In Portugal, just like in Spain, the bread is delicious—both in bakeries and in supermarkets. If anyone knows the secret, please tell me!
Interestingly, the trip included a flight between the islands. It was my first time flying on a small plane.
The Ponta Delgada airport is very charming—small, modern, and high-tech, bright, with few people, and a relaxation area.
Many have heard that the airport in Madeira is unusual. Yes, it is a bit. I especially liked that there’s a huge terrace where passengers, while waiting for their flight, go out to watch planes take off and land.
Some go to eat a sandwich in the fresh air, have a smoke, and others to take a nap on a bench. There’s plenty of room for everyone because the area is large.
The lack of acclimatization came as a pleasant surprise. Later, Victoria explained that this was due to the climate: for example, older people have fewer problems with blood pressure.
Madeira
Just as I had hoped, I saw exotic sights—lots of flowers and plants, some of them endemic. I think I found the homeland of the araucaria. This is where they are most numerous and where the largest specimens are found.
The levadas are something special. Clear water winding through the mountains, surrounded by plants and moss, looks like park paths. And they’re also home to trout!
In the wider streams, the trout are bigger.
The tunnels are part of the streams, and without them, it would probably be impossible to reach all the trails and waterfalls. Although the tunnels themselves didn’t really interest me.
I also calmly navigated the “attraction”—walking through flooded tunnels where the cold water was above my shoes.
It was only cold while moving through the water, but then I wrung out my socks—and it was quite warm while walking.
The tunnels are quite wide, so I didn’t feel claustrophobic.
Bananas
I bought bananas for the first time. The saleswoman picked out the ripest ones for us and said they’d be ready to eat in 3–4 days.
The first person in our group couldn’t wait and tried one after 10 days—and the fruit wasn’t ready at all. I put mine on the windowsill after the trip and am still waiting for it to ripen—it’s been 14 days already.
These red berries are sold as sweet and sour, but in reality, they taste mostly like gasoline. Well, maybe some people like that.
The anuna recommended by our guide Victoria made up for it. I ate it with the skin on—maybe that’s even the right way to do it. In the end, we agreed that I’d write: “The anuna was awesome.”
I chose the double-island tour—two islands—but now that I’m back to everyday life, I feel like that wasn’t enough for me.
The idea to visit Madeira came up during our hike along the Camino de Santiago, when Victoria said, “Go to other places first, and then visit Madeira, because after that, nothing will really impress you anymore.”
And indeed, I returned from Andalusia—where the architecture is magnificent and certain places have left a lasting impression on my heart—but very little truly “impressed” me anymore.
A whole other story is the people, the connections, and the interactions during the hikes. Someday, scientists will write about this phenomenon.
For now, thank you for being with me! I’ll stay in touch with some of you, and the rest will remain forever in my memories of this journey. I look forward to seeing you all again!