of April) in Funchal at 2 pm (14h00).

See previous blog

P.S. the weather forecast for Monday are not favorable (which is exceptional this year), so we advice all visitors for the parade to take a raincoat, water resistant shoes and an umbrella. And most important … a good mood.