Flying in and out of Madeira is a bit scary: the runway is short and extends out to sea. We stayed in Funchal (the capital) and hired a car to explore the island. The car wasn't much good in that it had problems picking up speedwhen changing down to low gears.

This was a lovely island and worth re-visiting. The famous Madeira wine was great along with Madeira cake. When I told my Director at Eli Lilly that we had just been there, he replied: "Yes, we have been there too but you went in the dead flower season." Well, the Birds of Paradise ceratinly weren't dead!

The picture if of the public gardens in Funchal.