Up high again and a visit to Monte

Today was a half-day excursion which took us firstly to two view points and then on to Monte.

I've never experienced such precipitous roads as I've done here in Madeira.  The coach drivers we have had have been brilliant.. they know their vehicles inside out and backwards...literally !!

This was our first stop as we travelled north.. Having left in warm sunshine in the south, I wasn't surprised to encounter dark clouds that always seem to be over the high hills in the north!

This is looking down towards Funchal from our first viewpoint Pico dos Barcelos

and yes, that's a village down there!

then onwards... it's a feat of engineering that a road exists at all..  (several pictures taken through the window of our moving coach.. there was no way any vehicle could stop on this road) !!

and we arrived at our second stop .. Eira do Sererado which overlooks the remote village of Curral das Freiras, or Nuns Valley

this is water running down the stones.. not caused by rain, but the humidity produces water..

and then en route to Monte.. our last venue of the morning

Then a visit to the Church at Monte, "Our lady of Monte" built in  the 18th century

and, for those who wished to do so, you could then 'ride' in one of the many wooden sledges that take you down to the town.  All operated by 2 'drivers'..  The sledges are then returned to the top by a van, and the 'drivers' are brought back up by mini-bus... all to to be repeated after the next downward trip!

and then, the return trip to Funchal and the hotel

I then went in search of lunch and a wander around the town.

I'm constantly amazed by the sheer number of lizards... literally dozens dashing in and out of the stone walls