#369

NOTE: I noticed that my previous video #355 has the incorrect video uploaded - it is the same video as #366. So, I am correcting this with the right video.
Join me for a few NOT SO Peaceful Moments driving in Madeira in Portugal and avoiding a forest fire.
This was one of the most dramatic days of my entire trip. Deciding to head to the northwest tip of Madeira to check out Porto Moniz, striking out in the morning there was smoke in the distance. Carrying along, it became apparent that a forest fire was raging right next to the road. Deciding to continue onwards, I ended up in Porto Moniz but the fire was racing over the western end of Madeira and was heading directly for Porto Moniz.
Here it was discovered that it was not possible to return to the Airbnb in Prazeres for today (it turned out to be two days) and it was decided to continue along the north coast of Madeira to get away from the fire. Replacement accommodation was secured just outside Funchal and that was the next destination. It was a surprise to find the accommodation was almost at the very top of the bowl of hills that surrounds Funchal, at the end of some of the steepest and narrowest roads I have ever driven on.
Once settled, a trip into Funchal was required in order to buy a toothbrush etc. as all I had on my was what I'd left with for a day out.
I was very glad to have avoided the fire but that night there was news of a dozen or so hikers who were missing in the area the fire had ravaged and that was very worrying. Thankfully, they were found safe the next day having spent a, no doubt, terrifying night outside. Also thankfully, the person who had been starting the fires on Madeira while I had been there was arrested and after this day there were no more fires to worry about.
This is one of a series of videos I made driving around the island.
This was filmed in October 2023.
#Madeira #Portugal #ForestFire
The music I chose for this one is Satya Yoga by Jesse Gallagher
Madeira
I was very fortunate to spend ten days on Madeira in October 2023. I stayed in an Airbnb in Prazeres on the west of the island but had to relocate for two nights to just above Funchal due to the forest fires that were being set by an arsonist.
Madeira is a truly amazing place to visit for so many reasons: the people, the food, the crazy geography of the place, and especially the engineering. There are what seem like hundreds of tunnels everywhere and they are a marvel to behold. As well as that there are some amazing hikes to be had especially along the levadas which are old school aqueducts bringing water from the mountains down to where it can be used for farming.
While I was there I rented a car which was an excellent way to get around the island. Driving on Madeira can be a bit of a challenge. The drivers are fine but once you leave the highways the roads can be very steep and very windy. I would not recommend renting a car to everyone.
I loved Madeira and cannot wait to go back.