Madeira Day 5: Câmara de Lobos

Thursday 11 April
Today we were leaving our hotel in Funchal, and heading a little further west, to Calheta, to use as a base for exploring the central and west part of the island, and where it is easier to have a car, since the hotel has its own underground parking. On our way, we stopped to explore the village of Câmara de Lobos, a quaint fishing village, just outside Funchal, that used to be a favorite with Winston Churchill - he would set up his easel on a little knob overlooking the village. There is a statue of him and his easel outside a hotel/restaurant on the harbour, where we stopped for a coffee - - right central image. Câmara de Lobos was the first place inhabited by João Gonçalves Zarco, the navigator who discovered the island. He stayed there between 1420 and 1424, so this was the first settlement created in Madeira. Narrow cobbled alleys wind their way down to the waters edge, where colourful fishing boats are pulled up on the pebble beach, and bright coloured flowers are to be seen everywhere. The mountain rises up behind with banana trees growing on terraces.
We reached our next hotel, where we are staying 6 nights, late afternoon, and went up to the infinity pool for a swim. We ate at the hotel buffet in the evening, and then had a walk down to the harbour, lined with restaurants and bars.