Peter Bargh

October 7th, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Lisbon Mosaics

From Madeira back to Lisbon on EasyJet flight 7608 21:10pm

This time I stayed in Hotel Residencial Caravela Rua Ferreira Lapa 38,1º , Arroios, Lisboa, 1150-159. A superb sized apartment with loads of room. Not in the best area but as I’d done the old town this time I walked over to the coast at Alcantara and back around the coast to Torre de Belem and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. I also photographed lots of mosaic tiled walls along the journey.

I had beautiful Pastel de nata (Custard tart)at one of the cafe’s nearest the hotel that turned out to be an award winning maker of these lovely tarts.

Tags: Lisbon, mosaic, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, tile
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

October 6th, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Encumeada to Pico Do Arieiro

A 14k walk over the mountain tops, mostly in mist from Encumeada to Pico Do Arieiro. Started out as a lovely sunny day, but as i climbed higher into the mountains my luck changed. As I wandered I spotted scenes that reminded me of Led Zeppelin song titles such as Misty Mountain Hop and Stairway to Heaven.

I was late arriving at the end of the walk and wasn’t sure if I’d manage to get to the bus stop in time. Thankfully a lovely Spanish couple who couldn’t speak English stopped and gave me a lift back to Funchal which saved me a two hour walk.

Tags: Encumeada, Madeira, Pico Do Arieiro
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

October 5th, 2015 by Peter Bargh

11k Lavada walk

Following my lavada walk yesterday I was really looking forward to today’s planned 11k lavada from Ribeiro Frio to Portela, (and according to the guide books Madeira’s most popular walk) sadly it was no more interesting than a walk in one of Derbyshire’s dales – apart from an occasional glimpse of high edge drama.

This photo was taken at the start on a slight diversion to the Balcoes viewing point at 860m. Most of the scenes like this were hidden behind the trees on the rest of the walk.

Tags: Balcoes, lavada, Madeira
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

October 4th, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Lavada walk

What a walk! I just wandered up the street from my apartment in Funchal. It was raining quite heavily and I was feeling lost for things to do as I hadn’t planned a normal adventure due to the bad weather. I spotted a lavada (drainage system for water from mountains) running along the road side. They are made of concrete and have paths by them, so I followed it…and it took me along the coast but high up in the village hillside so I could see the coast, but was also emerged in rural, walking right through the centre of banana plantations etc. Then the lavada turned inland and gave me a real surprise. They say don’t do lavada walks alone and I can see why! This one turned quite dramatic at parts, and while I don’t have a fear of heights, my legs were wobbling in a few sections of the walk.

Tags: Funchal, lavada, Madeira
Posted in Out and about, Travel | No Comments »

October 3rd, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Beer and ice cream drink?

Yes a beer and ice cream cocktail drink, with pineapple chunks! It’s called Nikita and I tried it in Câmara de Lobos (which is were it originates) in the bar that first came up with it.

I’d decided to take a day of mountain trekking and took a 5km stroll from my apartment in Funcal around the coast to Câmara de Lobos, and on the way stopped at the lava stone beach Praia Formosa where I sunbathed naked as it was deserted.

The walk takes you through a tunnel cave round the coast and on a wooden track across the beach.

Tags: Câmara de Lobos, Funchal, Madeira, Nikita, sunbathing
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

October 2nd, 2015 by Peter Bargh

The Nuns’ Path

The 81 bus took me to the top of the mountain at Eira do Serrado. I then walked down the Nuns’ Path to Curral Das Freiras (a village seen in this photo built in a crater) and sampled chestnut soup (Sopa de castanhas) and chestnut liqueur (Liqueur De Castanha) in the restaurant Sabores Do Curral.

Tags: Curral Das Freiras, Madeira, Nuns' Path, Sabores Do Curral
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

October 1st, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Santana to Funchal

Having done a little research now I decided on a 6 am wake up followed by a 1 hour 30 min bus ride and then a 10 k walk up hilly road to get to the start of today’s walk. Well worth it though as I found impressive landscapes like this. I crossed from north (Santana) to south (Funchal) and ascended the two highest mountains on the island

Tags: Funchal, Madeira, Santana
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

September 30th, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Funchal to Camara de Lobos

Gentle day walking on the coast from Funchal to Camara de Lobos. Might have been more strenuous if I’d been able to continue round the coast after Camara de Lobos, but I didnt find a way. The route includes cutting through a coastal cliff so you got through a tunnel which brings you round at the other side and onto a wooden path taking you over the rocky beach.

Tags: Câmara de Lobos, Funchal, Madeira
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

September 29th, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Funchal

A short walk day today. Discovering Funcal, and the old town, and then along the coast and up to get a higher viewpoint.

Tags: Funchal, Madeira
Posted in Travel | No Comments »

September 28th, 2015 by Peter Bargh

Pico Do Arieiro

Day two of my visit to Madeira. I’d been told I needed to go on a guided tour to discover the mountains, but decided to walk up from Funchal to Pico Do Arieiro. It was quite a trek on the ER103 road up through Monte to Poiso and then on the minor road to the summit and Air Defence Radar Station.

I stopped on route at Casa de Abrigo do Poiso to sample their traditional Tomate e Cebola (Tomato and Onion Soup). When I arrived at the summit everything was completely hidden by mist apart from the radar station. I was weary by now but was considering walking over to Encumeada and back round. I asked a couple how far, and after realising what I was attempting they suggested I didn’t because it was a much longer walk than I’d imagined So I just headed out to take a look at the first section of the path from Pico Do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. And as i walked a few gaps where appearing revealing the most impressive landscape I’ve seen! This was at a height of just over 1800m, taken from a viewing platform. I will return here!

Tags: Casa de Abrigo do Poiso, Madeira, Pico Do Arieiro, Pico Ruivo, Tomate e Cebola
Posted in Travel | No Comments »