Madeira & Portugal News from Paul Abbiati:
Yellow weather alert on Wednesday for WIND & RAIN. Follow weather developments on the Institute of Meteorology site: www.meteo.pt
More Dusseldorf flights to Madeira with Air Berlin from 17th February
Future of landfill petition
The Diario reports Tuesday that the number of signatories to a public petition concerning the deposit of earth on the beach on Funchal waterfront has increased by 9.25 am Tuesday to 1194 signatures. As Sue blogged yesterday its hoped that the authorities will take them into consideration for future planning for this area.
Rugby: Portugal returns to the top 20
Irb.com report:
“Portugal climbs one place in the latest IRB World Rankings to 20th after a victory over Romania in the European Nations Cup 2012..”
“Portugal’s victory on home soil in Lisbon means they return to the top 20 for the first time since last May at the expense of Uruguay, the two sides having been separated by just thousandths of a rating point before kick-off.”
Link: http://www.irb.com/rankings/news/newsid=2041601.html
Lisbon’s thrilling..slightly eccentric, array of transport options
“LET’S be clear. Lisbon is a city of hangers-on”
News.com.au article:
“I’m referring to the freeloading lout whom I’m eyeballing on the other side of a rattling windowpane. He’s hanging, rather perilously, off the back end of my tram as it trundles up and down the city’s vertiginous streets.
In Lisbon, fare evasion is taken, literally and routinely, to new heights. Those taking a free ride position themselves strategically just next to the rear door of the tram apparently just out of sight of the driver (sans conductor) and leap off as it comes to a shuddering, screeching halt, disappearing into crowds or down a side street.
I’ve never encountered a city with such a thrilling, and slightly eccentric, array of transport options (and for that matter so many tram-surfers) devised to negotiate the city’s tricky topography.
Apart from the network of trams (or “electricos”, as the Portuguese call them), there are funiculars that shuttle up and down precipitous slopes, a 19th-century elevator designed by a pupil of Gustave Eiffel and ferries to cross the broad Tagus River.
The trams, and the elevators are a godsend for black-clad avo (grandmas) toting heavy shopping bags.
Trams rattle past the city’s rich stock of centuries-old buildings, many of which feature elaborate, hand-painted and blue and white azulejo (tiled) facades, a Portuguese architectural tradition.
The classic Australian film: Malcolm
Ever since I saw the final scene of the classic Australian film Malcolm, in which the eponymous tram-loving Melbourne-based lead character, played by Colin Friels, on the run from the law, ends up in Lisbon, another great tram city where he can safely pursue his passion, I’ve wanted to visit the Portuguese capital.
Quaint, historic funiculars
As well as its mostly vintage trams, the city has a trio of quaint, historic funiculars Ascensor do Lavra, Ascensor da Bica and Ascensor da Gloria all still enthusiastically patronised by Lisboans. Each of them dates to the early 20th century.”
Please don’t forget that the landfill on Ribeira Brava beach needs to be addressealso, It is not just about Funchal!
Eccentric transport – new time-lapse videos on Madeira Web Cam site.