The screens surrounding the new “old” Lido, 2km west of Funchal have finally been removed over the last couple of days in preparation for the official opening on March 22nd, as previously reported. The lower level with the pool is not accessible at the moment (indeed there is no water in the pool) but the upper level is fully open to the public and flower beds are being planted. I had forgotten, but there are a couple of impressive trees within the complex, and the bougainvillea that grew on the trellising above the old cafe has thankfully been preserved. Looks like a new cafe is preparing to open in one of the new buildings that have been erected.
New Discovery Walking Guide
DWG have just released their second volume of 40 walks for Madeira, featuring the “challenging and high altitude end of the walking spectrum”. As before the walks are researched by resident authors Shirley and Mike Whitehead (cost £12.99 from Amazon and the likes). A new edition of their popular Bus and Touring Map is due to be published later this month.
Evening Standard feature
Monday’s Evening Standard had a good write-up on the island “shaking off it’s reputation as a destination for the over-60s”:
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
With the ceremony lasting most of Wednesday, 67 year-old Rebelo de Sousa was sworn in as President of Portugal. The hugely popular figure takes over from Aníbal Cavaco Silva and will remain in office until 2021, becoming Portugal’s fifth President since the 1974 Revolution. A little more background here.
Just had a walk to see the new Lido. Men busy painting railings and others planting out borders. No water in pools as yet. No doubt everything will be finished by 22nd!
Funchal seems much busier this March with tourists. The island is obviously benefitting from tourists not going to places like Tunisia.
As a very regular visitor to Madeira I am thrilled to think lots of new and younger visitors are deciding to take their holidays on such a safe and beautiful island. And with all the upset in the rest of the world people will look for these safer havens to holiday. It just concerns me that the flights from UK are becoming rarer and much more expensive than ever. Increasingly difficult to get to from the west country as Exeter and Bournemouth no longer fly there and I think Bristol have dropped their flights to 2 a week. Not always easy for people to struggle to Gatwick. I think the air travel companies need to look at this.
I saw the article in the Evening Standard too. Quite good. TAP dropped direct flights from London to Funchal last year. I couldn’t understand why as we used them regularly and the flights never had more than a hand full of empty seats. Thankfully BA have resumed flights as I hate easyJet and will never go with Ryanair. If we have to we’ll go via Porto or Lisbon.
KimD – Monarch fly from Birmingham, which is a much easier journey than Gatwick. We always fly from Bristol but flight prices much higher than they used to be. Agree it would be nice to have a bit more choice from the South West and Wales also have very limited flight choices to Madeira.
We used BA last Xmas and February and have been looking for flights for next February but the prices unaffordable at the moment cant understand why – perhaps last years prices were just for their first year. May well have to go via Lisbon or Porto as Maurice has said.
Have you tried looking at Norwegian Air for next February, Betty C? Flights departing and returning direct from Gatwick on Tuesdays or Saturdays and currently about £170 return total for two people. It’s an option if BA are too pricey and saves the hassle of TAP via Lisbon or Porto.
Thanks Becky will check them out.
Have just ordred a copy of the new Bus & Touing map from Amazon for £3.99
Can anyone tell me at what time the new Lido will be officially opened on Tuesday?