Palheiro Gardens

Or Blandy's Gardens, because the great Madeira-makers own this splendid property high over Funchal.

I have blipped these beautiful gardens several times before. There is a charming levada walk that starts close by and two years ago the gardens were vulnerable to one of the dreadful fires. The Ribeiro de Inferno was burnt and the trees, although growing back, still have black burnt parts of their bark.

The protea - growing and not on sale in the market - was in the area marked private, close to the house which is still the home of some of the Blandys. Nobody shouted at me. That's not the Madeiran way.

Up on the bus. A delicious cake in the tea house and back on the bus. A lovely way to spend the day.